MLB.com Names Four Royals Prospects to Postseason Top 100 List

Before 2011, everyone under the sun called the Royals system the Best Ever, including landing nine players on Baseball America’s top 100. Players have graduated to the majors or fallen off since but they still have a strong group and four members landed on MLB.com’s top 100 prospects.

Those four are:

• Wil Myers (4th overall)
• Bubba Starling (22nd)
• Jake Odorizzi (32nd)
• Kyle Zimmer (69th)

There’s a chance that by the start of next season, Myers could be the top ranked prospect according to many, as Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado – first and third overall respectively – have already been called up to the majors. The number two overall prospect, Dylan Bundy, could get called up at some point this year as well (though it’s less likely the later into the year we get).

Regardless, Myers had a strong season and deserves his spot in the rankings. He’s already picked up multiple accolades for his big 2012 production.

Starling’s first professional season has to be considered a success, even despite a heartbreaking loss in the Appalachian League Championship. There were concerns that he wouldn’t adjust to the pro game well, but he showed a lot of power and speed and hit well enough at the rookie level. He’s still refining his game and hoping to avoid strikeouts with his current frequency (30.2%) of the time, but at least he was able to work walks as well (12.1%).

Zimmer also had a good first season as a pro after signing shortly after the Royals drafted him. He started nine games between Arizona and Kane County before being shut down for minor elbow surgery. Odorizzi is in Omaha with Myers as they attempt to defend their Pacific Coast League championship. After a 2.93 ERA in Triple A over 107.1 innings in 2012, he’s put himself into position for a rotation spot out of spring training next season.