In the Cross Hairs: Brandon Phillips

The Reds are said to be open for business and on their team there are several intriguing options that could fit for the Kansas City Royals. We've heard a lot about the Royals interest in Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake. Perhaps, there is another name that could catch the Royals' eyes. I'm speaking of the flashy Brandon Phillips.

When talking about the Cincinnati second baseman, the first thing we need to recognize is that he is not the offensive force that he once was. In fact, since the start of the 2013 season, the former 2nd Round pick has played in 352 games and hit just .267/.310/.381, which is good for an OPS+ of 91. A below average line, but still much better than the .245/.278/.326 line that Omar Infante boasts as a Royal.


What Phillips does bring to the table is excellent defense. This season, Fangraphs credits him as having been worth 4 defensive runs saved, and being worth 2.5 UZR/150. Both of which are above average tallies. In fact, since the start of the 2013 season, Phillips ranks 3rd among qualified second basemen in converting "Remote" (1-10%) plays into outs at 9.8%. He ranks 1st in "Unlikely" (11-40%) plays at 51.5%. He ranks 7th in "Even" (41-60%) plays and 3rd in "Likely" (61-90%). Quite simply his glove is one of the best (and most fun to watch) in baseball.

So what would it take to land Phillips should the Royals decide to pursue this route?

Here's how Phillips contract breaks down moving forward:

• 2015 - $12 million (roughly $5.2 remaining)
• 2016 - $13 million
• 2017 - $14 million

Phillips is currently worth 1.1 fWAR in 2015 and ZIPs projects him to garner 0.9 over the remainder of the season. If Phillips can continue to be worth about 4 WAR for the remainder of his deal. By valuing a win at the current Fangraphs valuation of $7.6 million, then Phillips would be worth -$1.7 million in excessive value. If we go with a more conservative $5.5 million valuation of wins, then Phillips drops to -$10.2 million. 

So let's say the Royals could work out a Infante plus a prospect swap for Phillips. Before we know what kind of prospect that we'd be talking about we first need to evaluate Infante in the same way that we have Phillips. ZIPs currently projects Infante to be worth about 0.3 WAR over the remainder of 2016. If we project Infante to then be worth 0 WAR in 2016 & 17, then his excessive value would be -$15.6 million at the Fangraphs rate and -$16.2 million at the more conservative rate. 

What we see here is that the difference in excess value between Phillips and Infante comes in somewhere between $6.2 and $13.9 million. Thanks to the work of The Point of Pittsburgh on prospect valuation, We can see that sort of valuation would be reflective of a borderline top 100 prospect, or even a pitching prospect ranked somewhere in the 51-100 range in a top 100. Prospects that could work in this range would be guys like Jorge Bonifcaio, Bubba Starling, Miguel Almonte, Brandon Finnegan, Sean Manaea, and maybe guys like Foster Griffin, or Scott Blewett.

So Royals fans, how would you feel about an Omar Infate plus one of the aforementioned players for Brandon Phillips? Would sacrificing a prospect of that quality be worth the upgrade? Is the upgrade worth having Brandon Phillips less than stellar personality in Kansas City?

Tell me @Landon_Adams! 

The State of the Royals Outfield

As Royals nation collectively awaits the official results of the MRI on Alex Gordon's left leg, we are left to ponder what this means for the team moving forward. If the early indications are true that it is a grade 3 groin strain, then (based off a limited amount of research) Gordon could be sidelined between 6 and 12+ weeks. So let's look at how that breaks down on the calendar:

6 weeks - August 19 

7 weeks - August 26

8 weeks - September 2

9 weeks  - September 9

10 weeks  - September 16

11 weeks  - September 23

12 weeks - September 30

Obviously, that's not a good situation. Another note is that the final game of the 2014 Minor League season on September 16. The importance of this is that if Gordon winds up being out 9+ weeks, then it is extremely unlikely that the Royals would have the ability to send their All-Star left fielder on rehab assignment. If Gordon winds up being out 9+ weeks, the Royals would have to reacclimate him through batting practice and a careful increase in playing time at the Major League level. 

It is not impossible to get a guy back to speed without a rehab assignment, but it does make it a bit more difficult. Not to mention the possibility that the Royals could be playing in extremely important games over the last several weeks of the season. 

