As we head towards the last month of play in the American League Central, the misplaced high hopes generated by a quick start by the 2011 Royals has given way to a much better look at what should be a Royals team flush with rising young stars.
From March’s opening day roster, Alcides Escobar obtained in the Greinke trade with the Brewers is still at shortstop; Alex Gordon the former first round pick has found his home in left field; and Billy Butler continues to just hit – now a full time designated hitter. There are two more Royals still on the field – center fielder Melky Cabrera, thought by many to just be a placeholder from speedster Lorenzo Cain (also obtained in the Greinke trade), has been the Royals best hitter all year and a fantasy gold mine if you were smart enough to draft him, approaching a 20-20 season hitting .310 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. People tend to forget that the “Melkman” once a prized Yankee prospect is still just twenty-seven years old. Since the Royals didn’t trade Cabrera, there is good reason to think they are now smart enough to plan on keeping him in the 2012 lineup.
Another former prospect from the Atlanta organization – right fielder Jeff Francoeur is also just twenty-seven and has been very solid for the Royals, now hitting .270 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Francoeur also has a very good chance to be a 20-20 player this year.
Either Cabrera or Francoeur if not both should be in the opening day lineup next year as catcher turned outfielder Wil Myers is at least another year away from the big club.
During the season, Royals fans as well as fantasy players have seen the arrival of:
1B – Eric Hosmer
2B – Johnny Giavotella
3B – Mike Moustakas
Just last week, the Royals showed their fans another piece of the Royals to be when they promoted catcher Salvador Perez. Perez, just twenty-one, hit .290 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI between AA Northwest Arkansas and AAA Omaha and has already shown fans a great arm behind the plate and the excellent defense that Royals scouts have seen in his development.
What remains to be seen is the development of a solid major league pitching staff. True the Royals have lots of good arms in the minor leagues, but Mike Montgomery presumed to be the most advanced of those pitchers has had a very poor season this year while John Lamb another good LHP prospect lost the season to surgery. Jake Odorizzi also obtained in the Greinke trade is a year behind but still looks like he could join the Royals by 2013. Danny Duffy, another good LHP was promoted this year but has struggled – as many young pitchers do. Still he should be better next year. The club did promote several relievers who did a good job this year and will convert RHP Aaron Crow to a starter next season.
It may have seemed far away, but the Royal Flush should arrive in Kansas City within the next year or two. Finally.