Royals Steal Future Starter from Yankees in Rule 5 Draft
By Joe Summers
The Royals added a potential impact player in MLB's Rule 5 Draft today, stealing a potential starting pitcher from the New York Yankees.
Matt Sauer, a 24-year-old righty is the newest member of the Royals after Kansas City selected him. He's a 2017 second-round pick and projects long-term as a starter, potentially as soon as next season.
Get the latest information on Sauer and how he fits with the Royals below.
Royals Roster News: KC Selects RHP Matt Sauer in Rule 5 Draft
The #Royals selected Matt Sauer, a right-handed pitcher from the Yankees, in the Rule 5 Draft. He's 24-years-old, posted a 3.41 ERA in 74 innings across three affiliates last year.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) December 6, 2023
We knew the Royals needed to add impact pitching, and I'm excited about this draft pick. Sauer battled through injuries, but seems to have turned a corner in his development.
Sauer posted a 3.42 ERA in 68.1 AA innings last year and was MLB.com's 25th-ranked prospect in the Yankees' system. He lacks the velocity of a guy like Cole Ragans, though that doesn't mean he can't get punchouts.
In perhaps the best outing of his career and one that bodes well for the future, Sauer recorded 17 strikeouts in just 95 pitches during an August start for New York's AA affiliate.
Matt Sauer is the only minor league pitcher since 2019 to have struck out 17 batters in a game🤢pic.twitter.com/TjcaaLdYVD
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) December 6, 2023
Considering the magic Ragans pulled off to end the season, there's reason to be optimistic about Sauer's potential here.
Can't you imagine a rotation with strikeout pitchers led by Ragans while guys like Sauer develop? I mean, just look at these stats!
🧵It's important to note that Matt Sauer worked as a starter for almost all of 2023.
— Royals Weekly (@RoyalsWeekly) December 6, 2023
He only pitched 74 innings in 17 games, 16 starts.
He put up a 3.42 ERA, 3.71 xFIP, and a 1.15 WHIP in those games with a 29.5% SO rate and 10.3% BB rate. Opponents hit only .189 against him.
The Royals have a lot of work to do for the rest of the offseason, but this is a positive step for an organization in desperate need of pitching help.
Keep it rolling, Mr. Picollo!
While we wait for more moves, you can claim an INSTANT $150 sign-up bonus from DraftKings Sportsbook today! If you sign up, deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on any game right now, you'll immediately get $150 in bonus bets win or lose. Sign up for DraftKings now!
More Kansas City Royals News:
feed