Kansas City Royals Prospect Review: Top Pitchers of April

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals have built a team based on pitching, defense and speed. The defense has certainly been eyepopping, as it seems as though the Royals are playing with twelve men on the field with the way they track down everything. The speed has given the opposition fits, and literally ran teams out of the postseason last year. It is beautiful to behold.

However, for the solid offensive and the stellar defense, the Royals are primarily built around their pitching. The starting rotation has the two young studs in Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy, with several top prospects slated to arrive in the next couple of years. The bullpen has been superlative, earning the praise, and envy, of the rest of baseball. As long as the Royals lead in the sixth inning, the game is virtually over.

However, even with the excellence in the majors, the next wave must arrive at some point. There, in the minors, where the Royals have the likes of Kyle Zimmer and Sean Manaea, we have seen some excellent performances this year. So, let us take a look through those players who have put together an excellent month of April in the Kansas City Royals system.

These players may not be the biggest names or the brightest young stars, but that does not discount their contributions thus far. Perhaps, if they continue these performances, we may see them climb through the system or on to a prospect list.

*statistics current as of May 1*

Next: Not letting Spring Training disappointment get him down

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

4. Robinson Yambati

While the Kansas City Royals would appear to be set at closer for the present and near future, Wade Davis and Greg Holland may one day leave for other destinations. If that happens, the Royals may well find themselves looking internally for their next closer. Well, the only pitcher with more than two saves in the system as of right now might be a place to look.

In seven games, covering 9.1 innings of work, the 24 year old Robinson Yambati has been solid for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.179 WHiP. Yambiti has displayed excellent control thus far, striking out nine while walking only two batters. Perhaps most impressively, in his seven appearances, Yambati has converted five saves, showing that he is quite capable of handling the ninth inning.

That success may well prove to be sustainable. Yambati is an interesting pitcher in terms of ratios, as he has a slightly above average 46.7% ground ball rate, but the opposition does not hit him well, as he has allowed a line drive rate of 11.5%. While he has been generating ground balls, Yambati has also gotten an infield popup on 15.4% of balls in play, perhaps speaking volumes to his ability to sink a baseball.

While Robinson Yambati may be a bit old for the Carolina League, he is certainly proving to be effective. If this success continues, he may be able to make that leap to Northwest Arkansas.

Next: The strikeout machine

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

3. Luke Farrell

The first two seasons in professional baseball were a struggle for Luke Farrell. He had produced a 5.70 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP over 162.2 innings of work, leading to a 3-16 record. While he was able to strike out 158 batters, he just was not having much success.

However, thus far for Wilmington, Farrell has put together a solid season. In his four appearances, Farrell is finally finding success, posting a 3.38 ERA and a 1.179 WHiP. Most impressively, Farrell has struck out a Kansas City Royals system high 27 batters in 18.1 innings while only issuing five walks. It certainly appears as though Farrell has turned a corner this year.

As strong as his performance has been thus far, Luke Farrell could actually do better as the year progresses. Opponents have a .415 batting average on balls in play against him, despite a 16.3% line drive rate that is below average. Those few balls that are put being put into play are just finding holes. Fortunately, Farrell’s strikeout ability has mitigated the damage.

Once the luck on the batted ball normalizes, Farrell could see those impressive numbers only improve. He may even get his second chance at the AA level, giving him a chance to improve his deceptively high 6.35 ERA last year.

Next: The control artist

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

2. Reid Redman

There are certain numbers that stand out when looking at a player. For Kansas City Royals minor leaguer Reid Redman, his career 1.9 walks per nine innings is certainly eye opening.

Redman has actually improved upon that rate this season. In his 14.1 innings of work this year, the former infielder has posted a 2.51 ERA and a 0.907 WHip, striking out 14 batters. As impressive as those numbers are, what truly stands out is that Redman has walked only one batter thus far.

Not only is Reid Redman constantly around the plate, but he is proving to be rather difficult to square up. Opponents are only producing a .237 batting average on balls in play against Redman, as he is simply generating ground ball after ground ball. While his 48.8% ground ball rate is high, he has increased that ratio each season, making him an interesting player to watch.

Even though Redman is 26 years old and in Northwest Arkansas, he is only in his third year pitching. Once he truly gains experience on the mound, Redman could prove to be quite the asset in the future.

Next: Building on last season's breakout

1. Andy Ferguson

Last year, Andy Ferguson produced an excellent season, albeit under the radar. Coming off a difficult year in his first taste of action at the AA level, Ferguson rebounded quite well, getting a brief trial at Omaha.

Sent back to Northwest Arkansas to start the year, Ferguson is certainly making a case to be promoted back to the Storm Chasers. In his twenty innings of work, Ferguson has posted an excellent 0.45 ERA and a 0.850 WHiP, striking out 25 batters. If there is anything to quibble about when it comes to Ferguson’s raw statistics, it would be the seven free passes that he has allowed this season.

However, as the opposition has not been able to touch Ferguson for the most part this year, those walks have not mattered. Thus far in 2015, the opposition has a .225 batting average on balls in play against Ferguson, and have only hit line drives on 14.6% of balls in play. When contact is being made against Ferguson, it has resulted in weak fly balls and infield popups.

At this point, Andy Ferguson may not have much left to prove in Northwest Arkansas and could find himself back in Omaha soon. In the meantime, he has produced a truly remarkable month of April.

Next: Royals Prospect Review: Hot Hitters in April