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November 4, 2024 — Minor League System Overhaul
(OOTP25 Royals Journey – Manager’s Log)
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The fourth morning of the offseason felt like a continuation of the work I began yesterday — the kind of quiet, necessary roster maintenance that never shows up in headlines but defines an organization's long-term health.

Today’s focus was the minor league system, and specifically the players who just weren’t progressing. As much as I want to see everyone take a step forward, reality doesn’t work that way. You can push, mentor, and develop all you want, but some players simply stall. And when they stall at Triple-A, it becomes a logjam.

So, the first order of business was clearing space in Omaha. It’s never pleasant — these are players who’ve worked their whole lives to get where they are — but when someone shows no signs of future major-league contribution, they’re holding back prospects who do have that spark. Seven players were released from Omaha this morning, the first of several cuts across the organization.

Once I moved down the ladder, the pattern continued:

• 7 players from A-ball (Carolina League)
• 7 from the DSL clubs

Twenty-two releases in total. Necessary, but still heavy.

Balancing that were eight promotions, most of them deserved, especially the five who jumped from our ACL Rookie team into the Fireflies’ system. One player moved from A+ to AA — a small victory in a day full of tough decisions.

When the dust settled, our entire minor league system sat at 200 players, still about 30 shy of full organizational capacity. That’s room to grow — and we’ll need every inch of it. Depth isn’t just a luxury; with the way the majors grind arms into dust, depth becomes survival.

Figure 1. Full Organizational Depth & Ratings Overview


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International Scouting Report

Jason McLeod sent over his notes from the second international private practice this month. I’ve learned to trust Jason’s eye — he was one of my best hires last March, and the more time passes, the more that decision pays off.

Figure 2. International Private Training — November Invitee Group



Two names stood out immediately:

Victor Cruz, 16-year-old 2B (Dominican Republic) - Lean, athletic, raw power, and rare discipline for his age — a combination that’s hard to find. Jason believes he could develop into an elite second baseman. That word doesn’t get thrown around lightly.

Figure 3. Victor Cruz — International Prospect Profile



Mike Gago, 16-year-old CF (Venezuela) - The projection jumps off the page: a .290 potential hitter with above-average power and real stolen-base instincts. He’s explosive and efficient — the kind of player who could eventually scratch the mold left behind by elite CFs: a blend of speed, contact, and instinct.

Figure 4. Mike Gago — International Prospect Profile



Jason didn’t stop there:

• Santos Jaramillo (LF, Mexico) — tall, strong, smooth defender, plus power potential.
• Jose Higareda (1B, Venezuela) — power-first profile, likely .290 hitter, average discipline.
• Victor Torres (RHP, Venezuela) — raw but promising.
• Juan Garcia (RHP, DR) — steady, quick arm.
• Robert Garcia (RHP, DR) — another with upside.
• Humberto Jaime (RHP, DR)
• Diego Talavera (RF, Panama)
• Juan Gomez (C, DR)

It’s a legitimate cluster of talent — a wave that, if developed correctly, could become the backbone of our farm system over the next 4–6 years.
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Jason also updated me on our international complex — the holding grounds where our signees train until they’re old enough for DSL clubs.

Figure 5. Kansas City Royals — International Complex Roster Overview



Two names continue trending upward:

• 3B Emilio Rodriguez
• RF William Moncloua

Both are about a year away from the DSL, and both are progressing steadily. The surprise of the group is SP Mulroney Dumont, our first IAFA eligible to age into DSL action. He’s a wild card — volatility everywhere you look — but sometimes wild cards become aces.

Jason’s work continues to justify the investment. It’s clear he’s building something.
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Front-Office Notes

The day ended with two outcomes that lifted the weight off my shoulders:

• Pat Rose accepted the team trainer position
• Logan Chitwood signaled he favors his AAA pitching coach offer

I exhaled when I saw the notifications. Those two hires — a high-competence trainer and a young, mechanics-minded AAA pitching coach — are the glue pieces that stabilize the entire organizational framework.

A manager feels the difference immediately when the foundation is solid. A GM knows those decisions ripple for years.
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Today didn’t change the headlines. But it strengthened the beams beneath them.

Built for the Crown — OOTP25 Royals Journey
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