Kansas City Royals: Top 12 prospects heading into 2020
By Cody Rickman
The Kansas City Royals minor league system is quietly building itself in the scouting industry to be the next “best farm system in baseball”.
At least three Kansas City Royals prospects have made top 100 list for 2020 and if everything goes well, three to four more players may join them in 2021. The Royals are heading into the 2020 season with the 18th best farm system, according to Baseball America (subscription required).
The system has improved from its 27th ranking just a year ago in 2019. After back-to-back 100 loss seasons in 2018 and 2019, the Royals will have another top five selection in the upcoming June 2020 amateur draft potentially adding another top prospect to the list.
In addition to the three players already on the top 100 list, two additional pitchers are capable of building off of their outstanding production, a 2019 international outfield signing holds outstanding potential, and the number four overall draft pick in the 2020 amateur draft all figure into some 2021 top 100 prospect lists.
These Royals prospects have played their way into top 100 prospects list across the industry:
- Baseball America: Bobby Witt, Jr. (#24), Daniel Lynch (#39), Jackson Kowar (#78)
- Baseball Prospectus: Bobby Witt, Jr. (#29), Brady Singer (#64), Daniel Lynch (#93), Kris Bubic (#96)
- Fangraphs: Bobby Witt, Jr. (#23), Daniel Lynch (#73), Kris Bubic (#110)
- MLB Pipeline: Bobby Witt, Jr. (#10), Brady Singer (#59), Daniel Lynch (#61)
- Prospects Live: Bobby Witt, Jr. (#22), Daniel Lynch (#67), Brady Singer (#88), Jackson Kowar (#90), Erick Pena (#96)
Royals Top 12 Prospects
1) Bobby Witt Jr – Shortstop (ETA: 2023)
Bobby Witt Jr is the consensus top prospect in the Royals system according to the top 100 prospect lists above, cracking the top ten of the MLB Pipeline list. After being selected second overall in the 2019 MLB amateur draft, Witt made his professional baseball debut for the Royals in the Arizona Rookie league, hitting .262/.317/.354 with eight extra base hits (one home run) in 164 at bats.
Witt grades out as plus (60 grades out of 80) in all of his tools except for his hitting tool. There are still some concerns with his swing and ability to make consistent contact, but he has the skill and time to iron out those problems. Working with new hitting coordinator Drew Saylor will help refine his approach and achieve his lofty projections of a rare five tool infielder.
Witt already generates an average barrel speed of 83.482 mph, good for producing regular 92 mph average exit velocity on his balls in play (max exit velocity 109 mph). That’s good for some serious power projection once he starts adding muscle to his 6’1” 190 lbs frame.
His arm graded out in the top percentile among high school prospects, as he was able to throw 92 mph regularly off the mound as a pitcher. His 60-yard sprint speed (6.40 secs) and ten-yard split (1.54 secs) also graded in the top percentiles and if combined with his instincts make me an excellent baserunner.
As Witt physically matures, he will need to work on retaining his range in the field. His swing currently generates opposite field power and with added strength he will start turning on pitches and pulling the ball for more power.
Witt should end up playing a full season at A Lexington for the 2020 season and is projected to hit a .260 average with 19-22 home runs and 25 stolen bases at his peak and he has some a lot of variance to his projections.
There’s a chance with the right coaching that Witt exceeds his current projections and becomes one of the top shortstops in the game. He reminds me offensively and defensively of Carlos Correa with more speed.