KC Royals: Five under the radar prospects to follow in 2020

Whether a prospect is an undrafted free agent signing or drafted without much fanfare, they will find their way to major leagues. These five KC Royals prospects played well enough to earn a follow.

The Kansas City Royals have had success in recent years with developing overlooked talent taken in the amateur draft or signed as an international amateur. The Royals developed the following past/current overlooked prospects into valuable pieces on the major league roster:

• Greg Holland Reliever – taken in the tenth round of the 2007 amateur draft developed into a shutdown reliever/closer worth 10.3 WAR in his six seasons with the Royals.
• Whit Merrifield Second Base/Outfield – taken in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft developed into two-time AL hitter leader worth 12.4 WAR in his first four seasons with the Royals.
• Salvador Perez Catcher – signed as 16-year-old international free agent for $65,000 developed into six-time All-Star, five-time gold glove winner, two-time silver slugger, and 2015 World Series MVP worth 10 WAR in his first eight seasons with the Royals.
• Yordano Ventura Starting Pitcher – signed as an international free agent for $28,000 developed into a top of the rotation starter before his untimely death worth 6.8 WAR in his four seasons with the Royals.
• Jarrod Dyson Outfielder – drafted in the 50th round of the 2006 amateur draft developed into an exceptional defender and base stealer worth 10.2 WAR in his seven seasons with the Royals.

The following list contains two pitchers and three position players. The highest draft pick among them was taken in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB amateur draft; There are two position players drafted in the ninth round and 30th round of the 2019 MLB amateur draft. To round out the quintet, there are two undrafted prospects one signed in 2017 and the other in 2018 who have done performed well at each level thus far.

Austin Cox LHP Starting Pitcher (23-years-old in March)

• Drafted in fifth round of 2018 amateur draft out of Mercer
• 2018 (Rookie Burlington) – 3.78 ERA, 1.320 WHIP, 51 Ks in 33.1 Innings
• 2019 (A Lexington) – 2.75 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 77 Ks, 5 HR allowed in 75.1 Innings
• 2019 (A+ Wilmington) – 2.77 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, 52 Ks, 6 HR allowed in 55.1 Innings

Austin Cox exhibits excellent deception with his four-pitch mix (Fastball, Curveball, Slider, and Change). Watching video on Cox, he hides the ball well and with his height/length the fastball gets in on hitters quick.

In the video, he does an excellent job changing the batters eye level with fastballs up in the zone and working inside and outside. He sets up the batter with a high fastball on the outside of the plate at the 1:22 mark, then uses a back-door curveball at the 1:55 mark to use that same eye level to fool the hitter for a strikeout looking.

He repeats delivery with his over-the-top arm slot and release mixing pitches. His above average fastball typically sits around 92-mph and can hit 94-mp, which he isn’t afraid to command inside on right-handed hitters. His off-speed offerings are each above average.

Cox commands the change-up and slider low and away to right-handed hitters. The curveball has tight spin and drops from the letters to the knees. Cox from time to time misses his locations working his fastball inside and leaves the pitch out over the plate. Since he doesn’t throw with exceptional velocity and movement, this puts him into danger. He needs to harness his command more when working inside.

Expectation: Cox should start out the 2020 season with Wilmington at A+ ball and should be brought up to Northwest Arkansas AA after about 50 innings. He put together a fine season in 2019 utilizing his deception and pitch mix and could break onto the Royals roster in 2022.

If Cox is able to limit home-runs he has an outlook of being a number three/four type starter or late inning reliever.