Kansas City Royals: Rule 5 Draft Targets for 2020

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Roberto Ramos, First Base (COL)

Roberto Ramos is a 24-year-old (25 in December) first baseman with tremendous raw power. Ramos has hit .292/.370/.527 with 98 homers in 1781 at bats in the Colorado Rockies farm system. His 2019 showed lofty production at the plate with Ramos hitting 30 home runs in AAA Albuquerque.

Ramos is projected to generate slightly below average contact with slightly below average defense at first base. Ramos is a below average runner, but his raw power is real and if he can access his raw power in games, he could be 20+ home run a year first baseman at the MLB level.

Joe Barlow, Reliever (TEX)

Joe Barlow is a 24-year-old reliever who has climbed the Texas Rangers farm system quickly after being drafted in the 11th round of the 2016 draft. Barlow carried a 47% strikeout rate between A+ and AA ball in 2019, before reaching AAA.

In AAA, Barlow got hit around but still put together a 23.4% strikeout rate. His high strikeout rates allowed him to keep a robust left on base percentage when he inherited runners, a valuable statistic for relievers.

Barlow features two plus pitches in his fastball and his curveball. His curveball has some nasty late bite, and his fastball typically sits around 95+ mph, which is effective when used up in the zone. Barlow has a chance to be selected in the Rule 5 draft and become a middle/late inning relief option.

Thomas Burrows, Reliever (ATL)

Thomas Burrows is a 25-year-old left handed reliever, who is another reliever who has climbed his ballclub’s minor league system quickly after being drafted. Burrows put of dominate numbers in 2018 spread across three levels (A, A+, and AA). His 2019 was less impressive, but Burrows still put up solid numbers out of the bullpen in AA and AAA.

Burrows features good deception and command in his mechanics. His breaking ball is his best pitch and his command allows him to be effective vs right handed hitters. Burrows could be an effective middle reliever.