Royals Turning Corner

2011 was the dawn of a new era for the Royals. Their minor league organization was lauded by many as the best system that year. The players started to fulfill on that promise by winning championships at Double A when the Northwest Arkansas Naturals claimed the Texas League crown and at Triple A with the Omaha Storm Chasers winning their first Pacific Coast League championship.


The Royals front office had more misses than hits in the years following their World Series Championship in 1985. That decline started with the departure of GM John Schuerholz who took his magic to the Atlanta Braves where he helped build their dynasty. It is appropriate the the Royals current rise is at the hands of GM Dayton Moore who learned under the guidance of Schuerholz while in Atlanta. Since Moore took over on June 8, 2006 the organization has had more draft success stories and others previously in the organization developed into Major League stars and contributors.


The future started to arrive last season as several players made the jump from the minors into the Royals starting line up. Those players in order of appearance were 1B Eric Hosmer, LHP Danny Duffy, 3B Mike Moustakas, 2B Johnny Giavotella and catcher Salvador Perez. Starting shortstop Alcides Escobar was already on the roster after joining the team in the off season as part of the Zack Greinke trade.


Hosmer forced the Royals hand by earning his promotion after a hot start at Triple A hitting .439/.525/.582 with three home runs, 15 RBI, 21 runs and 3 steals in 26 games. He made his debut with the Royals on May 6, 2011 and went on to hit .293/.334/.465 with 19 home runs, 78 RBI, 66 runs and 11 steals in 128 games. He was originally drafted by the Royals with the third pick in the first round in 2008.


Duffy caught the Royals attention at Omaha where he was 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA, 48 strikeouts and 1.12 WHIP in 42 innings over eight games. He was the first of several highly prized pitching prospects to reach Kansas City when he made his debut on May 18, 2011 and went 4-8 with a 5.64 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 1.61 WHIP in 105.1 innings over 20 games. He was originally drafted by the Royals in the third round in 2007.


Moustakas started 2011 in Omaha hitting .287/.347/.498 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI, 38 runs and one steal in 55 games. He made his Royals debut on June 10, 2011 and went on to hit .263/.309/.367 with five home runs, 30 RBI, 26 runs and 2 steals in 89 games. He was originally drafted by the Royals with the second pick in the first round in 2007 and was Dayton Moore's first pick with the organization.


Giavotella spent most of 2011 in Omaha laying the foundation for their championship as he hit .338/.390/.481 with nine home runs, 72 RBI, 67 runs and 9 steals in 110 games. He was called up to the Royals and made his debut on August 5, 2011 and went on to hit .247/.273/.376 with two home runs, 21 RBI, 20 runs and 5 steals in 46 games. He was originally drafted by the Royals in the second round in 2008.


Perez started 2011 at Double A Northwest Arkansas where hit .283/.372/.527 with nine home runs, 43 RBI, 35 runs and zero steals in 79 games before his promotion to Omaha where he hit .347/.500/.333 with one home run, 10 RBI, five runs and zero steals in 12 games. The Royals called him up and after his debut on August 10, 2011 he hit .331/.361/.473 with three home runs, 21 RBI, 20 runs and zero steals in 39 games. He originally signed with the Royals as an amateur free agent in 2006 out of Venezuela.


Escobar played the entire 2011 season with the Royals where he hit .254/.290/.343 with four home runs, 46 RBI, 69 runs and 26 steals in 158 games. Adding his time in Milwaukee for his career he has hit .252/.294/.339 with nine home runs, 98 RBI, 148 runs and 40 steals in 350 games. He originally signed with the Brewers as an amateur free agent in 2003 out of Venezuela. 


In 2011 the Royals outfield led by Alex Gordon, Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francoeur topped the MLB at 51 assists with Gordon setting a team record with 20. All three are veterans and helped give the young stars some leadership and guidance. Gordon and Francour return for the 2012 season.


Gordon finally stepped out of the shadow of the expectations for him and started producing with the bat as well. In 2011 he hit .303/.376/.502 with 23 home runs, 87 RBI, 101 runs and 17 steals in 151 games. For his career he has hit .262/.343/.434 with 68 home runs, 248 RBI, 295 runs and 46 steals in 559 games. He was originally drafted by the Royals with the second pick in the first round in 2005.