Here is how I see it. If Gordon takes 9 weeks or less to return, the Royals are able to send him on rehab to the Minors and have the best chance of reintegrating him into the lineup in an effective manner. If Gordon takes between 9 and 11 weeks to return to game shape, the Royals have a shot of getting him back for October. If Gordon takes 12 or more weeks before he is ready for game action, the Royals will find themselves in an incredibly difficult spot of whether or not he should be included on a postseason roster when he has hardly played for two and a half months. 

Long story short, if the news comes back that Gordon has sustained a grade 3 groin strain, then the team must approach this as though they will not see Gordon again this season. Prior to the injury, I had enough faith in Jarrod Dyson that I didn't believe the Royals needed to acquire a corner outfielder to replace the lackadaisical Alex Rios. Now, I believe it is quite certain that the Royals should seek out replacement opportunities. 

I view this situation in two parts. First, there is the 2015 problem. Rios is terrible and now Gordon is hurt. The Royals need to fill two outfield spots and they have a solution for one (Dyson). The second part of this is 2016. While the injury will increase the likelihood that Alex Gordon returns to Kansas City for the 2016 season, there is still a very good chance that he departs. If this is the case then the Royals return just Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, and Paulo Orlando. Even if Dyson proves that he can play everyday in 2016, the Royals still need another starting outfielder. 

If you find an outfielder now, you get the benefit of improving the roster for the remainder of 2015 by pushing aside Rios, while also getting a step ahead in setting the 2016 roster. If by chance the Royals are able to bring back Gordon for 2016, then they again can push Dyson into a rotation role as the fourth outfielder and will be even stronger a unit for the 2016 campaign.

It is my opinion that the outfielder the Royals need will come via trade. Some would argue that there are capable internal replacements and here is how I would counter on each of those options.

Paulo Orlando - Fourth Outfielder

Brett Eibner - The former second round pick has some promise. He is 26, extremely streaky at the plate, plays good defense, and has a good arm. He is also hitting .292/.349/491 in Omaha. There is a part of me that believes he could grab and handle an everyday job. However, I also know that Werner Park heavily favors right handed power and as a 26 year old, he needs to prove it in the Majors. The scenario that I prefer is that the Royals acquire a starting RF and Eibner gets called up in replace of Orlando or as a 5th outfielder. Given his power from the right side, I think he complements the roster better than Orlando. There is already a ton of speed, but a power bat off the bench would be a bonus and Eibner could even wind up in the small side of a platoon with Dyson.

Whit Merrifield - Based on reports it sounds like Merrifield could be the guy to replace Gordon on the roster. The former 9th round pick is an easy player to root for, but he is 26 and is currently slugging .392 in a hitter friendly league. He gets bonus points for being able to play both outfield and second base, but I don't see the South Carolina product as an answer.

Moises Sierra/Reymond Fuentes/Jose Martinez - All of these guys have done enough to get a chance to fill a void on the roster for a little bit. However, the Royals aren't filling this hole with any of these retreads.

Lane Adams - At 25 years old, the toolsy outfielder is barely hanging on to the prospect label. He's excellent defensively, can steal bases, and shows flashes at the plate. He received a cup of coffee last September and the organization loves his athleticism. Similar to Eibner, I think he is a guy who could complement Dyson well in a platoon role for left field. However, he isn't going to ever be an everyday outfielder.

Jorge Bonifacio/Bubba Starling - I've lumped these two 22 year olds together because I think at this point they have similar trajectories. Both could be in a position at some point in 2016 to deserve a look as an everyday guy. At this point, it is clear that both need more minor league seasoning. Unless the Royals decide to go the Salvador Perez route  in their developmental approach, neither of these prospects will be slam dunks to deserve a Major League spot at the beginning of 2016.

All of this brings us back to my initial conclusion. The Royals need to add a corner outfielder to the roster sometime in the next few weeks. It will be an enormous boost to the team for 2015, and will also better position the team for success in 2016. 

I've been wanting to get going on here for awhile, but have been considering who other options. It is good to be back and I'll try to break down some specific trade targets over the next few weeks. 

Follow me on Twitter @Landon_Adams! 

Minor League Update - Northwest Arkansas Naturals

The Royals' Texas League affiliate is off to a rough start to 2014, sitting at 4-13 and in last place in the North Division. The club trails first place Springfield (STL) by five games, and is winless at home in seven tries thus far.

