Kansas City Royals: Team sending 6 players to Arizona Fall League

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The Kansas City Royals will be well represented in the Arizona Fall League as they will have 6 members from various affiliates.

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is such a great concept in that it allows the opportunity for Kansas City Royals’ prospects to keep working on elements of their game even after their affiliates’ seasons are over. The thing that I enjoy most about baseball is that there really never is a true offseason for a baseball fan.

Sure, the Major League Baseball season concludes at the end of the World Series, but there’s the Arizona Fall League, winter ball, and then Major League Baseball kicks it back into high gear with the winter meetings in San Diego that rolls right back into Spring Training. Rinse and repeat.

Most know that the Kansas City Royals best prospects are in the lower levels, so it’s really no surprise that they have six players that will be participating in it. The great part is that teammates play on the team but several MLB teams will makeup one AFL roster. The Royals squad is assigned to the Surprise Saguaros, which also consists of members from the Pirates, Cardinals, Rangers, and Blue Jays.

Let’s take a look at the six prospects the Royals will be sending to Surprise, Arizona. I’ve also included an area that each player needs to focus on during their time in the AFL.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Royals will have three pitchers in the AFL

Daniel Lynch, LHP

Lynch was a first-round pick in the 2018 draft out of Virginia. He spent this season split between High-A Wilmington, the Arizona rookie league, the Burlington rookie league, and back to High-A. With Wilmington, Lynch made 14 starts, throwing 72.1 innings with 71 strikeouts to just 22 walks all to the tune of a 3.36 ERA.

What he needs to work on:

It’s difficult to do in the AFL, as players are used in shorter segments, but Lynch needs to limit the amount of contact as he allowed opponents to bat 0.258 off him at High-A.

Daniel Tillo, LHP

The 6’5″ southpaw was a third round pick in the 2017 draft out of Iowa Western Community College. Tillo started the 2019 season with High-A Wilmington, making 20 starts with a 3.77 ERA. He was promoted to Double-A NW Arkansas at the beginning of August and has been really good there as well. He’s made 3 starts (7 appearances) and allowed just one home run in 21.2 innings.

What he needs to work on:

Command was an issue for Tillo at the High-A level as he struck out 64 but also walked 43 batters. Look for him to cut down on the free passes.

Tad Ratliff, RHP

Ratliff was a non-drafted free agent signing in 2017. I’d say he’s made the most of his opportunity with the team has he was excellent for High-A Wilmington this season, serving as the team’s closer. He made 40 appearances in 2019 and converted 23/28 saves. Ratliff tosses 101.2 innings in those appearances, which is amazing in itself and struck out 115 batters while walking just 19.

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What he needs to work on:

Ratliff looked like he started to wear down in his final 10 starts, as he allowed 9 earned runs in 13.1 innings. Look for him to limit the damage in the AFL.

Similarily, they’ll have three position players.

Gabriel Cancel, 1B

Cancel was a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft. He slashed 0.239/0.304/0.424 with 29 doubles, 18 home runs, and 67 RBI’s. He struck out 141 times in 119 games and took just 34 walks. He’s listed on the AFL roster as a first basemen but he primarily played second base for Double-A NW Arkansas this year. It will be interesting to see if he sees all of his time at first base.

What he needs to work on:

Cancel strikes out way too much. In his last 10 games, he batted just 0.146 with 15 strikeouts. Look for him to cut down on the K’s.

Kyle Isbel, OF

A third-round pick in the 2018 draft out of UNLV, Isbel did just ok in 49 games at High-A Wilmington this season. Last season, he batted 0.289 in Single-A Lexington but that didn’t carry over to the next level. He slashed 0.223/0.284/0.375 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs and 23 RBI’s.

What he needs to work on:

Isbel’s 0.659 OPS would have put him in the bottom third of the Carolina League had he qualified with enough plate appearances. Look for him work on getting those hits and walks up.

Brewer Hicklen, OF

Hicklen was a seventh-round pick out of UAB in 2017. He spent all of this season with High-A Wilmington and slashed 0.269/0.372/0.481 with 12 doubles, 7 triples, 14 home runs and 50 RBI’s. He finished the season strong, hitting 0.385 in his final 10 games with 5 home runs and 9 RBI’s.

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What he needs to work on:

Boy, it’s hard to nitpick on Hicklen. His OPS was third best in the Carolina League and had the 5th most home runs as well. Just keep on keepin’ on.

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