Kansas City Royals: The updated Royals Top-30 prospects

MLB Pipelines updated the leagues Top-100 prospects, as well as every teams Top-30 prospects. So what changed for the Kansas City Royals?

The Kansas City Royals came into this season with a very underwhelming farm system. In fact, the Top-30 didn’t feature any Top-100 prospects. As players within the system continue to develop, trades during the season, and the draft, the hope is the best players on your list improve and new players surface as potential big leaguers.

With the latest update, the Royals have a lot of new names that have popped up. Which isn’t always a bad thing. As the developing of players continue throughout the year, the Royals do seem to have some promising prospects.

Here is the newly updated Top-30:

1. Brady Singer (RHP) – Unassigned
2. Khalil Lee (OF) – Northwest Arkansas (AA)
3. Seuly Matias (OF) – Lexington (A)
4. Jackson Kowar (RHP) – Lexington (A)
5. MJ Melendez (C) – Lexington (A)
6. Nick Pratto (1B) – Lexington (A)
7. Nicky Lopez (SS/2B) – Omaha (AAA)
8. Daniel Lynch (LHP) – Lexington (A)
9. Kris Bubic (LHP) – Idaho Falls (Rookie)
10. Michael Gigliotti (OF) – Lexington (A)
11. Josh Staumont (RHP) – Omaha (AAA)
12. Carlos Hernandez (RHP) – Lexington (A)
13. Richard Lovelady (LHP) – Omaha (AAA)
14. Kyle Isbel (OF) – Lexington (A)
15. Blake Perkins (OF) – Wilmington (A+)
16. Emmanuel Rivera (3B) Wilmington (A+)
17. Kelvin Gutierrez (3B) – Northwest Arkansas (AA)
18. Austin Cox (LHP) – Burlington (Rookie)
19. Daniel Tillo (LHP) – Wilmington (A+)
20. Trevor Oaks (RHP) – Omaha (AA)
21. Brewer Hicklen (OF) – Wilmington (A+)
22. Jeison Guzman (SS) – Lexington (A)
23. Elvis Luciano (RHP) – Burlington (Rookie)
24. Yefri Del Rosario (RHP) – Lexington (A)
25. Jonathan Bowlan (RHP) – Idaho Falls (Rookie)
26. Scott Blewett (RHP) – Northwest Arkansas (AA)
27. Janser Lara (RHP) – Lexington (A)
28. D.J. Burt (2B) – Wilmington (A+)
29. Foster Griffin (LHP) – Northwest Arkansas (AA)
30. Ofreidy Gomez (RHP) – Wilmington (A+)

*Recent trade addition: Brett Phillips – 8th (MLB)            

What to take away with the new list

The list shows a large number of players are in the lower levels of the Royals system. 22 of the 30 are still in A-Ball, and only three are in Omaha. For the Royals, this proves that they are still a few years away from being competitive. Whether that is three years or six years depends on how fast the player develop.

Something to take note of is the number of prospects that came from this years draft class. Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 14, 18, and 25 are all from this same draft class. That means one of two things. One, the Royals did a great job drafting this year. Two, the Royals had a very weak system. In my opinion, both are viable choices.

Some names that could be argued for not being on the list are:

• Frank Schwindel (1B) – Omaha (AAA)
• Elier Hernandez (OF) – Omaha (AAA)
• Gabriel Cancel (2B) – Wilmington (A+)
• Travis Jones (3B) – Wilmington (A+)

Final Thoughts

When looking at the numbers some of the players are putting up in their respected levels, the Royals do seem to have a bright future. If players like Isbel, Singer, Kowar, Lee, Melendez, and Matias can develop, the next wave has a strong chance of helping the big league club.

In fact, the baseball world finally believes the Royals have a Top-100 prospect. Singer came in at No. 67 for the Royals. While he has yet to throw a ball at the professional level, he has a chance of being the Royals future ace, if not the rotations No2 pitcher.

With other pitchers coming through the system like Kowar, Lynch, Hernandez, and Tillo the Royals seem to have a chance at having a solid rotation in 2020/2021 when the rebuild could be coming to an end and they could be contending.

As the trade deadline finishes up, some of the prospects the Royals get in return could crack this list. As of right now, the Royals have made two trades and received for five prospects. Three trades if you count the one for Brian Goodwin. With two more trades potentially happening the Top-30 could still change.

So what do you think? Any names you think should be on the list that aren’t? Are you excited to see any names on the list? Any prospect you’re high on? Let us know below!