Among the biggest struggles for Northwest Arkansas is a 5.77 team ERA, which is a full two runs higher than the next closest club. Opponents have scored a staggering 115 runs – 39 more than the second worst team. Perhaps worse, 22 of those runs are unearned. Naturals pitchers have walked 81 hitters and have thrown 17 wild pitches, both the most in the eight-team Texas League.

As a team, the Naturals are hitting just .236/.323/.328 and have scored only 62 runs in 2014, the league’s second worst mark. Northwest Arkansas batters have hit just eight home runs, which also ranks second lowest in the league.

Individual Hitting

 

MiLB.com

Who’s Hot:

After going 1-for-16 to start the season, Jorge Bonifacio is now fourth in the Texas League with 12 RBI, just three off the pacesetter. The outfielder has five multi-hit ballgames in his last 10 starts and is hitting .310/.370/.429 since April 11. In all, Bonifacio has one home run with a line of .239/.338/.358.

Infield prospect Cheslor Cuthbert has a team-high 17 hits and 12 walks and ranks second on the club with seven RBI. In all, he is hitting .279/.392/.361.

Whit Merrifield is tied for the league lead with six doubles, three of which have come in his last four games. Over that period, the second baseman/left fielder has three multi-hit games and five RBI.

Who’s Not:

Lane Adams is on the rise with five hits in his last three games, but is still hitting just .224/.329/.284 in 74 plate appearances across 17 games.

Individual Pitching

Who’s Hot:

23-year old pitching prospect Sam Selman tossed five innings in his season debut April 11, in which he allowed just one unearned run. The lefty allowed just two hits and walked four. Across two starts, Selman is currently 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA.

Two of Tim Melville’s three starts have been very impressive. The 24-year old tossed four scoreless innings April 4 and five scoreless April 15. He allowed a combined three hits in the two outings. In all, the right-hander has a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings and has held opponents to a .133 batting average.

Relievers Cody Fassold and Andrew Triggs both have ERAs under 1.80 in six appearances apiece.

Who’s Not:

Basically, everyone else. Specifically:

Prospect Jason Adam has lost three games, tied for the most in the Texas League.

He was roughed up in his first start of the season, surrendering eight runs (six earned) in just three innings against Midland (OAK). He followed that outing with a two-hit performance and one earned run across four strong innings also against the RockHounds , but then surrendered ten hits to Springfield in his last start. The Cardinals score five runs, four of which were earned. Opponents are hitting .388 against Adam with right-handed hitters scorching him for a line of .545/.519/.773 in 23 April plate appearances.

Angel Baez has struck out 17 hitters in 10.2 innings, which ranks among the league’s leaders in K/9. Unfortunately, he has a 10.97 ERA this year across six relief appearances.

Noel Arguelles is tied for the league’s most walks with 13 and has a 14.09 ERA in his first 7.2 innings across six appearances.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2014 Preview

Defense

LF - Whit Merrifield

CF - Lane Adams

RF - Jorge Bonifacio

3B - Cheslor Cuthbert

SS - Orlando Calixte

2B - Justin Trapp*

1B - Mark Threlkeld*

C - Juan Graterol

Rotation

Jason Adam

Greg Billo*

Tim Melville

Noel Arguelles

Sugar Ray Marimon

Bench

C - Micah Gibbs*, C - Parker Morin*, IF - Angel Franco, IF - Yowill Espinal, OF - Ethan Chapman*,  OF - Roman Hernandez, OF - Edinson Rincon

Bullpen

Scott Alexander, Angel Baez*, Malcom Culver, Cody Fassold*, Andy Ferguson, Hassan Pena*, J.C. Sulbaran, Andrew Triggs

Notes:

