The three KC Royals prospects that need promoted ASAP

The KC Royals franchise is in need of youthful injection to draw in fans and help combat an already difficult situation.

As the baseball world spins along with the rest humanity in dealing with the ongoing health crisis, the KC Royals must find a way to make this season engaging for the fans.  Instead of dipping into the well of veterans who are serviceable but not game-changers, initiating prospects into the big league world will make a positive difference.

What a perfect year to do it as it seems Major League Baseball will enact new rules that will require teams to play multiple doubleheaders and fewer days off.  The talk is at least starting with a 29-man roster and possibly carrying that throughout the season.  The need for more pitching and giving position players a rest will be vital.

Kansas City is not anticipated to be in the playoff hunt, in fact many pundits have picked them to finish last in the division.  Even if the playoffs expand to 10 or 14 teams, there is little chance that KC would be involved. No harm will done by giving young players important experience at the major league level.  It will prepare them for 2021 or 2022 when many expect the Royals will be competitive again.

There are plenty of bright spots in the minor leagues and giving a few of them a chance to shine or stumble on the big stage will lead to invaluable lessons.  It will also give the major league coaching staff more interaction with these prospects, something that was taken away when spring training was postponed.

With the 26-man roster in play, we take a look at the additional three players the team should bring up to the big league roster.  They are all prospects and they are on pace to be major contributors to the team in the very near future.

Although only one minor league season is under the KC Royals’ prospect belt, he is ready for the spotlight.

The first round, 18th overall pick in 2018, Brady Singer is ready to test the waters in Major League Baseball.  He will turn 24 this August and pitched three years in the Southeastern Conference with the Florida Gators.

His last year in college saw him post a 12-3 record with a 2.55 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00.  Pretty solid numbers in an ultra competitive conference and against non-wooden bats.  Facing tough hitters is something he has already done for the majority of his last few years.

The Royals rested him after the June draft and he did not play in the professionals until 2019.  He started at Advance-A ball and quickly made the jump to Double-A.  Overall, Singer was 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.187 WHIP and struck out 138 batters in 148 1/3 innings pitched.

He quickly racked up awards and distinctions being named a MiLB.com Organizational All-Star, Futures Game Selection, Mid-Season All-Star with the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Pitcher of the Week for Northwest Arkansas in late July.

A non-roster invitee to big league camp this spring, Singer started off very well and despite struggling a bit in his last appearance, he still held his own.  He punched out six batters in five and two-thirds frames and gave up seven hits.  His control was a bit off walking four batters but that is an anomaly and should correct itself with more time.

With multiple doubleheaders, he would be perfect to slide into starting on those days if not more often.  It would be wise to have him pitch as many games at Kauffman as possible to drive up ticket sales and build fan support.

It is reported that Singer was already a candidate to make the team as the fifth starter, we will see if he still gets that much deserved opportunity once baseball restarts.

There are no exciting arms in the KC Royals bullpen to look forward to watching this season; this guy could change that.

It is no secret I have a love affair with the young fireballer that goes by the name Tyler Zuber.  After a couple of decent years in the minors, he absolutely lit up professional hitters in 2019.

The beginning of his dominant reliever role started during his last year at Arkansas State where he tossed 52 1/3 innings in 25 games producing a 6-1 record, 2.06 ERA, 0.860 WHIP and struck out 80 batters.  That pushed his stock up to the point the Royals took him in the sixth round of the 2017 draft.

In his first minors stop, he punched out 38 hitters in 25 frames and converted all six of his save opportunities with Burlington.  In 2018, Zuber spent half of the year with Lexington and again was 100% successful in closing out leads going 9-for-9.  Forty-eight more strikeouts were notched in just 29 innings.

2019 was a coming out party for those who were not aware of this prospect.  Between Advanced-A and Double-A, Zuber posted a 1.79 ERA, converted 21 of 26 saves, had a 0.90 WHIP and punched out 68 batters in 55 1/3 innings.

If you were not sure if he is worthy of an addition to the team, hopefully this changed your mind. There is no reason he should stay in the minors and a back-end of the bullpen role should be granted to him sooner than later.