KC Royals MLB Draft: Asa Lacy would be a tremendous addition

Whether or not he’ll be available at pick No. 4 is up in the air, but Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy would be a great selection by the KC Royals.

We’re merely a handful of hours away from the beginning of the 2020 MLB Draft. The KC Royals hold the fourth overall pick, which gives them plenty of options to choose from. Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson and Vanderbilt’s Austin Martin seem to be the two best prospects in this year’s draft, with Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy garnering plenty of attention for the No. 3 overall pick. What if he’s available when the Royals pick, though?

Lacy’s dominance in college would be hard for the KC Royals to ignore:

A quick look at Lacy’s college numbers will tell you all you need to know. After a great freshman season that saw him pitch primarily out of the bullpen, Lacy made 15 starts as a sophomore and won eight of them. Posting a 2.33 ERA with a whopping 130 strikeouts in just 88.2 innings, he was outstanding. He then came back even better to start 2020, going 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA in four starts to open the season before play was suspended. Going strictly by the stats, it’s easy to see why he’s receiving top-three consideration.

Let’s be realistic, though: Lacy may not be available for the KC Royals to pick:

Simply put: Lacy is the most complete college arm in the draft. Emerson Hancock may have better control, but Lacy has the potential to boast four legitimate plus pitches at the next level and has whiffability, or the ability to miss bats, that others couldn’t dream of. The floor may be a bit higher with Hancock but as long as Lacy can learn to repeat and control his delivery, he should be a better major league pitcher. His fastball-slider combo is already prepped for the pro game.

How Lacy fits with the KC Royals:

While a guy like Hancock may rise through the ranks of the minor league system quicker than Lacy, the Royals can afford to exercise some patience here. Lacy’s stuff is premium, so as long as he can continue to work on his command, he should adjust to the minors just fine. In a rotation that could one day feature arms like Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch and Kris Bubic, selecting Lacy would provide the organization with some flexibility and an added insurance plan in the event that one of the aforementioned players gets hurt or doesn’t work out. It’d be a hand-in-glove fit.

Be sure to follow along with Kings of Kauffman on Twitter (@KingsOfKauffman) all night for all of your KC Royals-related needs. Also, check out our Royals draft primer if you haven’t already.