• There are 9 new faces that will put on a Naturals uniform for the 2014 season.  One of the more notable debuts is 23 year old pitcher Greg Billo.
• To begin the year, the roster doesn't look all that great to those who pay attention to prospects and all things Minor Leagues, but with a fully loaded Wilmington Blue Rocks roster, there will be some big name players that could easily arrive in Springdale by mid-season (Dozier, Starling, Mondesi, Almonte, Manaea, etc.)
• Top Prospect Kyle Zimmer, who ended last year's season with the Naturals, will stay in Arizona for extended Spring Training to get some work in while recovering from biceps tendinitis in his shoulder.  He is expected to join the Naturals on May 20th.
• Jason Adam returns to the Naturals after throwing 144 innings in 2013.  Although Jason posted a career high K rate, he's coming off a disappointing year on the bump as he also logged career highs in ERA (5.13) and BB/9 (3.38).  As of now, his ceiling is that of a back-end starter.  His pitches are solid, but lack the flash as they once did back in his Instructional League days.  His fastball velocity has dipped the past couple seasons and if he can somehow work his way back to his rookie year throwing 98 mph, his status has a rotation candidate will rise drastically.
• Adam won't be the only pitcher to watch at Arvest Ballpark.  Newcomer Greg Billo makes his Double-A debut coming off a successful 2013 campaign as he worked his back from Tommy John surgery.  In 40 innings for Lexington, he posted a 1.35 ERA, his best since 2011, 38 K's, 13 BB and 6 ER, along with a FIP of 2.93.  
• Ranked as #4 in the Royals' Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America, RF Jorge Bonifacio will come back to Springdale for a second season only because age is definitely on his side.  The 20 year old has a pure swing with a lot of power potential.  Between Wilmington and a short stint with the Naturals in '13, his slash line was .298/.372/.429 with 4 HR and 55 RBI.  Scouts still say the power is there and will arrive soon.  It will be nice to see Bonifacio display that power in a full season at Arvest Ballpark.

Prospect Countdown: #6 Jorge Bonifacio

6. Jorge Bonifacio Outfielder

milb.com

Age: 20
Position: OF
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 192
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as non-drafted FA in 2009
From: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2013 Rank: 5

2012 Rank: 15

2011 Rank: 45

Landon Adams (6): Jorge Bonifacio continues to chug through the Royals minor league system, posting solid, but not eye popping results. For his career he has hit .289/.355/.443 over 1362 plate appearances. Bonifacio possesses a swing that projects for solid average, he runs okay, and his arm is good enough to play in right. The one tool that could turn Bonifacio from a solid regular to an all-star is his power potential. 

Royals fans have heard a lot about the power potential of Jorge Bonifacio. In fact, just a year ago on the Up and In podcast a scout's opinion was relayed that Bonifacio had the most power potential in the entire Midwest League (at the time Miguel Sano was also playing on the circuit). We've yet to see the power translate into high slugging percentages or balls into the seats, but the reports are still there. One thing that I'm extremely looking forward to seeing in 2014, is Bonifacio showing off his power in game at Arvest Ballpark.

Another thing that I will be watching in regards to Jorge Bonifacio are his platoon splits. Last season alone, Bonifacio hit .266/.348/.384 against right handed pitchers, but mashed against lefties to the tune of .424/.472/.606. For his career, Bonifacio has hit the opposite side better than same side pitching, but never to this extreme. Hopefully, Bonifacio can continue to mash left handers and pick up his game just a little against right handed pitching. 

Long term, Bonifacio appears to be the Royals solution in right field. He also seems to be a pretty safe bet as a prospect. With Nori Aoki in Kansas City on a one year deal, right field will be up for grabs to start 2015. My guess is Bonifacio splits 2014 between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha. Next year Jarrod Dyson and Justin Maxwell will platoon in right for the first month and a half of the season, before Bonifacio comes up and claims what is his. The Royals will then control Bonifacio through 2021. 

Paden Bennett (5): Last season I had this to say regarding Bonifacio "(Bonifacio) is the guy that can ease the pain of trading Wil Myers.  He has that ability.  I don't believe his potential is as high as Wil Myers, but I do think Bonifacio has the ability to become a very good middle of the order hitter in the majors." A year later I still believe this is the case. In 2014, I hope to see some of Bonifacio's power that we've heard about translate into actual home runs in Northwest Arkansas.

Joe Cox (6):  Jorge Bonifacio comes in at number six this season after having a productive 2013 season.  Bonifacio, 21, reached AA last year and had no difficulty at being a productive hitter at each of the three levels he played at last season.  Between the three levels he played, he managed a triple slash line of .298/.372/.429 over 374 PA.  

While known for his power potential, Bonifacio only hit 4 home runs last season.  He did show an ability to control the plate, with a walk rate of 10% while keeping his strikeouts under 20%.  Bonifacio has the skill set both offensively and defensively to play right field at the major league level.  Bonifacio should start his 2014 in AA but could be pushed up aggressively if he continues to show the ability to hit at that level; though he will be young compared to the rest of the league.  

