Owner Goals
Team Record:
Man, that was a tough first half of the season. We really need to go full throttle in order to meet our goal of making the playoffs this year. I know you'll get it done.
Improve team stats:
I can't be upset with a team that's 5th in Stolen Bases. I hope that the team can keep up this pace the rest of the season.
Extend your player:
I told you to sign Chase Dollander to an extension. For some reason, you decided not to. I do give you the final say on player moves, but when I tell you a player is important to us, I expect you to listen.
Improve your fan interest:
I haven't seen much progress in the area of fan engagement.
Minor Leagues
It’s been another positive half-year on the farm with several players now waiting in the wings of AAA. Edgar Mir has posted a 2.3 WAR while looking to bring his power up to its potential so he will spend the rest of the season in Omaha. He will be joined by AA high performers, Chris Lee and Roger Camacho, as well as Ed Nicholson, Sam Hart, and Toby Demkowski who all feel like they are ready should the opportunity arise. It would likely take injuries for the final three to feature but if Camacho hits at AAA level then Zesati could be at risk.
Double A is a more balanced prospect breakdown with pitchers Chris Wolff and Mike Bell, joined by the bats of Alfredo Pastora, Alejandro Estrada, Tim Spears, and Catcher Jorge Lona but all three are developing nicely.
2027 Draft
The Royals had the 25th pick of the 2034 draft and, aligned to their new lower first round philosophy went with a high school player. It was a left field pick, though, 18-year-old
Mike O’Gorman not being in many people’s first round picks. O’Gorman, however, has a strong 70-50-50 profile with a knuckleball that is already a 40/75 as part of a three-pitch arsenal. A risk, without doubt, but the upside made the risk worthwhile in Royals’ eyes.
The rest of the Royals first five pick played out as follows:
Round 2, Pick 23 - SP
Erik Omelanczuk, age 20 out of college – another three-pitch starter, Omelanczuk projects as a 65-55-50 power pitcher throwing 97-99 MPH with a plus plus fastball and sinker, and a plus changeup
Round 3, Pick 23 - CF
Chase Standberry, age 17 out of high school – a 65-range OF who could stick in Centre, projecting plus contact and power with an average eye and plus speed
Round 4, Pick 22 - SP
Josh Flaherty, age 18 out of high school – a two-way player with a 55-45-60 pitching projection behind two plus and one above average pitches, his potential plus plus power and plus eye convinced the Royals to pick him up in the 4th round
Round 5, Pick 22 - SP
Dan Carrig, age 18 out of high school – a four-pitch starter who project plus plus stuff, plus control and average movement, he has three potentially plus pitches to go with an average fastball. As a flyball pitcher he may only amount to a trade chip but his ceiling is that of a #2 starter.
Omelanczuk will start in A ball, and will be joined by 13th and 18th round relievers Brendan Nevilles and Jonathan Klingman while 20th round pick Josh Eastman will start in A+. The rest of the 20-player class will start in Rookie Ball with the best hoping to feature in Winter Ball.
The top five pick of the 2034 draft were as follows, headlined by potential multi-Cy Young winner Joe Davis:
Round 1, Pick 1 - New York Mets: SP
Joe Davis, age 17 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 2 - Cleveland Guardians: SP
Branden Duncan, age 21 out of college
Round 1, Pick 3 - Los Angeles Angels: SS
R.J. Frank, age 21 out of college
Round 1, Pick 4 - Tampa Bay Rays: CF
Ken Balcom-Miller, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 5 - San Antonio Avalanche: SP
Al Kramer, age 18 out of high school