Francouer's first season with the Royals was his seventh in the majors. One thing I liked about him was his request at mid-season not to be traded because he likes the Kansas City area so much. In 2011 he hit .285/.329/.476 with 20 home runs, 87 RBI, 77 runs and 22 steals in 153 games. For his career he has hit .270/.313/.433 with 121 home runs, 552 RBI, 479 runs and 45 steals in 998 games. He was originally drafted by the Braves with the 23rd pick in the first round in 2002.


Cabrera made the most of his one season in Kansas City where he hit .305/.339/.470 with 18 home runs, 87 RBI, 102 runs and 20 steals in 155 games. He was traded to the Giants after the season with the Royals getting LHP Jonathan Sanchez in return. His replacement in center field should be Lorenzo Cain who hit .312/.380/.497 with 16 home runs, 81 RBI, 84 runs and 16 steals in 128 games at Triple A Omaha. Cain was originally drafted by the Brewers in the 17th round in 2004 and also came to the Royals in the Zack Greinke trade.


Sanchez should settle into the middle of the Royals pitching rotation in 2012. In 2011 with the Giants he was 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA, 102 strikeouts and 1.44 WHIP in 101.1 innings over 19 games. In his six year career with the Giants he was 38-46 with a 4.26 ERA, 736 strikeouts and 1.39 WHIP in 708 innings over 174 games. He was originally drafted by the Giants in the 27th round in 2004.


The top spot of the Royals rotation in 2012 should be held by RHP Luke Hochevar. In 2011 he was 11-11 with a 4.68 ERA, 128 strikeouts and 1.28 WHIP in 198 innings over 31 games. In his five seasons with the Royals he was 30-43 with a 5.29 ERA, 387 strikeouts and 1.40 WHIP in 585.2 innings over 100 games. He was originally drafted by the Royals with the first overall pick in 2006.


The second spot in the rotation likely will be held by LHP Bruce Chen. In 2011 he was 12-8 with a 3.77 ERA, 97 strikeouts and 1.30 WHIP in 155 innings over 25 games. For his 13 year career with 10 teams he was 60-58 with a 4.52 ERA, 882 strikeouts and 1.39 WHIP in 1164.2 innings over 317 games. He was originally signed by the Braves as an amateur free agent in 1993 out of Panama.


I believe the remaining two spots of the rotation are up in the air and will be determined in spring training. The possibilities are RHP Felipe Paulino, RHP Luis Mendoza, LHP Mike Montgomery or RHP Jake Odorizzi. Montgomery and Odorizzi would be making the jump from spending all of 2011 in the minors but a strong spring would allow that. Or the Royals may still make a trade for an established starter in exchange for any number of players from their deep minor league system.


The Royals closer is RHP Joakim Soria. In 2011 he was 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA, 60 strikeouts, 1.28 WHIP and 28 saves in 60.1 innings over 60 games. In his five seasons with the Royals he was 13-15 with a 2.40 ERA, 341 strikeouts, 1.04 WHIP and 160 saves in 315.1 innings over 298 games. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 2001 out of Mexico and came to the Royals as a Rule 5 draft pick from the Padres in 2006.


DH Billy Butler gives the Royals another imposing bat in the line up. In 2011 he hit .291/.361/.461 with 19 home runs, 95 RBI, 74 runs and 2 steals in 159 games. In his five seasons with the Royals he has hit .297/.360/.458 with 74 home runs, 373 RBI, 311 runs and 3 steals in 692 games. Just entering his prime at 26 he may start putting up better power numbers as more of his doubles translate to home runs. Of course it doesn't help playing half his games at Kauffman Stadium which yielded the second lowest home run total in 2011. He was originally drafted by the Royals withe the 14th pick in the first round in 2004.


The Royals will have the youngest roster in MLB in 2012. With that youth comes energy and they are gaining valuable experience with each game. Many players already tasted what it takes to win at the minors and will be hungry for more. Good things will be happening sooner than later in Kansas City.