Kansas City Royals: Top 12 prospects heading into 2020

4) Erick Pena – Outfielder (ETA: 2024)

Erick Pena hasn’t played a single game as a professional in the United States and has found himself on one of the top 100 prospects lists already (Prospects Live). Pena considered one of the top international prospects, signed for $3.8 million right after the July 2nd international signing period opened.

Pena is set to turn 17-years-old on February 20th and is a long ways from the MLB level. Even though he’s only going to be 17-years-old this season, Pena is a polished prospect with plus hitting and fielding tools.

Being so young and untested against professional pitching sets up Pena to be a high variance type prospect. There’s a very good chance he makes top 100 lists across the industry once he completes his professional debut season.

According to MLB pipeline, Pena has the following scouting grades:

Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45.

Translating these grades into statistical production (accounting for a high variance of two) gives Pena a range of producing between .240 – .280 batting average and 12 – 30 home runs during his peak years. He has a good hitting approach and doesn’t swing and miss often, so he’s more likely to reach his power projection. Pena is an average runner and will likely be an above average corner outfielder defensively.

Pena is advanced enough to skip Dominican Summer League and start out at the Arizona Rooke League. After signing, the Royals roomed him with Bobby Witt Jr at Arizona Instructs and these two could be the cornerstones of the Royals roster beyond 2024.

There have been multiple comparisons already of Pena to former Royals star Carlos Beltran.

5) Jackson Kowar – RHP Starting Pitcher (ETA: 2020)

Jackson Kowar has found himself on two of the top 100 prospects lists for the 2020 season (Baseball America and Prospects Live). Kowar put together a solid 2019 season between AA Northwest Arkansas and A+ Wilmington pitching 148.1 innings of 3.52 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, and 144 Ks.

Kowar has an “MLB ready” pitching arsenal containing a plus-plus change-up, a plus fastball averaging 94-95 mph (tops at 97 mph), and an above average curveball. He has struggled from time to time with consistency in his mechanics, effecting the command of his pitches. Kowar needs to find more consistency in his fastball and curveball to allow his exceptional change-up to dominate.

Kowar has the potential ceiling to be a number two/three type starter in the MLB. With a non-roster spring training invitation, the hitters in Arizona will get a chance to get acquainted with one of the better change-up offerings in the minor league. When Kowar has his command, he has the potential to be dominant.

Kowar is likely to start out the 2020 season at AA Northwest Arkansas before a promotion to AAA for a few starts prior to a potential MLB debut. He draws favorable comparisons to Marco Estrada with a chance to exceed that comparison if his curveball continues to progress.

6) Brady Singer – RHP Starting Pitcher (ETA: 2020)

Brady Singer has cracked three of the 2020 top prospect lists (Baseball Prospectus, MLB Pipeline, and Prospects Live). Singer had an excellent 2019 season splitting time between AA Northwest Arkansas and A+ Wilmington pitching 148.1 innings of 2.85 ERA, 1.187 WHIP, and 138 Ks.

Singer throws both his two-seam fastball and four-seam fastball (with ride) in the low 90s mph with the capability to hit 95 or 96 mph. He changes the depth and speed of his slider consistently creating different looks for hitters. His fastball and slider grade out as plus offerings and both are geared more toward generating ground ball contact and limiting hard contact than generating high strikeout rates.

The development of Singer’s third pitch, his change-up, is why he is being held back. Singer started to throw his change-up more often after his promotion to AA Northwest Arkansas in 2019. He struggled initially, but became more confident in the pitch as the season progressed. Singer still throws the change-up with too much velocity and will need to find better touch on the pitch to warrant an MLB promotion as a starting pitcher.

Singer is one of the most competitive pitchers I’ve seen in awhile. His competitiveness and willingness to manipulate his pitches will project success as a pitcher in the major leagues.

The 2018 first round pick obtained a non-roster invitation to spring training camp and he will be a very intriguing player to watch once games commence. If Singer finds confidence and consistency in his change-up, there’s a very real possibility he makes his MLB debut at some point during the 2020 season.

Singer should start out the 2020 season at AA Northwest Arkansas with promotion likely for a few games at AAA before he gets his call-up to the MLB. Singer’s competitiveness reminds me a lot of the “bulldog” Orel Hershiser.