SB Nation Kansas City - Bubba Starling Ranks No. 17 On MLB's Top 100 Prospects Listhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-02-14T14:55:08-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25002292012-02-14T14:55:08-06:002012-02-14T14:55:08-06:00Royals Top Prospects: Wil Myers, Mike Montgomery Rank At Top Of Fangraphs Rankings
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<p>Marc Hulet of Fangraphs is running through his annual list of a team’s best 15 prospects and today it was the <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-15-prospects-kansas-city-royals/" target="new">Kansas City Royals’ turn at bat</a>. Familiar names are found at the top of the list for those who typically pay attention to prospect rankings, although Hulet doesn’t automatically throw Bubba Starling at the top like some others.</p>
<p>Instead, he has Wil Myers as the Royals best overall prospect followed by starting pitcher Mike Montgomery. For Myers, Hulet says not to worry about the slightly down year last year and writes:</p>
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<p>Drafted as a prep catcher, the organization made the difficult decision to move Myers to right field so his defensive development would not hold him back and would allow his potentially-plus bat to dictate his movement through the system. After a dominating performance in A-ball in 2010, Myers struggled at double-A and was merely “average” according to his wRC+ of .104. He continued to show patience (12.5 BB%) but his strikeout rate rose to almost 21 K% and his average slipped to .254. His power output also dipped considerably with his isolated power rate hitting .138. A knee infection knocked Myers out from mid-May until early June and could be somewhat to blame for his struggles; his best power displays came in April and August. Perhaps feeling that he had something to prove, Myers lit the Arizona Fall League on fire after being assigned there for the fall. He hit .360 with 14 extra base hits in 23 games (wRC+ of 178). With the strong showing in the <span class="caps">AFL</span>, Myers will likely move up to triple-A for 2012 and could reach Kansas City before the end of the year.</p>
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<p>Hulet also believes that Montgomery should be up this season as well and is even surprised he hadn’t made it before now. The state of the Royals starting rotation should give Montgomery every chance if he earns it. Hulet writes:</p>
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<p>There was some hope that Montgomery would already be anchored in the Royals’ starting rotation but injuries and ineffectiveness have slowed his ascent. The good news is that the left-hander was able to provide 150 innings of work at triple-A in 2011. The bad news is that he floated a high <span class="caps">ERA</span> for much of the year and eventually got it down to 5.32 (4.30 <span class="caps">FIP</span>). His walk rate was a career high at 4.12 BB/9 and he allowed more than nine hits per inning, also the highest of his time in pro ball. Despite his issues Montgomery has the makings of a No. 2 starter and his repertoire includes a low-90s fastball that can touch 95 mph, a potentially-plus changeup and a developing curveball. Although there have been no direct correlations, Montgomery hasn’t been as sharp since he suffered a strained forearm in 2010 and missed almost two months. If he truly is back on solid ground in 2012 Montgomery should not need much more seasoning in the minors and could be up for good by midseason.</p>
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<p>Bubba Starling came in at No. 3, while some new names like Brett Eibner and Jason Adam enter the list.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2012/2/14/2798327/royals-top-prospects-wil-myers-mike-montgomery-rank-at-top-ofMatt Conner2012-01-26T14:01:26-06:002012-01-26T14:01:26-06:00MLB Top 100 Prospects For 2012: Jake Odorizzi Places At No. 47
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<p>MLB just put out its annual <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/index.jsp?partnerId=aw-6182194846943667814-996">Top 100 prospects</a> for the new year and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a> are raking in the accolades for their farm system in the first half of the unveiling. Bubba Starling came in at No. 17. <span>Wil Myers</span> followed close at No. 19. <span>Mike Montgomery</span> landed at No. 31 and now fellow starter Jake Odorizzi comes in at No. 47 to give the Royals four in the first 47. That's an amazing number considering 29 other MLB teams are included in the overall list.</p>
<p>Odorizzi's scouting report reads, "In his first year with the Royals, coming over in the <span>Zack Greinke</span> deal, Odorizzi showed four pitches that have the chance to be average or better. He can get his fastball up to 95 mph and sits in the 92-93 mph range with plenty of sink. His curve is a plus pitch at times, though it’s a bit inconsistent, his slider is above-average and his changeup grades out as average. He doesn’t walk too many, though he can improve his overall command and the consistency of his stuff. He’s not far from knocking on the door."</p>
