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Royals MiLB: KC Sends 8 Players To Arizona Fall League
The Royals will send eight players to the Arizona Fall League, which begins play October 11. The AFL is an advanced instructional league designed to develop specific skills in mostly high-minors players.
The eight players from the Kansas City Royals organization are: 1) first baseman Ryan O’Hearn (AA) , 2) pitcher Josh Staumont (AA), 3) second baseman Corey Toups (AA), 4) third baseman Mauricio Ramos (AA) , 5) outfielder Alfredo Escalera (AA), 6) reliever Evan Beal (AAA), 7) reliever Jake Newberry (A+), 8) reliever Eric Stout (AA).
All eight Kansas City prospects will play for the Surprise, Saguaros.
Of the group, only O’Hearn (no.7), Staumont (no. 11), and Toups (no. 30) rank among the Royals top 30 prospects according to MLBPipeline.com.
P Josh Staumont (age 22)
Recently, I wrote that Josh Staumont possessed the highest upside of any prospect in the KC Royals system. He was a second round draft pick in 2015 from Azusa Pacific University.
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Staumont throws a fastball that averages in mid 90’s as a starter, and can touch 102 mph as a reliever. He also can throw a high 90’s sinker. Scouts rate his fastball an 80 on the 20-80 scale. He pairs that heater with a hard 12-6 curve, and a split-fingered change-up. He’s got ace stuff, but struggles with control
He went 3-11, with a 4.45 ERA in A+ and AA combined with an 11.9 K/9 and an outrageously high 7.8 BB/9. One little ray of hope is that his control slightly improved at AA NW Arkansas. He posted a 3.65 ERA with a 7.1 BB/9 and 12.4 K/9 for the Naturals in 2016. This kid has major league stuff right now if he can learn to get the ball over the plate. He struggles repeating his mechanics which is surely why he’s going to the AFL.
Next: Other Top Prospects
Other Top Prospects
1B Ryan O’Hearn (age 23)
Ryan O’Hearn is one of the more intriguing bats in the system. Drafted in the eighth round in 2014 from Sam Houston State, O’Hearn crushed High A Wilmington with a .352/.408/.670 triple slash in 98 plate appearances. That performance won him a quick promotion to AA NW Arkansas where he hit a solid .257/.342/.435.
His problem is that he strikes out way too much with 150 whiffs in 543 plate appearances. He does, however, show nice patience at the plate with 56 walks and power (21 home runs). Scouts consider his defense average at first base, but he doesn’t have much potential to play anywhere else on the diamond.
O’Hearn is one of those 1B/DH types that will have to show a big stick to succeed in MLB.
2B Corey Toups (age 23)
Toups was a 15th round pick in 2014 also from Sam Houston State like fellow Royals prospect Ryan 0’Hearn. Corey Toups is a 5’10” 170 lb. middle infielder that doesn’t have the arm to play shortstop on an everyday basis in major-league baseball.
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Though he’s got a nice 22 stolen bases against 4 caught stealing at Wilmington and NW Arkansas this season, he really only has average foot speed. His calling card is his bat. In three years in the KC Royals system, Toups has hit a combined .288/.380/.450. This season he’s hit a solid .266/.355/.434 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, and 11 home runs. Toups has nice pop for a middle infielder, but strikes out more than you’d like (125 Ks in 554 plate appearances). Like former college teammate Ryan O’Hearn, he takes his walks with 57 BBs.
One notable point is that his numbers improved from a .771 OPS to .798 OPS after an early season promotion from High A to AA.
Next: The Fringe Guys
Fringe Prospects
3B Mauricio Ramos (age 24)
The Kansas City Royals signed Mauricio Ramos as an international prospected from Colombia in 2011 at age 19. Ramos has steady advanced through the system, hitting full season ball at Class A Lexington in 2014.
This season, Ramos slashed a solid .281/.322/.398 at NW Arkansas with 25 doubles, 1 triples, and 9 home runs.
He’s not a particularly exciting prospect, but could have a future as a utility infielder in the major leagues. He’s played 1B, 2B, and 3B in his career, appearing only at the corners for NW Arkansas in 2016.
0F Alfredo Escalera (age 21)
Alfredo Escalera was born in Puerto Rico, but was drafted in the 8th round in 2012 by the Royals. He played high school ball in the United States.
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He’s an athletic prospect that has played all three outfield positions at both High A and AA this season. He’s steadily advanced through the KC system playing at High A Wilmington (.269/.334/.343) and AA NW Arkansas (.286/.302/.396) this season.
He doesn’t possess blazing speed, but he’s quick enough to post 10 steals against 4 caught stealing this season in 118 games. He’s another guy that strikes out more than you’d like (119 Ks in 506 PA) but doesn’t take walks (25 BB).
RP Evan Beal (age 23)
The 6′ 5″, 195 lb. righty was an 21st round draft pick by the KC Royals in the 2014 draft from the University of South Carolina. Oddly enough, the Royals had drafted him once before, picking him in the 8th round in 2011 out of high school.
Evan Beal has enjoyed a nice season (3.56 ERA, 68.1 IP, with a 7.6 K/9) while moving from High A, AA, and AAA in 2016. He earned a quick promotion from Wilmington with a 1.84 ERA in 14.1 IP. Pitched well at NW Arkansas (3.99 ERA in 49.2 IP) before getting a cup of coffee at AAA Omaha (4.50 ERA in 4.0 IP).
RP Jake Newberry (age 21)
The 6’2″ 195 lb. right-handed Newberry is the classic underdog. The Kansas City Royals didn’t draft him until the 37th round in 2012. But, the low round lottery ticket has advanced through the system until he reached High A Wilmington in 2016.
Jake Newberry started the year repeating Class A Lexington, but earned a promotion for 9.2 scoreless innings to open the season. He also pitched well at High A Wilmington with a 2.96 ERA with a 8.1 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9.
RP Eric Stout (age 23)
The Kansas City Royals drafted the 6’3″ 185 lb. Stout in the 13th round in 2014. KC drafted the lefty Stout as a junior at Butler University in Indiana.
Eric Stout pitched at four levels in 2015 after starting at the Pioneer League (rookie) in 2014. He repeated AA NW Arkansas in 2016, compiling a 4.04 ERA in 69.0 IP with an 8.7 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9.
Conclusion
As a group, the only really exciting prospect is Josh Staumont. If he can learn to repeat his mechanics and find even average command, he can become a top-shelf MLB pitcher.
Ryan O’Hearn might become a league average starter at first base, but he needs to improve his contact rate. He strikes out way too much to succeed in Kansas City. Corey Toups looks like a utility player to me, but if he continues to hit he could become something more.
Next: Should Ned Yost Have Used Matt Strahm Earlier?
Meanwhile, Mauricio Ramos and Alfredo Escalera look like fringe bench players, at best, to me. Evan Beal, Jake Newberry, and Eric Stout profile as middle-relievers at the major-league level.