Kansas City Royals: Four positives from April of 2019 season
By Cullen Jekel
Positive #4: The Farm System
Several players have already been promoted from within the farm system to the Kansas City Royals roster this year, including reliever Richard Lovelady and third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez. But from Triple-A to Advanced A, Royals affiliates are looking strong.
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In Omaha, there’s shortstop Nicky Lopez. Sure, it’s kind of a headache that there’s not an “e” in his first name, but the 24-year-old is pounding the hell out of the ball in the Pacific Coast League. He leads all Storm Chasers in runs scored (21), hits (30), and batting average (.353) while posting a .939 OPS to go with two home runs, ten runs batted in, and five stolen bases. He’ll get his chance sooner than later.
Bubba Starling, the former top pick of the Royals, is also getting the job done in Omaha. The 26-year-old center fielder is slashing .333/.382/.449 with two home runs, eight runs batted in, nine runs scored, and five stolen bases in 21 games. This may finally be the year he reaches Kansas City.
In Double-A, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals boast a handful prospects headlined by center fielder Khalil Lee. Lee, who doesn’t turn 21 until June, isn’t slugging for much this season, but he’s getting on base at a .365 clip rate while hitting .270.
The speedster has nine stolen bases along with 14 walks, though he’s struck out 27 times in just 100 at-bats. Also keep an eye out for his teammate, pitcher Conner Greene, a starting pitcher currently holding batters to a .205 average through 33.1 frames.
Surely, at least Lopez will join Lovelady and Gutierrez in making the jump to Kansas City this season. It’s a strong possibility that Starling does, too.
Lee probably won’t, but there’s an outside possibility he continues his quick ascent through the ranks. Greene, who turned 24 in April, intrigues as a pitcher who seems to have found a groove. Pitch is, after all, the currency of baseball.