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.

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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.

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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

2) Jorge Bonifacio

Jorge Bonifacio signed with the Kansas City Royals as a seven-figure international prospect as a 17-year-old in 2010, and was ranked the #99 best prospect by Baseball Prospectus (2014), and #90 by Baseball America.

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The 22-year-old Bonifacio (he turns 23 in June) stalled at AA NW Arkansas in 2014 and 2015, after a promising start at the level in 2013 when he hit .301/.371/.441.

Bonifacio earned a promotion to AAA this spring, and has been scorching the ball ever since. He’s slashing .336/.382/.582 with 6 home runs, 8 doubles, and 2 triples for the Omaha Stormchasers in what promises to be a breakthrough season for him.

The way Bonifacio is hitting, he’ll find himself back in top 100 lists this winter. He’s finally developed the power that scouts projected for him as an amateur. While he’ll probably be nothing more than an average defensive outfielder, he does have the arm to play right.

Extra base hits are ringing off his bat, but the downside is that he’s struck out 31 times in 122 at bats. That suggests there are holes in his swing that major-league pitchers might exploit, however his production speaks for itself. At age 22, Bonifacio’s start has people thinking about his upside instead of wondering about his disappointing performances in the past.

Next: RF Candidate No. 1