<p>Finally MLB concludes that Odorizzi is "a No. 2 or top-notch No. 3 starter in a big league rotation."</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2012/1/26/2736200/mlb-top-100-prospects-for-2012-jake-odorizzi-places-at-no-47Matt Conner2012-01-26T12:00:37-06:002012-01-26T12:00:37-06:00MLB Top 100 Prospects: Mike Montgomery Listed At No. 31, Called 'Frontline Starter'
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a> continue to place several prospects upon the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/index.jsp?partnerId=aw-6182194846943667814-996">MLB Top 100 Prospects list for 2012</a>, and <span>Mike Montgomery</span> is the first pitcher aboard to represent the Royals, coming in at No. 31 overall. That gives the Royals three of the top 31 after landing Bubba Starling at No. 17 and <span>Wil Myers</span> at No. 19.</p>
<p>Montgomery's scouting report reads, "Montgomery’s first turn in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League didn’t go well, but his pure stuff still excites scouts. He has a plus fastball that he can run up to around 95 mph. His changeup is also a plus pitch and he throws a curve to give him a three-pitch mix. He struggled with command for much of the 2011 season, particularly with his fastball. On the plus side, he was healthy all year and threw a career-high 150 2/3 innings. A tough competitor, he’s the type who should learn from adversity and bounce back."</p>
<p>In the end, they say that Montgomery is "still every bit the future frontline starter that he was before his 2011 struggles."</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2012/1/26/2736195/mlb-top-100-prospects-mike-montgomery-listed-at-no-31-calledMatt Conner2012-01-26T09:01:01-06:002012-01-26T09:01:01-06:00MLB Top 100 Prospects: Wil Myers Lands At No. 19 For Royals
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<p>Many publications like Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus love the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> system and within that system, <span>Wil Myers</span> gets a lot of publicity as the favorite overall prospect. MLB.com shares the love for Myers by placing the outfielder and former catcher at No. 19 overall on their recent list of <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/index.jsp?partnerId=aw-6182194846943667814-996">Top 100 MLB Prospects for 2012</a>. Bubba Starling came in at No. 17 overall as the top Royals prospect, but this gives the Royals two position players in the top 20.</p>
<p>Myers' scouting report reads, "The hitter who was well thought of in high school and who lit up the Minors in 2010 returnedin the Arizona Fall League last year. He has plus bat speed and very strong hands, which should allow him to hit for average and develop more power than he’s shown to date. His plate discipline and willingness to work counts rivals anyone in the Minors. He has a strong arm from the outfield, and although he’s fairly athletic, he’s not really a runner. A knee injury threw him off his game for much of the 2011 season, but he got his confidence back during that AFL stint."</p>
<p>Overall they say that Myers is "a good right-field prototype with a plus arm and the kind of bat that will be a major run producer in the middle of a lineup." Myers hit .254 last year with 8 home runs and 49 RBI for AA Northwest Arkansas.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2012/1/26/2736192/mlb-top-100-prospects-wil-myers-lands-at-no-19-for-royalsMatt Conner2012-01-26T07:06:24-06:002012-01-26T07:06:24-06:00Bubba Starling Ranks No. 17 On MLB's Top 100 Prospects List
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<p>The Kansas City Royals were obviously excited about the potential of first round choice Bubba Starling last year -- enough to pay him Scott Boras money and sign him as the No. 5 choice.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a> were obviously excited about the potential of first round choice Bubba Starling last year -- enough to pay him Scott Boras money and sign him as the No. 5 choice. They're not the only ones high on him with the announcement that <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/index.jsp?partnerId=aw-6182194846943667814-996">Starling is also the No. 17 prospect in baseball </a>according to MLB.com as they unveil their Top 100 Prospects. </p>
<p>Starling is straight out of high school and signed too late to get any playing time in the lower minors, so he will see his first official action this spring. Still the scouting report gives high hopes for Royals fans and personnel:</p>
<p>"Starling is an elite athlete who starred in three sports in high school and turned down a scholarship to quarterback at Nebraska to sign with the Royals," reads the MLB.com scouting report. "On the baseball field he has the chance to be a five-tool center fielder. He’s an excellent defensive center fielder with more than enough range to excel there long term. He has a very strong arm as well. His plus speed helps him on defense and will be an asset on the basepaths. He has plus power potential and most feel he’ll hit for average as well. His tool set has been compared to <span>Drew Stubbs</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, but Starling has the chance to be a better hitter."</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2012/1/26/2735555/bubba-starling-ranks-no-17-on-mlbs-top-100-prospects-listMatt Conner