Imagining a 2022 KC Royals pitching staff

KC Royals, Brady Singer (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KC Royals, Brady Singer (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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KC Royals
LAKELAND, FL – MARCH 01: A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball baseballs with the imprinted signature of Robert D. Manfred Jr., the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, sitting in the dugout prior to the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 10-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Following the KC Royals first pick in the 2020 Major League Amateur Draft the potential for having the most feared staff in baseball is a reality.

Not to put the cart before the horse, but the KC Royals may be building a pitching staff that could dominate the American League.  Asa Lacy surprisingly was still around when the team drafted with the fourth overall selection Wednesday night.  He joins what was already a diamond mine of hurlers waiting to make a splash in the big leagues.

In fact, in order to best utilize the wealth of talent, some may need to switch to bullpen roles as the abundance of starters creates a potential log jam unless trades are made.  While you can get a premium for young pitching, Kansas City should not make deals unless they are blown away.

Even the most recent KC Royals playoff teams lacked young, home-grown pitching talent save for Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy.  An odd mix of veterans like Chris Young, Jeremy Guthrie, Edinson Volquez, and Johnny Cueto tended to be the anchors of the team.

The opportunity to have all five starters who were recent draft picks is exciting and should send shivers down the spine of American League Central opponents.

"Even though the Royals are still in the early stages of their rebuilding effort, having so many top-level starting pitchers coming up through the minors could make them competitive sooner than expected in an American League Central in a state of flux. –currently.att.yahoo.com"

Some of these players will join the Royals before others but here is how 2022 could look: