KC Royals: Internal Options To Boost Right Field

KC Royals right fielder Jarrod Dyson is failing to get on base about a month into his trial as an everyday player. With the Kansas City Royals offense in need of a lift, general manager Dayton Moore could look to some internal options for help.

The Kansas City Royals minor league system has enjoyed a strong start to the 2016 season. Numerous prospects whose development appeared stalled have turned things around, improving the outlook for the next wave of prospects on their way to Kansas City.

With the organization facing a horde of players becoming eligible for free-agency in 2017, the KC Royals can very much use some help from the farm. In fact, some of the farmhands look ready to help the big club today.

Before Dayton Moore looks to the trade market to help his offense, he should at least consider some of the following minor-league talents:

Next: RF Candidate No. 4

4) Reymond Fuentes

The 25-year-old Fuentes earned a roster spot coming out of Surprise with a .386/.453/.632 spring combined with Jarrod Dyson’s oblique injury that caused him to miss the first two weeks of the season. Fuentes managed to get into six games with the Kansas City Royals and hit a mere .238/.273/.238 in 21 at bats before getting sent back down.

More from KC Royals Prospects

• The Maikel Garcia mistake the KC Royals may be making
• KC Royals Prospects: 7 selected for Fall League play
• KC Royals Prospects: What to do with Stephen Woods Jr.?
• KC Royals: 3 good candidates for 2 September callups
• KC Royals Prospects News: Top draft pick is sizzling

Fuentes hasn’t gotten going back in AAA, hitting .276/.389/.267 in nine games, but he batted a solid .308/.360/.422 for the Stormchasers last season. The speedy outfielder has some skills prized by the KC Royals front office, with 29 stolen bases in 2015 at AAA along with good range.

However, the 6’0″ 160 pound Fuentes has never hit more than nine home runs in a season and looks like more of a fourth outfielder at the major-league level rather than an everyday player.

The Red Sox drafted Fuentes no. 28 overall in the first round in 2009. He moved to the Padres organization along with Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo in a trade for Adrian Gonzalez. The KC Royals acquired him from San Diego for pitcher Kyle Bartsch in A.J. Preller’s first trade as GM of the Padres.

Next: RF Candidate No. 3

3) Jose Martinez

27-year-old Martinez (who turns 28 in July) set a modern Pacific Coast League record by winning the 2015 batting title with a .384 batting average. Most guys hitting that well get called up to the majors before they can qualify for a AAA batting crown.

More from Kings of Kauffman

• KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: 3 Tampa Bay pitchers
• Grading the 2022 KC Royals: The $25 million man
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Expectations met
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 3 update

However, Martinez suffered through a slow start this spring and watched Reymond Fuentes get the early-season gig to replace Jarrod Dyson with the KC Royals.

Jose Martinez then had more trouble getting out of the gate in AAA. However, he’s boosted his slash line to a respectable .287/.345/.402 with a strong surge the past ten days when he hit .317. In short, he’s looking a lot more like the AAA batting crown winner that seemed ready for a shot in MLB.

The 6’6″ Martinez played right field last season, but has been appearing at first base for Omaha this season. He’s considered an average defender in right field, which means he’d be a defensive downgrade for KC’s Ultimate Outfield with Jarrod Dyson on the field.

The Kansas City Royals acquired Martinez as a minor league free-agent after noticing him playing Independent League baseball. He was an international signing by the Baltimore Orioles in 2006, and has played in the Orioles, White Sox, and Braves organizations before landing with the Royals in 2015.

Martinez would be strong candidate to get the job if the next two guys on this list weren’t scorching the ball:

Next: RF Candidate No. 2

1) Brett Eibner

Brett Eibner is 27-year-old, and thus is not perceived to have the upside of Jorge Bonifacio. But, he’s smashing the ball right now—including banging three home runs for AAA Omaha Thursday night.

However, what really impresses me about Eibner is his patience at the plate. He sports a .415 on base percentage to go with a .318 batting average and a .542 slugging percentage. Eibner has always shown a good eye at the plate throughout his career, and has 19 walks in 109 at bats this season.

More from KC Royals Prospects

• The Maikel Garcia mistake the KC Royals may be making
• KC Royals Prospects: 7 selected for Fall League play
• KC Royals Prospects: What to do with Stephen Woods Jr.?
• KC Royals: 3 good candidates for 2 September callups
• KC Royals Prospects News: Top draft pick is sizzling

That’s a skill that the KC Royals could use on the big club.

Unfortunately, Eibner’s walks, home runs, and high batting average also comes with 28 strikeouts in 109 at bats.  Like Jorge Bonifacio, his swing has some holes that major-league pitchers could presumably exploit. He’s still been productive nonetheless.

The Kansas City Royals drafted Brett Eibner in the second round of the 2010 draft from the University of Arkansas. Scouts knew that Eibner’s hit tool would be a project despite his athletic gifts as a defender in centerfield. One reason that Eibner was happy to get picked by the KC Royals organization is that they were interested in him as a position player. Other teams scouted him as a pitching prospect.

The benefit of calling up Eibner is that he’s both swinging a hot bat and could at least help the Kansas City Royals on defense in right.

Other possibles include Bubba Starling, but his average has crashed as he’s attempting to hit for more power in his age 23 season. He’s making progress, but he’s not major-league ready. Also in the mix is the hot hitting Hunter Dozier, who just earned a promotion to AAA.

Dozier has been a third baseman in his KC Royals career, but did play six games in left in 2015. Perhaps Dozier can transition to the outfield, but he would likely remain a liability on defense until he can put the time in to develop.

Next: Five Reasons Royals Fans Should Be Concerned

I doubt we see him playing outfield with the Kansas City Royals anytime soon.