KOK staff reacts to KC Royals’ first two 2020 draft picks

Night one of the 2020 MLB Draft is in the books. The Kings of Kauffman team has gathered to react to the KC Royals’ first two picks.

The 2020 MLB Draft is officially underway. This afternoon and evening, teams will pick in round two through five. Yesterday, the KC Royals made two selections. First, with the No. 4 overall pick, the team selected Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy. Here’s what I wrote about Lacy on Wednesday afternoon.

In Competitive Balance Round A, with the 32nd overall pick, the Royals picked Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin. Kings of Kauffman’s Shawn Bauman broke down the selection with some quick information on the newest member of the team. Now, some of the team at KOK has some thoughts to share on how night one went for Kansas City.

Shawn Bauman

The beginning of the draft could not have gone any better for the Royals.  Asa Lacy falling to them with the fourth pick is like going stag to your high school prom and leaving with the Homecoming King or Queen.  He will be an impact player in the near future.  I’m not sold on Nick Loftin, but willing to be swayed.  I would have preferred to see Daniel Cabrera (OF) or Dillon Dingler (C) drafted to help backfill those positions we need help at.

To read more of Shawn’s KC Royals content, click here.

Mike Gillespie

I have a separate story coming yet today about my preference for drafting a catcher (and how KC can still do that), but I’m definitely not complaining after Baltimore and Miami set the table for KC’s first-round feast. Only a few teams would have bypassed Asa Lacy or Austin Martin; that they were there for KC was unexpected. Lacy was the right choice — the Royals already have a stellar shortstop (Mondesi) and another in waiting (Witt Jr.), but a major league club can always use more quality pitching, which they certainly landed with Lacy. Exciting, to say the least.

Nick Loftin? Yes, he’s really good, but he’s primarily a shortstop, too. Like I say, that’s not a real need now, especially because a healthy Mondesi means Witt Jr. may have to shift to third. I really would have preferred taking a chance on a catcher, but that’s still a possibility.

To read more of Mike’s KC Royals content, click here.

David Scharff

The Royals were set up nicely at the four-spot and the fact that they were able to grab Asa Lacy is almost unbelievable. As I said in my original prediction pick for Emerson Hancock, the Royals seem to be hungry for college arms. The pitching arsenal that has been created could be productive for years to come and Lacy adds another level and depth to make the Kansas City pitching prospects even more dangerous.

Nick Loftin is an interesting pick at 32, but it’s not unlike to Royals to make such an “interesting” pick. Likely attractive to the Royals is that Loftin is versatile and can play all around the field, including third base, where the Royals don’t have as much depth. Maybe he wasn’t the first thought for pick 32, but if he progresses well, Loftin could be the team’s future utility man.

To read more of David’s KC Royals content, click here.

Tyler Dierking

I am absolutely thrilled with what the Royals pulled off on Day 1 of the draft. Coming into the 2020 season, Asa Lacy was the pick I wanted the Royals to make at No. 4, assuming Austin Martin would have been gone (I know he ultimately wasn’t, but I still love the Lacy pick). However, after posting a 0.75 ERA over 24.0 innings with 46 strikeouts and just 8 walks, I was convinced he wouldn’t make it to No. 4 anymore.

The Royals are already had a stacked pitching core working through the system and adding Lacy is adding an absolute workhorse. The pitching wave isn’t a wave anymore. It’s a tsunami. Royals fans should be absolutely thrilled with how the pitching is developing for the Royals.

As for the Royals second pick at No. 32, I am all for taking Baylor SS Nick Loftin. Before questioning the position, he’s a versatile player. While playing with Team USA, Loftin played second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and right field. If you are someone who believes Bobby Witt Jr is the future at shortstop, Nick Lopez will stay at second base, and Mondesi will move to the outfield (probably center field), then Loftin fits right in at third base. He has great range defensively and an above-average arm. He won’t hit with a lot of power, hitting just 8 triples and 17 home runs through 180 college and summer league games but he could develop into a gap hitter, as his slugging percentage increased every year.

The big thing so far with these two picks though is the fact that both Lacy and Loftin have the ability to move quickly through the system, joining the 2018 draft’s pace.

To read more of Tyler’s KC Royals content, click here.

Jordan Foote

Dayton Moore is slowly but surely building some street cred in regards to how he drafts. Now that the team’s rebuild is looking up, confidence in him should continue to increase. Picking Asa Lacy was a no-brainer and provides the team with yet another future stud starting pitcher. The rotation is going to be ridiculously good in a few years, with a few arms to spare.

Nick Loftin, simply put, is a baseball player. Just… a baseball player. He’s a high-character guy that does everything well, but doesn’t have any elite tools. Those players are still valuable and can play major roles on contending teams. His versatility should fit into the current mold the Royals are building. To top it all off, he should fit right in with the team’s timeline. I give Kansas City an A-minus for its first night of the 2020 MLB Draft

To read more of Jordan’s KC Royals content, click here.

Follow along all day and night at Kings of Kauffman for continued draft coverage and analysis.