Owner Goals
Team Record:
Winning sure feels good and you have been doing a lot of it during the first half of the year. Don't stop now! Get the guys to keep it up, so we can really be considered one of the top teams in the league.
Acquire a player:
I asked you at the beginning of the season to improve the team at Hometown player. So far, you haven't made any progress. I hope you'll keep looking. I think a new Hometown player is just what this team needs to turn the corner.
Build your farm:
Do you think you've done a good job at rebuilding our farm system? To me, I think we're still a long way away from completing this task. It would be nice to be complimented for our minor league system at least once in the USA Chronicle.
Improve your team record:
I'm disappointed in the lack of improvement in close games. Try harder.
Minor Leagues
Ethan Chafin has had the most impressive season so far, 4.7 WAR in AAA showing himself ready for promotion as soon as possible, possible in September if not before. Chris Wolff isn’t far behind him, 2.6 WAR from 109.2 IP and a 10-3 record.
Among bats, the Andy Alexander is developing fast after several years in rookie ball, 5.1 WAR earning him a promotion and several trade enquiries rejected by the Royals outright. Jon Basiliere may be the closest to the Major Leagues, 3.3 WAR and .866 OPS at AA earning him a promotion to AAA for the rest of the season and gunning for a September call up.
2027 Draft
A 30th pick for the Royals means the elite of the 2036 class were out of reach for the Royals. While that has led to a high school lottery approach for the previous few years, in 2036 Stewart decided to go back to his values and target college high-floor players. That led to the first six players drafted all being from College, with 13/20 drafted players in the end.
In the first round, the Royals selected CF Laban Locascio out of Boston College. Plus speed with the ability for a plus corner glove, Locascio has the potential for plus contact with plus power and an above average eye.
The rest of the Royals first five picks looked as follows:
Round 2, Pick 27 - SS Stephon Vassor, age 21 out of college (University of Virginia) – an above average SS, he will struggle speedwise, but show plus potential contact to with above average power and eye
Round 3, Pick 23 - 3B Jorge Calvo, age 21 out of college (North Greenville University) – Calvo will have to improve defensively and doesn’t bring much speed but profiles to have a similar profile to Vassor with plus contact and above average power and eye
Round 4, Pick 24 - C Gearl Jernigan, age 21 out of college (Vanderbilt University) – a plus Catcher, Jernigan could develop to have average contact and power ability with a plus eye to help him get on base
Round 5, Pick 25 - SP Jonathan DePalmer, age 20 out of college (Auburn University) – the first pitcher taken, DePalmer has potential plus stuff, with a 4-pitch arsenal including an 80-grade curveball to go with a plus-plus slider and a plus changeup.
Locascio, Vassor, and Gearl will be joined in A ball by 6th, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 20th round relievers Yubrany Paciotti, Chris Scherf, Pat Burch, Zaire Sturghill and Kevin Mulligan. Also joining will be 14th round Catcher Juan Gonsales.
The top of the draft progressed with a mix of college and high school players:
Round 1, Pick 1 - Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Eric Fowler, age 21 out of college
Round 1, Pick 2 - Tampa Bay Rays: SP Ed Lanham, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 3 - Atlanta Braves: CF Brad Hoffman, age 17 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 4 - Tampa Bay Rays: 2B Kevin Johnson, age 22 out of college
Round 1, Pick 5 - Miami Marlins: 2B Jon Chadwick, age 18 out of high school
