Farm to Fountains: Weekly Royals News Roundup

Jared Perkins January 27, 2024 in News Tagged Adam Frazier, Blake Mitchell, Kansas City Royals, Matt Sauer - 5 Minutes

Here are the latest happenings in Royals news from last week!

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Royals News

Jackson County Legislature approves putting stadium sales tax measure before voters in April: “By a 7-2 vote, the Jackson County Legislature overrode a veto by executive Frank White, allowing a ballot measure to proceed before voters in April that could fund a new downtown ballpark for the Royals.”

The former Kansas City Star site continues to draw more attention: “Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the teams will have a big hill to climb to convince voters to approve the extension of the tax.

“The proof is going to be in the pudding the next month. Will the Royals and the Chiefs be able to share enough with the people of Jackson County and the Kansas City region so it makes or will they not?” Lucas said.”

The Royals reached 2024 contract agreements with multiple players: “We have agreed to terms on 2024 contracts with the following players: LHP Daniel Lynch IV, OF Kyle Isbel, IF Vinnie Pasquantino, IF Michael Massey, RHP Alec Marsh, RHP John McMillon, OF Tyler Gentry, RHP Will Klein, RHP Matt Sauer:

The Royals have agreed to cover admission to the Negro League Museum: “The Royals announced they and the Kansas City Royals Foundation (formerly Royals Charities) will cover the cost of entrance for anyone visiting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum during the month of February.”

The Royals have agreed to a one-year contract with Adam Frazier: “Frazier is the type that doesn’t strike out and makes solid contact. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 97th percentile in SweetSpot%, 89th percentile in K%, and 84th percentile in Whiff%.”

Royals Analysis

Preston Farr discusses whether the Royals should make any trades at all: “More good players aren’t going to be a bad thing for 2024, no matter how you frame it. However, it’s worth considering whether the depth that Kansas City now has in their system is the true ace up their sleeve.”

Jacob Milham writes that RHP Matt Sauer will prove himself in 2024: “He has the stuff to succeed in the bullpen. His fastball comfortably sits in the mid-90s and a move to the bullpen could see his velocity jump. Add on an above-average slider, a changeup to work with, and a large frame Kansas City is looking for, Sauer has the tools needed to stick in the majors.”

Farm System

Blake Mitchell was ranked the No. 94 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline: “The left-handed slugger has plus raw pop and a swing that is geared to lift the ball on contact, leading to promising power projections. As his ACL time proved, he can be selective at the plate while he waits for the right pitch to drive too, and there’s hope that approach can help turn him into at least an average hitter over time.”

The Royals announced their 2024 minor league coaches: “On Wednesday the Kansas City Royals released their full list of coaches for the upcoming Minor League season. Many of the faces will be familiar names. Managers Mike Jirschele (AAA), Tommy Shields (AA), and Brooks Conrad (A+) will all return as skippers once again for their respective affiliates. Jirschele has been with the Royals for some time and 2024 will be his 33rd season with the organization.”

Sean Hackett interviewed Lindsay Crosby of Locked on Prospects about the transition through the minor leagues: “I think the right way for an organization to develop some of their most talented young players is to group them together at various affiliates and let them compete together for an extended time period.”

Preston Farr wants you to love Tyler Gentry as much as he does: “Gentry is nowhere close to a fringe major leaguer. He’s a true prospect that deserves much more respect than he’s been given. Don’t discount him forcing the issue in Spring Training and don’t be surprised if he’s the Royals regular left fielder by the end of 2024. He’s a bonafide top prospect and it’s time to make the narrative reflect that.”

Matthew LaMar thinks the farm system’s long-term outlook is bleak: “I’ve loved Kansas City’s offseason so far, and they have significantly improved the big league roster. But put it this way: if the 2015 Royals had the 2024 Royals farm system, they simply could not have made the trades they did—because the Royals had four players on the midseason top 100 in 2015, and they had strength from which to deal.”

Mike Gillespie looks at Devin Mann and his outlook for 2024: “Don’t exaggerate the negative import of Mann’s poor Omaha batting; it was the kind of prolonged slump even the best professional hitters dread but inevitably go through more than once. His .307 average and 14 homers he hit at Oklahoma City before the trade strongly suggest he wasn’t overmatched by the pitching at the minor leagues’ highest level.

Preston Farr profiles reliever Will Klein: “It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Klein and McMillon form a formidable one-two punch in the backend of the Royals bullpen as early as mid-season 2024. Corey Knebel was a dominant strikeout arm for some time in the big leagues and Klein could be a very similar arm.”