The good news continues to roll in for the Kansas City Royals, as six Royals prospects were named last evening among the top 50 prospects in all of baseball by MLB.com and the MLB Network. If you're a Royals fan, you are no doubt aware by now of the talent in the minor league system. The six players amongst the top 50 ties the record for most players placed on the list, in a single year. The Tampa Bay Rays were second behind the Royals with four prospects named to the top 50.
Taking a step back to last season, the Royals placed four players among the top 50, Mike Montgomery at 43, Aaron Crow at 41, Wil Myers at 33, and Mike Moustakas at 31. Now fast forward to 2011 and the Royals feature Jacob Odorizzi at 37, John Lamb at 34, Wil Myers at 16, Mike Montgomery at 14, Eric Hosmer at 8 and Mike Moustakas placing 7th on the list. Angels star outfield prospect Mike Trout was ranked the best overall prospect in baseball.
Moustakas is the player most likely to reach the major leagues the soonest as he played part of last season in Omaha and will eventually take over third base in Kansas City sometime in 2011. Montgomery (pitcher) and Hosmer (1st base) also may get opportunities later in the year to come up to the Royals big league team, while Myers (Catcher/Outfielder), Lamb (pitcher) and Odorizzi (pitcher) are likely a year or two behind.