Royals Positional Depth Charts - Corner Infield
Heading into last season it would have been a pretty simple proposition to line up an organizational depth chart at each position considering the Royals had the #1 farm system based primarily on the strength at the top. A year later with the graduation of 9 different prospects the organization looks much different but despite that large number of graduations the farm system was still rated the #3 overall talent organization in all of baseball according to Baseball America. This ranking was built largely on the overall depth something I’ll show you over the next few days.
As @DBLesky has pointed out over the last couple days this position has been one of strength during the organization’s prime as well as the lean years when Joe Randa was manning the hot corner. While every position has seen an influx of talent third base has gotten a little extra attention from Kansas City using the #2 overall selection in the ’07 draft, $1.35M internationally in 2009, a 3rd round selection in the 2010 draft (Antonio drafted as SS) and a 5th round selection in the 2011 draft on the hot corner. All of that spending looks like it is starting to pay some dividends for the Royals.
3rd Base
As @DBLesky has pointed out over the last couple days this position has been one of strength during the organization’s prime as well as the lean years when Joe Randa was manning the hot corner. While every position has seen an influx of talent third base has gotten a little extra attention from Kansas City using the #2 overall selection in the ’07 draft, $1.35M internationally in 2009, a 3rd round selection in the 2010 draft (Antonio drafted as SS) and a 5th round selection in the 2011 draft on the hot corner. All of that spending looks like it is starting to pay some dividends for the Royals.
1st Base
The graduation of Eric Hosmer has left this position extremely weak at the minor league level leaving mostly low level draftees, minor league retreads and some first baggers who probably don’t have the bat to hold down the position longterm.
Heading into last season it would have been a pretty simple proposition to line up an organizational depth chart at each position considering the Royals had the #1 farm system based primarily on the strength at the top. A year later with the graduation of 9 different prospects the organization looks much different but despite that large number of graduations the farm system was still rated the #3 overall talent organization in all of baseball according to Baseball America. This ranking was built largely on the overall depth something I’ll show you over the next few days.
Right Handed Starting Pitchers
Right Handed Starting Pitchers
I’m breaking the right-handed pitchers into two articles because of the depth of the talent. The Royals since GMDM arrived have made starting pitching a priority but most of the money and talent have come from the left side until this recent draft when the Royals took four projectable right-handed pitchers to combine with the group they already had.
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