Bonifacio has a very exciting set of skills to work with, and I have hopes that we will continue to see growth in the power department.  He reminds me a little of a higher profile prospect in Jorge Soler, but Bonifacio is actually a year younger and Soler has yet to reach AA.  Both profile as power hitting right handed bats without too many holes in their game.  Bonifacio is on a trajectory to reach the majors sometime in 2015 and could become a big mover on national prospect rankings next year. 

Dan Ware (3):  Bonifacio, the younger brother of former Royal Emilio Bonifacio, turns 21 in June and still remains the OF prospect that can bring power to a future lineup in Kansas City.  In the meantime, Jorge will likely be the starting RF for NW Arkansas to begin the 2014 season.  In his first go-around with the Naturals last year, Jorge fared well in 105 plate appearances, hitting .301/.371/.441.

Although Jorge didn't produce appealing power numbers last year, he predominately played in a pitcher-friendly Carolina League and had a short stint in Double-A, so I'll give him that.  He's 20 years young with time to mature, the power will come.  His ability to hit in the gaps has impressed scouts the most, with his quick and strong hands.  While he's already at 200 pounds at age 20, he'll likely fill out a little more as he gains a couple years, but still pans out to be a sufficient RF with a strong arm.


Nicholas Ian Allen (--): With Jorge Bonifacio, the Royals have another exciting prospect that has shown talent and production at a very young age. While the system is not ranked as high by some of the experts as it was a few years ago, it is as deep as ever.

The word that comes to mind most when I look at Bonifacio is "solid." There is really no one thing that jumps out in his skill set overall, he just a good solid player all-around. He hits the ball hard, keeps it in play, and gets on base - all terrific signs for an advanced hitter.

While I do not have much to add about the soon to be 21-year old as a player, the thing that intrigues me most about Bonifacio is wondering how the Royals will handle him. It will not be long before he is pushing for playing time in the Kansas City outfield, but with the club set to contend for a playoff spot this season and the youngster probably a year away from the big leagues, he could be very tempting to trade come July. 

I feel the long-term decision could come down to Bonifacio versus Billy Butler, and which provides the best bat two or three years down the road. If the brass truly sees Bonifacio as a cornerstone of the franchise, they will obviously keep him. On the other hand, if he could bring a piece makes the club feel better about making the playoffs in 2014 or possibly making a run at the World Series, it is an option that must be considered.

Total Points: 104

Your Future in Right Field

Yestterday was quite the day for Royals right fielder of the future Jorge Bonifacio. Not only did he drive in the go ahead run in the 4th, but he also hit a two-run bomb in the 8th. Fox Sports' Jeffrey Flanagan wrote about Bonifacio's efforts here. Of course, the highlight of the article came from Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo:

"I'd say he's our most advanced and consistent upper-level hitter that we have right now. He puts a consistent swing on everything and doesn't chase a lot of bad pitches. He doesn't get beat very much by fastballs, either. Just a very mature 20."

I haven't been shy about my love of the Nori Aoki acquisition. I think the man is poised for a breakout 2014 campaign. Unfortunately, the Royals only control him for the 2014 season and it is a safe wager that his contract demands are going to jump following the season. If he performs as expected he'll be justified for a raise from the $1.95 million he is making this season, and if he excels then he will get an enormous boost in his paycheck for 2015 and beyond.

The Royals clearly view Aoki as a nice stop gap to bridge the road to Bonifacio in 2015 and beyond. Of course, that means that Bonifacio will need to be Major League ready within a season. With just 105 upper minor plate appearances under his belt, this seems like a tall order.

Bonifacio has age on his side, but I hope the Royals don't rush him to fill the 2015 hole in right field. With that being said, his bat is legitimate and the Royals might not need to push him. Just as I do with Aoki, I am expecting big things from Bonifacio in 2014. I'm looking forward to watching him shot lasers all over Arvest Ballpark for the first half of this summer, but I'm even more excited to watch him do that at Kauffman Stadium.

Follow me on Twitter @Landon_Adams!

