Kansas City Royals: When is the next dominant bullpen coming?
By Cody Rickman
2022 Bullpen Projection
Now what you have come for, I’ve projected the next dominant Royals bullpen to arrive in Kansas City as early as the 2022 season.
Closer: Tyler Zuber RHP (ETA: 2020/2021)
Zuber consistently throws a 96-mph fastball with some riding movement and a disgusting breaking ball that can best be described as a mix between a slider and curveball (slurve). Zuber’s breaking ball has outstanding horizontal and vertical movement when he has the feel for the pitch.
He draws comparisons to Greg Holland in his early days with the Kansas City Royals. Zuber looked fantastic in spring training and he could break onto the MLB roster toward the end of the 2020 season.
Zuber could break-out quickly with the Royals and nab the closer role by as early as late in the 2021 season. I project him to put up around 2.3 WAR in his peak season.
High Leverage: Richard Lovelady LHP (ETA: 2020)
Lovelady features two plus pitches in his fastball (94-mph) and slider (87-mph with sharp break). He looked very effective in his spring training appearances and if not for other pitchers on the roster being out of options, Lovelady would make the MLB roster out of spring training.
Lovelady dominates left-handed hitters and is at least average against facing right-handed hitters, so the new three batter minimum rule shouldn’t affect his usage. Lovelady could project to put up around 1.0 WAR in his peak season.
High Leverage: Jonathan Bowlan RHP (ETA: 2022)
The imposing 6’6” 262 pound Bowlan could be a frightening weapon out of the Royals bullpen for years to come. He features plus command of a plus fastball with heavy sink that typically sits around 92 – 95 mph in his starts and he can dial it up to 97-mph.
The slider shows good potential with sharp late break and he has shown some touch for change-up. Bowlan threw a nine-inning no-hit, complete game shut-out at high A Wilmington in 2019, but he ultimately is best served as a reliever.
Bowlan compares favorably another big man in Jonathan Broxton. Bowlan could project to put up around 1.9 WAR in his peak season.