Kansas City Royals: The Bright Future of the Royals Bullpen

Future Guys

With Keller, Hill, and McCarthy being guys who have a future with the Royals pitching staff, they also have guys who could make the jump this year. The odds of some of the current bullpen arms being moved in July or released by the end of the year is high. For now, we are going to stick with two guys that have a high chance of making their MLB debut this year.

Eric Stout

Stout is trending in the right direction. He seems like a guy that will make the jump sooner rather than later.

Over 130 games and 230.0 innings, Stout has posted a 3.33 ERA. Over the last three years, Stout has 139 strikeouts compared to 62 walks. That is nearly nine strikeouts per nine innings and 3.5 walks per nine innings. That is also a little over 2:1 strikeouts to walks ratio.

The 25-year-old has a lot of upside. This year might be the perfect time to see what he can do against big league talent.

Richard Lovelady

Besides having one of the greatest names in baseball, Lovelady has also been dominate since being drafted in the 10th Round in the 2016 draft.

Over his short time in the minors, he has posted an eye-popping 1.61 ERA over 66 games and 95.0 innings. Every level he has been on he has had success, which is why he elevated to Triple-A in just two years.

During this time in the minors, he has also struck out 109 batters verse 27 walks. That comes out to being 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.5 walks per nine innings. That also comes out to being nearly a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio.

The 22-year-old lefty stands a great chance of being called up this year. If he goes into Omaha and has a lot of success then the Royals might be forced to call him up to see what he can do against big league hitters.