KC Royals draft check-in: 2017 edition

After throwing cold water on our top picks in 2017 it is probably important I point out what an excellent job the KC Royals did with the rest of the 2017 draft.

With the 73rd overall pick in 2017, we chose Evan Steele. Steele is a lefty that throws a mid 90s fastball with movement and a devastating slider for an out pitch. He needs to stay healthy. He missed 2018 and only made it through 49 innings in 2019. But, I ultimately think he winds up as a bullpen arm before he makes the big leagues. He strikes guys out and he does not issue walks.

Daniel Tillo was the 90th overall pick in 2017. Tillo is an excellent pitching prospect. He is a big man who throws a 96 MPH sinking fastball from an odd release point. His groundball rate last season was over 60 percent. He has not struck out a ton of guys thus far in his career, but he is a weak contact creating machine.

Tillo has been a starter thus far in his career, and I expect that to continue at least for the near future. But he worked as a reliever in both the Arizona Fall League and for Team USA this offseason. He appears to be suited for that role. Out of the pen, his fastball touches as high as 98 MPH. This seems to have increased the usefulness of his 88 MPH slider. I expect he will be in the big league bullpen at some point this season.

Michael Gigliotti was the fifth player chose by the KC Royals in 2017. I am not as high on Gigliotti as some, but the young man gets on base. His On Base Percentage through more than 150 minor league games is nearly .400. He is also 24 years old and has yet to see even AA ball. And he has almost no pop. This is a big season for him. He is reportedly an excellent defensive center fielder. If he can keep hitting and getting on base he can become a big leaguer.

The KC Royals made some excellent picks in the middle and later rounds in 2017. Which may just be what ultimately makes it a good draft.

Charlie Neuweiler was a high school pitcher from Queens and was not chosen until the 150th selection of the 2017 draft. In my opinion, he was an absolute steal for the KC Royals. There have been stints in his career when he struggles with his control. But, there have also been extended periods when he is almost unhittable.

Neuweiler’s curveball may ultimately be as good as any in the organization. He just turned 21 years old and has already pitched nearly 250 professional innings. He has also struck out a batter per inning over his career. Last season alone he threw over 148 innings and struck out 153. He has been grossly overlooked ever since the impressive draft class of 2018 came storming into the minor leagues. But, do not sleep on this kid. He may very well be a part of the big league rotation one day. And he was an excellent draft choice.

Thirty picks after Neuweiler the KC Royals chose Tyler Zuber with the 180th pick overall. Zuber has incredible command. And not just for a team that likes to issues walks like the KC Royals, for any organization. Through 55 innings in 2019 he struck out 68 and walked only 16. Through three years in the minors and more than 133 innings, he has issued only 39 walks. He has also struck out nearly a dozen for every 9 innings.

Zuber does not work with an overpowering fastball. Instead, he has an excellent breaking ball and incredible command. He was drafted to become a bullpen piece. I am not sure he ever becomes a lockdown closer, but he can certainly be a late-innings guy. He has only seen 26 innings of AA ball, but do not be surprised if he works his way into the big league bullpen this season.

Brewer Hicklen, an outfielder that also played football in college, was the KC Royals choice in the 2017 draft after Zuber. Hicklen has consistently gotten on base and consistently shown that he can hit with power. Through 1100 plate appearances in the minors he has on OPS over .840. He is now 24 years old and still strikes out too much. But he has absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching and it is time to see what he can in the higher levels of the minor leagues. He has the ability to become an excellent platoon in a corner outfield position.

To their immense credit, the KC Royals continued to add possible contributors even in the late rounds of 2017.

Holden Capps was chosen by the KC Royals with the 240th overall pick in 2017. He has pitched 168 innings and struck out 169 batters. His walks per 9 are well under 3. He has given up almost no homeruns. He will already be 25 this season and only has 12 innings of AA ball under his belt. But he has the makings of a possible bullpen piece.

J.C. Cloney was chosen thirty picks after Capps. He does not have overwhelming stuff. But he throws strikes and gets guys out. He has made it through 101 innings of AA ball without giving up the longballs or issuing walks. And he works the zone enough to strike out more than 7 per 9 innings.

The KC Royals chose Marlin Willis in the 18th round of the 2017 draft out of high school in Georgia. He has now thrown more than 109 innings of rookie ball. Each season his strikeout totals have risen. He still walks too many but he has multiple pitches that may develop as big-league plus pitches and he is not even 22 years old yet.

Travis Jones was around until the 29th round in 2017. I would like to see Jones continue to walk a little more and strike out a little less. But this is a young utility player that has hit the ball and hit the ball hard at every level. He is going to be 24 this season so it is time to see what he can do in AA. But, I really like his chances. And, I absolutely love what he has shown as the 29th round pick.

The 2017 draft was far from perfect. But, it is a perfect example of how you may miss on some of your top picks but can still put together a very nice draft. Tillo and Zuber are going to be big league pitchers, at some point. I believe Steele will, as well. If a Capps or a Cloney also makes it to the bigs, that is some good work filling out a bullpen with draft picks. And, if a Hicklen or Gigliotti actually becomes a big-league contributor, this becomes a very good draft.

It is early enough that most questions about the 2017 draft cannot yet be answered. It is fair, though, to give the KC Royals credit for their mid and late-round picks. Even if guys like Travis Jones and Marlin Willis become nothing but AAA pieces, those were good draft picks. And if Charlie Neuweiler can fulfill his potential or one of either Pratto or Melendez can turn it around and begin hitting again, this could quickly become an excellent draft overall.