The Uber Top 100

On Wednesday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pro Blog did us all the favor of compiling the various prospect rankings into one list. It's a good opportunity to gauge a broader view than looking at individual lists. You can look at the whole list here. Here's where the Royals broke in:

• 22 - Kyle Zimmer
• 29 - Yordano Ventura
• 32 - Raul Adalberto Mondesi
• 83 - Miguel Almonte
• 105 - Jorge Bonifacio
• 115 - Sean Manaea
• 128 - Hunter Dozier

Overall, a pretty good job by the Royals to net seven players on the list. Just for fun let's take a quick look at how the rest of the American League Central fared:

Chicago White Sox:

• 66 - Erik Johnson
• 75 - Matt Davidson
• 122 - Marcus Semein
• 131 - Tim Anderson

Cleveland Indians:

• 9 - Francisco Lindor
• 40 - Clint Frazier
• 102 - Trevor Bauer

Detroit Tigers:

• 27 - Nick Castellanos
• 116 - Devon Travis
• 129 - Robbie Ray

Minnesota Twins:

• 1 - Byron Buxton
• 7 - Miguel Sano
• 35 - Alex Meyer
• 49 - Kohl Stewart
• 71 - Eddie Rosario
• 103 - J.O. Berrios
• 104 - Josmil Pinto

Obviously, the Twins system is very strong right now, especially with two in the top 10. It's also good to see that outside of Castellanos, there isn't much in the pipeline for Detroit. Also of note, is Jake Odorizzi slotting in at 78. 

The Royals system isn't what it was a couple of years ago, but when you consider the youth of the Major League roster and the quantity of guys included in this list, it's good to know that the organization has done a sound job in keeping the pipeline stocked with high upside talent. 

Follow me on Twitter @Landon_Adams!

Wilmington Blue Rocks Preview

Projected Lineup

2B - Justin Trapp

SS - Jack Lopez

3B - Cheslor Cuthbert

RF - Jorge Bonifacio

CF - Lane Adams

1B - Murray Watts

DH - Daniel Mateo

LF - Tim Ferguson

C - Parker Morin

Rotation

Kyle Zimmer

Sam Selman

Kyle Smith

John Lamb

Angel Baez

Bench

C Kenny Swab, IF Kenneth Diekroger, IF Nick DelGuidice, OF Geulin Beltre, OF Chris Elder

Bullpen

Antonio Cruz, Robinson Yambati, Aaron Brooks, Malcom Culver, Cody Fassold, Kellen Moen, 

Spencer Patton, Andrew Tiggs

Notes on the 2013 Blue Rocks:

•  The middle of the lineup will be one of the more popular topics regarding Wilmington to start this season off.  Cuthbert is looking for a bounce back year, after hitting .240/.296/.322 with an ISO of .082.  Cheslor's GB% was 46.7 while his BB% was 7.2.  Although his K% was well below the Carolina League average, if he can work on a line-drive swing and being a little more patient at the plate, Cuthbert we'll get back on track in no time.
• Jorge Bonifacio, the 19 year old "not so athletic younger brother of Emilio" and #5 on our 2013 Prospect List, held his own for sure at the plate in Kane County last season, hitting .282 with 10 HR and 61 RBI, not as pretty as Twins top prospect Miguel Sano (28 HR 100 RBI), but still very promising for the time being and his age.  The C.L. is known for being a "pitcher's league" so hopefully Bonifacio can keep up the pace from his Kane County days.
• Jason Adam, 23, has sort of slipped off our radar, but still remains a prospect for now.  Last season, starting off with Kane County, was a solid bounce back from an ugly 2011 season.  Once joining the Blue Rocks, his batting average fell nearly 60 points compared to his K.C. appearances.  If Jason wants to remain in the organization, he'll need to get it going in Wilmington before it's too late.

• Murray Watts, 27, is definitely on the scolding hot seat at this point.  Last year he compiled a line of .221/.299/.394 in 30 games for the Blue Rocks, hitting only 4 HR with an ISO of .173.  The problem with Murray is he doesn't make contact well at all and doesn't have good patience at the plate, striking out 35.9% of the time while walking only 10.3% of his ABs.  This will most likely be the final year for Murray in the Royals organization if he doesn't show signs of improvement.

• The rotation will definitely be the highlight of Wilmington to kick off the season this Thursday, April 4th.  With four of our own Top 15 prospects in the rotation alone, Royals fans will want to keep tabs on the Blue Rocks for a while.  Kyle Zimmer headlines the staff, as he comes off an exciting rookie season in Kane County.  A workhorse who will give you lots of innings, like former Blue Rock Jason Adam, should split time between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas, if all goes to plan.  Sam Selman and Kyle Smith join Zimmer in their quest, alongside rehabbing John Lamb, who is back to full health, but needs some time to regain some of his velocity.  

