KoK Prospect #1: Wil Myers

What better way to celebrate Halloween than to finally “unveil” prospect #1 on the 2010 Kings of Kauffman prospect list?

Let’s disregard the fact that its just about time for our staff to work on the 2011 version of this list. Instead, let’s simply celebrate the wonder and excellence that is Wil Myers.

Who: William Bradford Myers
DOB: 12/10/1990  Thomasville, North Carolina
Position: C
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Acquired: 2009 Draft (3rd Round)

Rankings:
~ Baseball America #3
~ Diamond Futures #4
~ Royals Review #4
~ The Royal Tower #3
~ John Sickels B
~ Baseball Prospectus #4
~ Scouting Book #6

Stats:

First off let me say that I am absolutely kicking myself for not getting this write up done prior to the start of the 2010 season. As it stands, some people may choose to believe that I put Wil at #1 after I saw how he was doing this season. That could not be further from the truth but I can certainly understand if some of you doubt me. The world is full of distrust, distaste and deceit so really, I understand. It’s my own fault for not having this published in April. I will admit however that it is far easier to justify my assessment after the show he put on during the 2010 season.

My logic prior to the start of the season with my selection of Myers as the top prospect was as follows.

• He plays catcher and wants to be a catcher at the major league level
• I firmly believe he will make it to the majors as a catcher and the I believe the Royals organization feels the same way
• He profiles as a special/impact bat at the major league level
• He is younger than the system’s other two impact bats Hosmer and Moustakas and is a better all-around athlete
• He didn’t have “down” or “disappointing” seasons on his resume like Eric and Moose did heading into the season
• I love some of the Royals left-handed pitching prospects, but history shows that an elite bat behind the plate is far more rare than a true #1 starter/ace pitcher

I’m not going to lie, his April performance had me questioning my ranking but it didn’t sway my belief that Wil would one day become the Royals major league catcher and a cornerstone of the franchise in the process. My confidence wavered only in my ranking and only briefly. He quickly righted his season and earned a promotion to Wilmington. It was in the ultra tough hitting environment that Myers started to make me look really smart (at least he would have if this was published at the start of the season).

Frawley stadium is regarded as one of, if not the toughest place to hit in high-A and Wil hit better at home (0.341/.482/.534) than he did on the road (0.350/.429/.496). If you don’t believe his bat and ability are special by now, then shame on you.

Consider this, between Burlington and Wilmington he collected 141 hits good for a batting average of 0.315 on the season. That in itself is ridiculously impressive for a 19-year old who also happens to be learning the ins and outs of the toughest and most demanding defensive position.

It’s impressive, but what is off the charts for me is the fact that 54 of those 141 hits went for extra bases. He’s not just slapping around singles. He’s squaring the ball and hitting it with authority. When you add in the fact that Myers also drew 85 walks and struck out only 94 times on the season, my excitement about his future, and that of the Kansas City Royals, is completely off the charts. I have never been so excited about a Royals prospect as I am about Wil Myers. That’s not hyperbole, it’s just fact.

As I wrap up this long overdue article, I’ll let you all in on a little secret. Despite the resurgent seasons of Moose and the Hos (who I endlessly defended during the 2009 season on this site) Myers will remain my #1 Royals prospect. The difference, I suspect, is that I won’t be alone in my ranking heading into the 2011 season.

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