Owner Goals
Team Record:
Injuries have hurt us but we can't make excuses, we need to push hard the second half of the year to accomplish the goal I set out for you. Get it done.
Upgrade a position:
I don't see an improvement from where we were last year at Catcher. Please be on the lookout for an upgrade, if you want to keep me happy.
Acquire a player:
I asked you at the beginning of the season to improve the team at Great Glove Award winner. So far, you haven't made any progress. I hope you'll keep looking. I think a new Great Glove Award winner is just what this team needs to turn the corner.
Improve your fan interest:
I haven't seen much progress in the area of fan engagement.
Minor Leagues
Edgar Mir destroyed A ball pitching, producing 8 WAR in the first half of the season. He moves up to AA for the second half of the season, and will look to skip AAA and start next year on the Major League roster.
Enny Mijhail Van Dyke has performed well at AAA and is ready to move up, as is
Curt Bogans.
Eddie Baquerizo has already made the move on the back of 3+ WAR at AAA. Similar to Mir,
Toby Demkowski destroyed High-A pitching and moves up to AA after 7 WAR in the first half of the season.
2027 Draft
The low draft spot for the Royals has seen a fundamental flip in the approach taken by Stewart, with 2033 seeing all six picks from the first five rounds being high school players, two pitchers, two infields, and two outfielders.
With their first round pick, the Royals selected high school arm
TP Bender. Projected to end up with 80 stuff, to go with plus control, and above average movement, scouts see Bender as a potential multiple Cy Young winner. A six-pitch arsenal is impressive, particularly when it includes a potential 80 curveball, four plus plus pitches, and a plus sinker.
Round 1 (Suppl.), Pick 6 - CF
Mike Thomas, age 17 out of high school – although likely limited to the corners, Thomas projects plus plus power to go with above average contact and eye, and plus speed.
Round 2, Pick 29 - 1B
Nelson Fantauzzi, age 18 out of high school – a weak defender, with poor speed, Fantauzzi will need to maximise his above average eye and contact, as well as plus power to succeed.
Round 3, Pick 25 - 2B
Jimmy Monroe, age 18 out of high school – another bat first pick, Monroe projects plus contact and power to go with an above average eye.
Round 4, Pick 27 - RF
Jim Burditt, age 18 out of high school – a solid outfielder defensively, with a strong work ethic, Burditt is of a similar profile with plus contact and power potential to go with an above average eye.
Round 5, Pick 29 - SP
Jamie Gross, age 18 out of high school – above average stuff is paired with plus control and average movement, in a four-pitch arsenal. Two plus pitches provide a good base, but Gross will need to find a third quality pitch to succeed in a starting role.
It is another Rookie ball heavy class, with only two picks – 9th round pick SP
Chris Downey (A) and 19th round pick RP
David Vela (A+) – starting above the R level.
The Royals signed a 19-player class as 18-year-old C
Jon Tucker did not sign and will return to school.
The top five picks of the draft were high school focussed although 5th pick
Eddie Edwards may be the best pick with the shortstop already close to MLB ready:
Round 1, Pick 1 - Minnesota Twins: SP
Art Ostroff, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 2 - Washington Nationals: SP
Prince Faulcon, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 3 - Los Angeles Angels: CF
Callum Maclean, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 4 - Cincinnati Reds: SP
Andy Pennington, age 19 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 5 - Atlanta Braves: SS
Eddie Edwards, age 21 out of college
