MARCH 2nd, 2013-With
Spring Training just now getting underway, there are certain players
who already know where they're heading when the season starts.
However,
in Class A ball, it's a little harder to predict.
Kansas
City carries three Rookie-level clubs (Burlington, Idaho Falls, plus
an AZL team) and a total of eight minor-league teams. Burlington of
the Appalachian League is, essentially, the substitute for the fact
that KC doesn't have a Short-Season Class A team.
The
easiest way to look at predicting Lexington's 2013 roster is to take
a look at Burlington's 2012 roster, with consideration given to the
age of players, the highest level they've reached thus far, and their
2012 stats. With that all in mind, here's a few players we can expect
to see here in Lexington, along with the highest level they reached
last year and their 2012 stats:
Adalberto
Mondesi, SS, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)
Born:
7/27/1995 in Los Angeles, CA
Bats:
Both Throws: Right
Ht:
6'1” Wt: 165
Drafted:
UFA
2012:
50
games, 232 PA, 35 runs, 60 hits, 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 11-13 SB
.290 BA, .346 OBP
The
son of Raul Mondesi, former Dodgers slugger, had little difficulty
adjusting to his first year in pro ball. Keep in mind that he put up
those stats as a 16-year-old kid in
his first year of pro ball. The only glaring issue was that he struck
out far too much, but what more can you ask of a kid that age? All
things considered, he had a pretty great year. He will probably start
off 2013 in rookie-league ball again, but he has little to prove
there. He's just a little young for A ball; that may be the only real
problem holding him back. Expect him to head to Burlington to start
off the year.
Bryan
Brickhouse, RHP, Kane County Cougars (Class A, Midwest League)
Born:
6/6/1992 in The Woodlands, TX
Bats:
Right Throws: Right
Ht:
6' Wt: 195
Drafted:
KC Royals, 3rd
round, 2011 MLB Draft
2012:
3-3,
6.62 ERA, 11 games, 11 GS, 53 IP, 55 H, 39 runs allowed, 4 HRA, 26
BB, 41 K, 7 WP
While
he had a rough year overall, it was his first year in pro ball and he
spent nearly all of it in A ball. He registered his share of
strikeouts, but walked a batter every other inning. Add to that seven
WP and 4 hit batters, and you've got enough to work on for awhile.
He's 21 on Opening Day, so he could start off in Rookie ball, but I
don't expect that to be a long-term assignment. He's still
age-appropriate for rookie-league ball, and assuming he advances to
Class A ball this year he'll still be on-track age-wise.
Bubba
Starling, OF, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)
Born:
8/3/1992 in Gardner, KS
Bats:
Right Throws: Right
Ht:
6'4” Wt: 180
Drafted:
KC Royals, 1st
round, 2011 MLB Draft
2012:
53
games, 232 PA, 35 R, 55 H, 8 2B, 10 HR, 33 RBI, 10-11 SB, .275 BA,
.371 OBP, .485 SLG
For
the moderately-involved baseball fan, Starling needs no introduction.
This kid is now the top prospect in the Royals system, now that Wil
Myers is with TB. With size, strength and easy projectability,
Starling has power and speed which have already manifested
themselves. While he did strike out 70 times last year, it was his
first year of pro ball and he did manage to draw 28 walks, ending
with an excellent .371 OBP and .856 OPS. This is the kind of batter
who projects to hit cleanup and could be a perennial 100-RBI man in
The Show, with 25+ homers and 15-20 steals. Of course, there's a lot
of baseball to be played before he gets there.
Ethan
Chapman, CF, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)
Born:
1/5/1990 in Upland, CA
Bats:
Left Throws: Right
Ht:
6' Wt: 180
Drafted:
KC Royals, 30th
round, 2012 MLB Draft
2012:
67
games, 318 PA, 58 R, 88 H, 9 2B, 9 3B, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 25-32 SB, 32 BB,
43 SO, .313 BA, .383 OBP, .803 OPS, 12 OF assists in 141 total
chances (67 G)
Here's
a kid you may not know about. I have to admit; I didn't know a thing
about him. Judging by his first season, we may be hearing a lot more
about him. Yes, he was 22 in 2012, and yeah, that's older than much
of his competition, but don't write off the numbers because of that.
Should rack up a lot of extra-base hits from gap power and plus
speed, and already shows a very good eye at the plate, so he's
looking like a protypical table-setter; batting in the 2-slot sounds
like a good fit for him. Expect him to start the 2013 season in
Lexington.
John
Lamb, RHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)
Born:
7/10/1990 in La Palma, CA
Bats:
Left Throws: Left
Ht:
6'4” Wt: 200
Drafted:
KC Royals, 5th
round, 2008 MLB Draft
2012:
6
games, 6 starts, 6.92 ERA, 13 IP, 15 HA, 10 ER, 2 HRA, 4 BB, 14 K, 1
WP
Despite
injury concerns and Tommy John surgery in 2012, Lamb is still
considered one of KC's top prospects and is now pitching in Spring
Training with no restrictions. Ranked as the 18th
best prospect as recently as 2011, the greatest challenge now facing
him is remaining healthy. When he finally hits his stride, he's
really going to be something to watch. He seems to be a level-headed
kid with strong ties to his family and friends, and could end up
being quite popular in KC. I expect to see him here in Lexington for
some tune-up work before he goes back to Class AA; he had reached NW
Arkansas as soon as 2010, posting a 3.09 ERA there in 2011 in 8
starts.
Nicholas
Cuckovich, 3B-LF, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)
Born:
10/8/1991 in Riverside, CA
Bats:
Right Throws: Right
Ht:
6'2” Wt: 200
Drafted:
KC Royals, 17th
round, 2011 MLB Draft
2012:
66
games, 288 PA, 44 R, 69 H, 12 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 9-11 SB, 33 BB,
68 SO, .280 BA, .376 OBP, .807 OPS
He
had a strong showing in Idaho Falls, demonstrating gap power and
avg-plus speed. It doesn't hurt that his OBP was 96 points higher
than his BA, indicative of a sound eye and good patience at the
plate. In 43 games at third base last year he made 15 errors, which
is certainly not good. It's especially bad because third seems to be
where he's going to be playing in the near future, so there's going
to have to be some work done, there. With his speed, he could end up
becoming a left fielder with plus range if KC needs a Plan B. Could
develop average power, but lower limits of his hitting ceiling ought
to be the kind of hitter who would
bat #2 or at least #7 with relative ease. He should start the year at Lexington, given his age and the fact that he has nothing left to prove in rookie ball.
That's
all for now. More to come as I dig a little deeper for info on the
new kids on our block.
