Kansas City Royals: Four positives from shortened 2020 season
By Cody Rickman
4) The Royals should have a top 10 draft pick in 2021.
At this point, the 2021 draft order has not been announced by Major League Baseball. The Royals’ performance the past two seasons should put them into a position to land a top 10 draft pick.
If draft order is by 2020 record, here's what it will be:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 28, 2020
1) PIT
2) TEX
3) DET
4) BOS
5) BAL
6) ARI
7) KC
8) COL
9) LAA
10) NYM
11) WAS
12) SEA
13) PHI
14) SFG
15) MIL
16) MIA
17) CIN
18) STL
19) TOR
20) NYY
21) CHC
22) CHW
23) CLE
24) ATL
25) OAK
26) MIN
27) SD
28) TB
29) LAD
The following are possibilities to determine the draft order for 2021:
- Royals finished with seventh worst record in the MLB for 2020 (7th overall pick)
- Fourth worst record in the MLB for 2019 (4th overall pick)
- Combined 85 – 137, 3rd worst in the MLB between 2019 – 2020 (3rd overall pick)
Personally, I am hoping for the third option listed where MLB combines the final regular season records from 2019 and 2020 to determine the 2021 draft order, which would give the Royals the third overall selection.
Why do the Royals want to have a draft pick in the top five for the 2021 draft?
Jack Leiter, 21-year-old, right-handed starting pitcher from Vanderbilt University may be available and willing to sign with the Royals. Having seen Leiter in person, he has one of the best curveballs I have seen from a prospect eligible for the 2021 draft.
The fastball can run up to 98 mph and generally sits in the low to mid 90s. He also has a slider and change-up with an understanding how to adjust mechanically while on the mound. His command can be challenged at times with his mechanics, but in his starts with Vanderbilt he looked dominant.
Jack Leiter coming out of the chute strong pic.twitter.com/RN5Xo0Gq3Z
— Teddy Cahill (@tedcahill) February 18, 2020
Leiter has been selective in his choice on where he would like to play in the MLB and he has not been in a hurry, refusing to sign out of high school to attend Vanderbilt University. The moves the Royals organization has been to how they treat minor league players, staff, and operate player development could be enticing to Leiter.
If the Royals can attract a talent like Leiter, then the farm system will truly have a spoil of riches with pitching prospects.
The other possibilities in the top-10 include high school talents Luke Leto, Braylon Bishop, Brady House and college stars Kumar Rocker, Robby Matin, Jaden Hill, Alex Binelas, Matt McLain, and Jud Fabian. Kumar Rocker appears to be an early lock to be the number one overall selection.
Conclusion
The Kansas City Royals are ahead of schedule in development and their time table for competing for a playoff spot may come sooner than 2023. If the Royals offense was more successful with runners in scoring position, they could be in the playoffs this season.
The current roster is talented enough to breakthrough expectations if they can remain healthy.
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