KC Royals: Dayton Moore’s top first round draft picks

As Dayton Moore’s 15th full season with the KC Royals nears, his best draft picks merit review.

KC Royals General Manager Dayton Moore seems to have a split following among fans of the team. Despite back-to-back World Series appearances, many people have issues with the amount of losing that has bookended that success.

With the June anniversary of his 2006 hiring approaching, it’s worth reviewing the successful first round draft picks made under his command. On our list will be players etched in Royals’ lore, hope for the future, and maybe a surprise.

Good first impression

Moore had just completed his first full year in charge when the 2007 draft rolled around. The Royals had the second overall pick and all eyes were on the GM.

Insert Mike Moustakas, a lefthanded hitter from Chatsworth High School in California. “Moose” had no problem acclimating himself to pro baseball, tearing through all levels of the minor leagues before making his major league debut in 2011.

Although he struggled his first few years in the big leagues, Moustakas had a bulldog mentality and was a key component of the 2014 playoff team. His breakout 2015 season was a major reason the Royals won their first World Series in 30 years.

He would go on to break the single season home run record for the club in 2017 (although Jorge Soler broke it again in 2019) before being shipped off to the Milwaukee Brewers in ’18.

Although being ranked No. 9 in total homers is the only major all-time KC Royals offensive leaderboard he appears on, Moustakas definitely was a draft pick that changed the team’s fortunes.

Despite obstacles 2020 brought to baseball, this recent draft pick was able to excel.

The KC Royals had three first round picks in 2018, with Brady Singer being the first selected at the 18th slot. He was also the first to make the major leagues after he tore through the minors with a 1.19 WHIP in 26 starts in 2019.

Singer managed to better that performance last season with a 1.17 WHIP in 12 big league games while striking out 61 batters in 64.1 innings pitched. Combine that with a 2.73 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his last five starts and it’s easy to see why he leads a top-notch draft class from 2018.

It will take several more years for Singer’s career to play out but at this point, it appears that he’s easily a great pick by Moore. The team has not had a first round starter to hang its hat on since Zack Greinke in 2002. This pitcher should end that drought.

Witt Jr. should make his KC Royals mark soon

The final player for consideration is an infielder from Colleyville, Texas whose father was also a big league player. Bobby Witt Jr. was the second overall pick in 2019; because COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 minor league season, we only have his statistics from 37 games in Rookie ball to use, which is an incomplete metric.

What we do know is that Witt ranks as mlb.com’s eighth-best prospect in the entire Major Leagues, a very impressive feat. At 6-feet-11 and 190 pounds, this righthanded hitter has tools that continue to grow and impress.

Initially a shortstop, the speculation is that Witt will soon fill a hole at the hot corner for the Royals. He’s only 20 years old, so it may be another year before we get to see how he competes in the big leagues, but with a strong spring and explosive start in the minors he might force a decision.

It’s not often that the KC Royals have a Top 10 overall prospect; if he can live up to his potential, Witt will end up being one of the better picks in Moore’s reign.

That wraps up our list of best first round picks by Moore over the last 15 years. Baseball is notorious for early selection busts, but there have been smart choices during his time in charge.