3 outfielders the KC Royals should consider protecting

The deadline for the KC Royals to establish their 40-man roster for Rule 5 Draft purposes is Tuesday afternoon and, with 39 spots taken as of Saturday, General Manager J.J. Picollo and his staff should be working hard deciding who they’ll add, and who’ll be cut, before the deadline.

Part of their work is done. Added to the 40-man roster Thursday were Adalberto Mondesi, Richard Lovelady, Jake Brentz, and Ángel Zerpa, all of whom had been on the Injured List, and Samad Taylor. Barring some unforeseen imminent trades, their spots on the 40-man protect them from being taken by other clubs during the Dec. 7 draft.

And while many on Kansas City’s current 40-man are locks to remain there, some may find themselves exposed to the draft by Tuesday evening. Count Amir Garrett, Wyatt Mills, Collin Snider, Ryan O’Hearn and Brent Rooker among players KC might seriously consider cutting or trading to open up 40-man space, and Brad Keller, Kyle Isbel, and Hunter Dozier might be in some danger.

What players not on the 40-man might KC protect by Tuesday? Three outfielders come to mind.

The KC Royals might want to consider protecting outfielder John Rave.

Many Kansas City fans may not be familiar with John Rave. But that doesn’t mean the Royals won’t add him to their 40-man roster by Tuesday.

Boston drafted, but didn’t sign, Rave in 2016, but KC took him in 2019’s fifth round. Rave inked a deal with the Royals, played Rookie and Low-A ball later that summer, then missed the 2020 COVID-canceled minor league season.

But he hit 14 homers and drove in 51 runs with an .805 OPS at High-A Quad Cities in 2021 and, in a 2022 season split between Double-A and Triple-A, added another 16 homers and 79 RBIs in 122 games and slashed .256/.353/.412. He also stole 23 bases.

Rave needs to improve on his .249 career average. But he clearly has power, his .346 minor league OBP suggests he finds his way on base, he has speed, his glove is adequate, and he’s a lefthanded hitter, all of which make him worth keeping, at least for a little while longer.

This power hitting outfielder gives the KC Royals a couple of options.

Heading into the 2023 season, Kansas City’s outfield is talented but unsettled.

Gold Glover Michael A. Taylor is a lock to start the season in center—if, considering he’s preparing for his contract year and other clubs are always looking for good outfielders, he’s not traded before Opening Day.

MJ Melendez’s 2022 big league debut featured 18 homers and, when he wasn’t catching, he played enough left field to establish himself as the probable 2023 starter there. His glove, though, needs work, and a lot of it.

Right field is up for grabs, although Edward Olivares, who was injured much of the season but still hit a solid .286 in 53 games, might have the inside track.

Could Brewer Hicklen fight his way into the mix?

It’s quite possible. Hicklen made it to the majors for the first time in 2022, playing twice in late May and then four times when summoned to help fill in for the 10 Royals whose vaccination status kept them out of a July series in Toronto, but didn’t get a hit in four at-bats.

His season at Triple-A Omaha was much, much different. Hicklen slammed 28 homers, drove in 85 runs, had a .348 OBP and .850 OPS, and stole 35 bases.

And what of his five-year minor league career? He hit four homers in 39 games in his first season (2017), but has since averaged 19 per campaign. He’s averaging 33 steals a year and has a .265/.358/.474 slash and .832 OPS.

Hicklen’s are numbers the Royals shouldn’t want to lose in the Rule 5 draft—he’s good but, if he doesn’t figure into their long term plans, he’s probably a trade chip worth a decent return. That’s why the club should give serious thought to adding him to the 40-man roster.

The Royals may well want to protect outfielders John Rave, Diego Hernandez and Brewer Hicklen from the Rule 5 Draft.