Kansas City Royals: What each member of 2020 draft class can provide

Chase Wallace, RHP (21-years-old)

Chase Wallace is 6’2”, 195 pound right-handed reliever from the University of Tennessee.

In his three years with the Tennessee Volunteers, he produced a 2.89 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, with 41 Ks in 53.0 innings. Wallace features an arsenal consisting of an above average sinker (really nice movement), above-average curveball, average 4-seam fastball, average change-up, and below average control.

• Best Outcome: I like his mechanics and love the movement on his pitches. His mechanics are a solid foundation and he will just need time to become more consistent with each offering to become a back-end of the rotation-type starter (5.00 FIP). WAR = 0.0 – 0.9 range.
• Likely Outcome: If he fails as a starter, he needs to consistently throw more strikes to be a swing-man or middle reliever. The movement on his pitches allow him to limit hard contact. WAR = < -0.1 range.

A.J. Block, LHP (22-years-old)

A.J. Block  is a 6’5”, 218 pound left-handed pitcher from Washington State University (WSU) and displayed excellent work ethic adding 38 pounds during his tenure at WSU.

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I grade his fastball as slightly above-average with higher perceived velocity due to his arm-length. He gets good movement on both of his breaking ball pitches and each are above-average offerings. Block has improved his control and I grade it to be above average.

• Best Outcome: If Block continues to get stronger and finds more velocity with his fastball, he could project favorably as a number four/five type starter (4.20 FIP). WAR = 1.0 – 1.7 range.
• Likely Outcome: If he doesn’t add velocity to his fastball and fails to develop a change-up, Block will likely become a swing-man or middle reliever heavily reliant on his breaking ball pitches. WAR = < -0.1 range.

The Kansas City Royals had a fantastic 2020 and undrafted free agent signing period.

Following all of the good publicity the Royals front office and ownership received when they made the decisions to pay their minor league players through the year, this is no surprise. The farm system has been restocked with exciting young arms quickly and the Royals will continue to add in 2021.

If player development goes according to plan, the Kansas City Royals should be in contention for the playoffs by 2024 or 2025.