Kansas City Royals: Offseason Prospect Watch, Yefri Del Rosario

Next up on MLB Pipeline’s list of top 30 prospects in the Kansas City Royals organization is right handed pitcher Yefri Del Rosario.

Nineteen year old Yefri Del Rosario signed with the Kansas City Royals in December of 2017 out of the Dominican Republic. He originally signed with the Atlanta Braves organization, but he was declared a free agent after the Braves were found guilty of international signing rule violations.

He is currently listed as the 23rd best prospect in the Royals organization according to MLB Pipeline.

The Statistics

So, Del Rosario has been with the Kansas City Royals since. The righty played for the Lexington Legends in the 2018 season. With the Legends, he started in 15 games, tallying a record of 6-5 and an ERA of 3.19.

Over the course of 79.0 innings, he allowed 69 hits, 36 runs, and 10 home runs. He walked 29 and struck out 72. Overall, his WHIP sat at 1.24 for the 2018 season.

Getting to the Grades

MLB Pipeline grades Yefri Del Rosario as a 45 overall player. His fastball is graded as his best pitch at a 60 grade, followed by his slider at a 55, changeup at 50, and his control is graded as a 45. His fastball has gained velocity already since he has turned pro, averaging 91-97 MPH as opposed to 89-94 when he first came to the league.

According to MLB Pipeline, as he gets stronger, his fastball will only get faster. His slider has the potential to be another plus pitch for him, but he needs to work on consistency. He is also working on turning his changeup into an average pitch.

Scouting Report

He was ranked in the 28th slot in the Kansas City Royals top 30 prospects as chosen by MLB Pipeline at the beginning of the 2018 season. By mid-2018, he rose all the way up to the 23rd rank. He is predicted to hit the majors in the 2021 season, but it remains unknown if it will be coming out of the bullpen or in a starting role.

He started every game he appeared in during 2018 with the Lexington Legends, but he did appear in relief in some of his Rookie League appearances. Some scouts believe he is better suited for a relief role, due to the effort and crossfire in his delivery. But, the Kansas City Royals believe the amount of athleticism he has makes him a better fit for continuing as a starter.