Kansas City Royals: Protected roster moves for 2019 offseason
By Cody Rickman
Wednesday night’s protected roster submission deadline came with some interesting moves from around the league, including by our very own Kansas City Royals.
The Kansas City Royals made some interesting moves of their own adding four players to the 40-man roster and designating for assignment four players to make room for the additions.
The Royals did some expected roster shuffling Wednesday before the protected roster submission deadline and added four minor league prospects to the Rule 5 draft protected 40-man roster. To make room for these four minor league prospects, the Royals designated for assignment four players currently on the 40-man roster.
Added to 40-Man Roster
Carlos Hernandez, Right-Handed Pitcher (23-years-old in March)
Carlos Hernandez hasn’t pitched beyond single A ball at Lexington. He has pitched well in both 2018 and 2019 at the single A level. Hernandez pitched 79.1 innings of 3.29 ERA, 1.185 WHIP, with 82 Ks in 2018 at single A Lexington and 36.0 innings of 3.50 ERA, 1.194 WHIP, with 43 Ks in 2019 at single A Lexington.
Hernandez possesses a plus fastball and an above average change-up. He is still developing a slider that if he can develop into a plus pitch he could become backend rotation starter.
Currently, Hernandez possesses the ability to be an above average middle relief option. He is still a high variable prospect who could develop past his projections. At worst, he should be a decent relief option throwing his fastball past hitters.
At best, Hernandez could be a number three/four type starter if his breaking ball develops.
Foster Griffin, Left-Handed Pitcher (25-years-old in July)
Foster Griffin was arguably the best left-handed starting pitcher in a battered and beaten AAA pitching landscape where the introduction of the MLB baseball into both the Pacific Coast League and International league, resulted in the leagues seeing record amounts home runs and runs scored.
Looking beyond the inflated era and WHIP, Griffin has pitched to a career low in line drive percentage while inducing a 48% groundball rate.
Griffin possesses two quality off-speed pitches in his curveball and change-up. He has deception in his mechanics to allow his low 90s fastball to be effective when his command is right. Currently Griffin doesn’t utilize his legs to drive off the rubber and with right tweaks to his mechanics he could add another 2-3 mph onto his fastball.
His plus curveball is good enough to generate weak contact and strikeouts at the major league level. With the appropriate mixture of his pitches and locations, he could provide effectiveness at the MLB level. He projects to be a backend rotation starter or long reliever, but could develop into something more if he gains more velocity on his fastball.