A Look Back at the Royals Top 31 Prospects: #9 Chris Dwyer

Heading into the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked left-hander Chris Dwyer as the Kansas City Royals 9th prospect.

Via Jen Nevius

It has been a rough go for Dwyer since his first full season in 2010, which he split between High-A and Double-A after signing in 2009 as a draft eligible freshman out of Clemson. Delivery issues have been his problem, as he tends to throw across his body and not finish pitches. That takes away the bite on his 12-to-6 curveball.

The Royals envisioned him as a middle of the rotation starter but he has not harnessed his pitches. In 2011 with NW Arkansas, he was 8-10 with a 5.60 ERA in 27 starts. Over 141 innings, he allowed 124 hits (14 homeruns) and walked 78, compared to 126 strikeouts.

Dwyer returned to the Naturals to start the 2012 season, but he went 5-8 with a 5.25 ERA in 17 games (16 starts). He allowed 79 hits (13 homeruns) and walked 44 in 85.2 innings. He struck out 71. Despite his struggles, the Royals pushed him to Triple-A, where he was worse. In nine starts, he allowed 73 hits (ten homeruns) and walked 24 in 50.1 innings. He struck out 33, but opponents hit .349 against him and he finished with a 6.97 ERA.

The Royals could send Dwyer back to Omaha, but they could also send him back to Double-A, as he has yet to master that level. He will be 25 in April, so his prospect status is running out.

MLB.com ranks Dwyer as the Royals 12th best prospect. Interestingly, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star does not rank him as a top prospect.

Check out this video by kcscoliny from the 2011 Royals Futures Game, as Dwyer faces second baseman Johnny Giavotella: