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KC Royals: Ten Things That Have Gone Right In 2016

By John Viril

Aug 21, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Royals celebrate after defeating and sweeping the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Royals celebrate after defeating and sweeping the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier (60) throws the ball to first base during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier (60) throws the ball to first base during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Hunter Dozier And Jorge Bonifacio

Hunter Dozier and Jorge Bonifacio both fell off the prospect radar due to two seasons without much progress before 2016. Both had hit a wall at AA, and many analysts doubted their ability to progress to the major leagues despite coming into the league as highly-regarded prospects.

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2016 has been a breakthrough season for both players.

Hunter Dozier

The Kansas City Royals picked third baseman Hunter Dozier no. 8 overall in the 2013 draft. He hit well in the lower minor leagues, but got stuck at AA NW Arkansas in 2014 and 2015, slashing .209/.303/.312 and .213/.281/.349.

Dozier began his third go-around in AA in 2016, but this time he dominated. This spring, Dozier hit .305/.400/.642 with 8 home runs in 95 at bats. His performance earned him a quick promotion to AAA Omaha where he has slashed .303/.365/.513 with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs.

The 24-year-old Dozier appears ready for the major leagues and is a prime candidate for a September call-up when rosters expand to 40.

Jorge Bonifacio

Twenty-three year old corner outfielder Jorge Bonifacio was a seven-figure international signing in 2010. Bonifacio hit the bottom of top-100 lists in 2014 after advancing three levels to hit .301/.371/.441 in his first taste of AA action at age 20 in 2013.

However, he stalled in 2014 and 2015. Bonifacio slashed .230/.302/.611 in 2014 and .240/.305/.416 in 2015 as he disappeared from prospect lists. But, Bonifacio has rebounded to hit a much-improved .269/.341/.457 with 17 dingers at AAA Omaha in 2016.

The KC Royals have a horde of position players hitting free-agency after the 2017 season. Hunter Dozier and Jorge Bonifacio stand to become cheap replacements to help fill out the Kansas City Royals lineup as “second wave” prospects.

Next: No. 9

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