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KC Royals: 3 top prospects are primed for the majors

By Batoul Hammoud |
(Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
(Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
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(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

It’s no secret the KC Royals have one of the best farm systems in the majors. After all, four of their minor leaguers are among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 big league prospects.

With all eyes now turned to the 2022 season, fans can expect more progress from current Royals and, on the strength of their great 2021 performances, probably see a few key prospects come to Kansas City sooner rather than later in the campaign.

Let’s look at three of those high-caliber prospects.

Bobby Witt Jr. proved why he’s the No.1 KC Royals prospect this season.

Bobby Witt Jr. is well-known to Kansas City fans. He’s MLB Pipeline’s No.1 Royals prospect, and deservedly so.

Witt started 2021 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas before moving up to Triple-A Omaha. He slashed a combined .290/.361/.575 with a .936 OPS, had a great .326 BABIP and fell just short of 100 RBIs with 97.

Witt also came tantalizingly close to a 30-home run, 30-double, 30-steal season. He mashed 33 home runs and notched 35 doubles, but was one stolen base short with 29. Still, his 30-30 homer-double effort was impressive and telling of his caliber as a ballplayer.

His fantastic offensive output earned him the organization’s George Brett Minor League Hitter of the Year award. Just as impressive, Witt won Baseball America’s 2021 Minor League Player of the Year award for his overall performance on the season.

Witt was also good defensively, notching a .975 fielding percentage, 213 assists, 101 putouts, and 45 double plays as a shortstop with the Naturals and Storm Chasers.

Although there is a plethora of quality talent in the Kansas City infield, Witt could still fit into the mix in 2022. He could take over at shortstop if Nicky Lopez is moved back to second base and the club decides to stick with Adalberto Mondesi at third. Or Witt might take over third, where he gained some experience this season, should the Royals choose to stick with Mondesi or Lopez at shortstop.

Why Nicky Lopez should be the 2022 shortstop. light. Related Story

Even with the Royals needing to shake up a few positions, Witt should be expected to make his big league debut come 2022.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

MJ Melendez’s power could put him in line for his KC Royals debut in 2022.

Although Bobby Witt Jr. is Kansas City’s top prospect, MJ Melendez is one minor leaguer who made major strides this season.

Melendez, MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 KC prospect, had a disappointing 2019 season—.163/.260/.311 with a .571 OPS at High-A Wilmington. But he quickly turned things around when he started 2021 at Northwest Arkansas, where he slashed .285/.372/.628 with a .999 OPS in 79 games. He soon joined Witt at Omaha, where he continued his upward trend by hitting .293 with a 1.033 OPS.

Combined, Melendez slashed .288/.386/.625 with a stellar 1.011 OPS, 103 RBIs and 75 walks.

And he led all the minor leagues with 41 home runs, a feat for which he received the John Bauman Award, an honor former Royals Mike Moustakas and Craig Brazell also won.

Melendez also made Baseball America’s minor league All-Star team.

Primarily a catcher, Melendez recorded a .984 fielding percentage and caught 22 runners stealing to give him a 31% caught stealing percentage across both Northwest Arkansas and Omaha.

Being in Salvador Perez’s line of succession means Melendez needs to continue trending upward if he wants to make his KC Royals debut in 2022. If he keeps putting up great numbers, the club could fit him in to split time with Perez, or even at designated hitter for his pop alone.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Nick Pratto could be the answer at first base for the KC Royals next season.

MJ Melendez wasn’t the only Kansas City prospect who had a pivotal turnaround after a poor 2019 season. First baseman Nick Pratto also managed to get back on track in 2021.

The No.2-ranked KC Royals prospect per MLB Pipeline, Pratto slashed .191/.278/.310 with a meager .588 OPS two seasons ago at the High-A level. But this season, he turned those numbers around and slashed .265/.385/.602 with a .988 OPS and a .315 BABIP across stints with the Naturals and Storm Chasers.

Pratto also drove in 98 runs and walked 83 times. And although Melendez led the minors in home runs, Pratto was a close second with 36.

Defensively, Pratto recorded a combined .998 fielding percentage, had 64 assists, and turned 76 double plays at first baseman at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.

Pratto also joined Witt in the 2021 All-Star Futures Game—a highly-regarded competition pitting the top minor leaguers against each other.

Although Carlos Santana currently serves as the Royals’ first baseman going into the final season of his two-year contract, Pratto could force the club’s hand if Santana doesn’t improve upon his 2021 downward trend.

Next. 3 reasons to be excited about 2022. dark

Top KC Royals prospects Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez and Nick Pratto are primed to make their big league debuts in 2022.

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