• Another guy to look after his reliever Robinson Yambati.  At 22, he has a three quarter arm delivery, a low 90's fastball, and an incredible GB% of 65.6, thanks to his ability to keep the ball low in the strike zone.  If he continues his success from 2012, he'll be in Northwest Arkansas before too long, and possibly even Omaha before season's end.

Prospect Countdown: #5 Jorge Bonifacio

5. Jorge Bonifacio Outfielder

www.dailyherald.com

Age: 20
Position: OF
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 192
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in 2010
From: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic



Paden Bennett (8):  Jorge Bonifacio is the guy that can ease the pain of trading Wil Myers.  He has that ability.  I don't believe his potential is as high as Wil Myers, but I do think Bonifacio has the ability to become a very good middle of the order hitter in the majors.  Still very young at age 20, Bonifacio had a solid season in A ball with a .282 average and a .432 slug.  Bonifacio needs to continue to develop in his approach at the plate and the power will continue to come.  The natural power is there, I just hope he has a big year this year so I get the opportunity to watch him in Northwest Arkansas.

Joe Cox (9): Jorge Bonifacio turns just 20 this summer, but the Royals are going to rely on him to be the power hitting outfielder that will lessen the blow of trading top prospect Wil Myers this offseason.  Bonifacio did well in his first full season in the Midwest league, hitting .282 with 10 home runs and a .768 as a teenager.  The younger brother of current Blue Jay Emilio, Jorge showcases his raw power as opposed to his brother’s natural speed.

Scouts see the younger version as a future third hitter at the major league level.  Bonifacio was able to cut down on his strike outs last season but needs to continue to improve on this aspect of the game.  Defense is not his forte, but he should be an adequate right fielder at the major league level.  It is likely that Bonifacio will begin 2013 in high-A ball, Bonifacio should be able to continue to develop in the minors but could see the major leagues by 2015, if not sooner.

Damion Mandalas (8): It was on the "Up and in" podcast last summer that it was suggested that some scouts believe long term Jorge Bonifacio was the top power prospect playing in the Midwest League circuit. This is especially exciting considering another high profile Latin prospect playing in the league: Miguel Sano. Personally, I'd have to take Sano when it comes to present and future power, but I think there is a good shot that Bonifacio is the better overall player.

Bonifacio ranked as the third youngest regular in the Midwest League in 2013 and will be on the youngest players in the Carolina League here soon. Given the lack of a long term right fielder ahead of him, I imagine that even average results in Wilmington could allow him to see Northwest Arkansas by season's end.

Dan Ware (10):  During his 2012 campaign, Bonifacio, the 20 year old from the Dominican, fared well against Midwest League pitchers, compiling a line of .282/.336/.432 with 10 HR and 61 RBI, 84 strike outs and 30 walks.  His brother, Emilio, who is already in the Major Leagues with the Miami Marlins, draw just one similarity in regards to the game: the last name they share.  While Emilio has a more athletic frame and could easily steal up to 40 bags this year, Jorge would be lucky to get 15.  He's not slow, but at 20 years old, he's already close to 200 pounds and could easily thicken as he matures a few years older.

His arm is considered to be plus but his range is far from it.  Depending on how he grows and whether he's able to get into a more physically fit frame, I don't see him lasting in the outfield on down the road, but you never know. Jorge will start off in Wilmington this season.  I'd be interested to see if they try him out at a different position, considering he did log a game at 3B in Kane County last year.

Total Points: 89

Prospect Countdown: #15 Jorge Bonifacio

#15 Jorge Bonifacio


Age: 18
Position: OF
Height: 6-1
Weight: 192
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent on 12/9/09
From: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic







Some are calling Jorge Bonifacio a sleeper prospect entering the 2012 season, but Royals diehards are well aware of his enormous potential. Jorge is the brother of Major Leaguer Emilio Bonifacio and in two professional seasons as a teenager the early returns have been promising.

Bonifacio is an average defender with an above average arm. Despite a long swing, he has hit .290 as a professional. Last season he squared up Appalachian League pitchers 22% compared to the league average of 14%. Bonifacio's power is even more promising. Scouts say he has a special sound off the bat and his slugging percentage last year came in 100 points higher than the league average.

Bonifacio should open the season in Kane County. He's just one of a bevy a young outfield prospects.

Picture taken from Milb.com