A Look Back at the Royals Top 31 Prospects: #19 Tim Melville

It’s been a rough go for the 4th round pick in 2008 who received over a million dollar signing bonus. Still, right-hander Tim Melville was ranked a Kansas City Royals prospect by Baseball America (number 19) heading into the 2012 season.

Via Jen Nevius

After going 2-12 with a 4.97 ERA in 2010, he returned to High-A Wilmington in 2011 and went 11-10. He still allowed too many hits (152 in 135 innings) and walked too many (53).

Melville’s 2012 season was a bust, as he spent the majority of it on the DL. He started the season in Double-A and made six appearances (five starts). He allowed 27 hits in 23.1 innings. He walked 15 and struck out 19. He then reappeared in August with Low-A Kane County. There, Melville made just two starts before being shut down again. With the Cougars, he walked three while striking out four over six innings. He was supposed to make up some innings in the Arizona Fall League, but was replaced just as the season was about to start.

Melville’s fastball is a plus pitch but he doesn’t always command it or throw it was conviction. Scouts believed he can get better if the Royals allow him to throw a slider and two-seam fastball (he did throw a slider late in the 2011 season).

Melville can be regularly seen in the community with whatever team he is playing for. He was awarded the Matt Minker Award in 2011 by the Carolina League, honoring the league’s player who does the best job of serving his community. Melville also was honored by the Royals with the Mike Sweeney Award, which is given to the player who most represents the Royals organization.

I’m not sure what’s next for Melville. First, he obviously needs to get healthy. Then he needs to get a better feel for his pitches. Maybe a move to the bullpen will help? My guess is, he’ll drop out of the BA rankings for the 2013 season and may return to High-A to start the season (if he’s healthy).

*The youtube video is from farmsystem and taken during spring training in 2010.