Mike Newman was asked on a Fangraph's prospects chat..

Also, someone asked where Adalberto Mondesi fits in his top 100..

he was like.."top 100? he's not in my top 100 yet."

Jason Parks was on the Pinetar podcast and said they're a top 10 system still and Mondesi could be a top 25 prospect by next year.

The point is that it isn't cut and dry.

The only reason we wouldnt be top 10 is because a lot of the prospects we have are low minors or rehabbing. Were still top 10 based on talent. Monty and Odorizi werent great prospects.

it's all guesswork really...but I don't think the Shields trade gutted the farm. There are plenty of really good prospects still there...they are just further away than Myers/Odorizzi were. So we'll have to wait a little longer to see exactly how they develop. But the potential is there. Baseball America projects Ventura and Zimmer to be better than Odorizzi...they are still here.

Ironically, I think the majority of FanGraphs writers are incapable of analyzing the Royals organization objectively.

Once again, too much focus on the ranking of the farm system than the productivity of the farm system.  KC's farm system allowed the Royals to pick up two starting pitchers include one who becomes the #1 rotation guy.  Losing a few spots in the ranking system is ok by me if Shields and Davis help KC win games.  No system in baseball couldn't take a hit when losing the minor league POY and another pitcher ranked in top 50.  Montgomery's star had fallen in the rankings game. 

What the Royals really need is to have John Lamb come back and pick up where he left off before TJ.  Having Lamb, Zimmer and Ventura clicking would help.  KC's best position guys are in lower levels with Bubba, Bonafacio and Mondesi.  After Myers and Colon left AA, that team was almost void of prospects in the field.

we have taken a lot out of the farm so far though
Gordon
Moose
Hosmer
dwyer
Perez and so on

Holland
Coleman
Herrrrrera and so on

The fact that the Royals will still probably be in the 10-15 range after losing Myers, Odorizzi, Montgomery, Hosmer, Moose, Perez, Herrera, and Duffy is just a testament to how good the system is IMO.  They will still have 3 guys who will be among the top 75 with Zimmer, Starling and Ventura, and there is still a decent amount of quality behind them.

Who cares about rankings? Let's produce some starting pitching.

We have a pretty high upside farm system, probably one of the better in that regard.  If Lamb has a good recovery and the players in the low minors have a good year, then I think we'll return to the top 10.  Nonetheless, without Myers and Odorizzi, the organization doesn't have many near ML prospects which is what most ranking systems value highly.

If by miracle we get significant production out of two of the current best pitching prospects (zimmer, lamb, ventura, selman, smith and adam), then the retrospect report on the R's current farm system will shine brightly. If you add Marks to the mix w/ his new-found status after AFL and Dwyer (Gammons indicated he was injured last year? Where did he get that from?), averages are even better for some production. I'm just looking for at least a 2 and a 3 starter in that bunch for it to be a win. If we get an ace and a couple of 3's, I'm ecstatic.

Offense seems better to me...because if Jorge, Elier, Bubba Orlando and Adalberto continue to emerge, it makes Escobar, Calixte and Cain (or Gordon) into tradeable commodities in two years. Even if two of the outfielders emerge, that sets us up nicely.

I feel like Lamb and Mondesi will play their way into the top 100. Bubba might play his way off the list though.

dallasroyalsfan wrote: If by miracle we get significant production out of two of the current best pitching prospects (zimmer, lamb, ventura, selman, smith and adam), then the retrospect report on the R's current farm system will shine brightly. If you add Marks to the mix w/ his new-found status after AFL and Dwyer (Gammons indicated he was injured last year? Where did he get that from?), averages are even better for some production. I'm just looking for at least a 2 and a 3 starter in that bunch for it to be a win. If we get an ace and a couple of 3's, I'm ecstatic.

Offense seems better to me...because if Jorge, Elier, Bubba Orlando and Adalberto continue to emerge, it makes Escobar, Calixte and Cain (or Gordon) into tradeable commodities in two years. Even if two of the outfielders emerge, that sets us up nicely.

Yeah offense is even better when you consider that outside of the DH, the current group - which should improve over the next 3 seasons -- is all locked up through 2016. By that time, one would think every one of those guys named will be ready. To think that Hosmer, Moose, Perez, Escobar, Cain are all locked up through '17...and outside of Cain all SHOULD be high-impact players. If Hos and Moose flame out, we all know that spells trouble.

Very real chance that only Bonifacio/Starling and Calixte/Colon are even needed before 2016. That is obviously the best-case scenario though.

Also worth noting that the Royals are going to have 3 picks top 60 or so this year

ryansublett wrote: Also worth noting that the Royals are going to have 3 picks top 60 or so this year

I'd love to see all three be college picks....or at least two of 'em.

It'd suit me just fine if they're all high-ceiling HS pitchers.

sspinner wrote: It'd suit me just fine if they're all high-ceiling HS pitchers.

I agree I want us to take the best player available. I think our first choice will probably be a college pitcher if one is available though. At least at this point anyway IMO.

Hopefully they don't take another hobbit like Gio.

Very well put. The system is still full of good prospects.

Revisroyalsfan wrote: Once again, too much focus on the ranking of the farm system than the productivity of the farm system.  KC's farm system allowed the Royals to pick up two starting pitchers include one who becomes the #1 rotation guy.  Losing a few spots in the ranking system is ok by me if Shields and Davis help KC win games.  No system in baseball couldn't take a hit when losing the minor league POY and another pitcher ranked in top 50.  Montgomery's star had fallen in the rankings game. 

What the Royals really need is to have John Lamb come back and pick up where he left off before TJ.  Having Lamb, Zimmer and Ventura clicking would help.  KC's best position guys are in lower levels with Bubba, Bonafacio and Mondesi.  After Myers and Colon left AA, that team was almost void of prospects in the field.