As exciting as it was to look at some of the most recognized talents in the Royals farm system in my article last week, there is also an incredible amount of value in some of the under-the-radar prospects that may go unnoticed at times. These players undoubtedly deserve recognition, given the amount of time and energy they put into their craft, combined with the talent that they possess. There are plenty of examples of these players contributing at the big-league level even sooner than some of their higher-rated counterparts.
Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey, Freddy Fermin, Dairon Blanco, John McMillon, and James McArthur are a few I could think of off the top of my head. These players did not enter professional baseball as top prospects, but worked their way through the minor leagues and proved that they could contribute on a big-league roster. There are currently players in the Royals’ farm system that will surprise all of us when their time comes, and I aim to shine a light on who some of those players may be. These underrated prospects may have been rated higher at one point in time. Below, I list one position player and pitcher for each affiliate.
Triple-A
Tucker Bradley (OF)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Northwest Arkansas (AA): 27 games, .301 Avg, .355 OBP, .828 OPS, 25.8 K%, 10.7 BB%
Omaha (AAA): 69 games, .267 Avg, .366 OBP, .799 OPS, 24.7 K%, 15.7 BB%
There is no denying that Tucker Bradley knows how to hit. Surprisingly, his .267 Avg in Omaha this past season was the lowest at any level in his minor league career. He also boasted a great walk percentage during his time in Omaha. His propensity to get on base would be a welcome site for a Royals team that had a team average OBP of .303 in 2023. Playing in the outfield also serves Bradley well, given the Royals seem to be less set at that position group than the infield. The opportunity to get a call-up due to injury or happenings at the trade deadline is not out of the question, though he will likely have to compete with Tyler Gentry for that chance.
Jonah Dipoto (RP)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Northwest Arkansas (AA): 10.1 inn, 0.87 ERA, 13 K, 4 BB, 1.26 WHIP
Omaha (AAA): 40.1 inn, 4.24 ERA, 47 K, 27 BB, 1.54 WHIP
Dipoto has spent all four of his minor league seasons in the Royals organization. His career 3.24 ERA demonstrates how consistent and reliable he has been at every level. While his strikeout numbers have remained solid throughout his minor league career (11.21 K/9), a high walk rate has been a consistent struggle for him since he entered the minors (6.02 BB/9). This high walk rate is the main contributor to his below-average career WHIP (1.40). His cutter generates the most whiffs of any of his pitches at a 43.4% clip. Dipoto throws his slider over two times more than any other pitch and generates plenty of whiffs (32.6%) while spinning it to the tune of an impressive 2842 RPM. His solid year in Omaha last season sets the stage for a potential call-up to the big leagues this year, as long as he limits the walks.
Double-A
Tyler Tolbert (SS)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Northwest Arkansas (AA): 126 games, .276 Avg, .336 OBP, .755 OPS, 24.5 K%, 7.7 BB%
Tolbert spent his entire 2023 season in NW Arkansas, giving us a huge sample size of his production at that level. For the most part, the results were promising. He sported his best batting average of any minor league season thus far, while also completing his third straight season of 50+ steals. He walked less this year than he has in years past but had the first 10-homer season of his career. 10 triples in each of the last two seasons also cannot be overlooked. Tolbert was a non-roster invitee to spring training this year, where he will look to build off of a solid 2023 season.
Eric Cerantola (SP)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Quad Cities (A+): 62.1 inn, 4.04 ERA, 80 K, 41 BB, 1.40 WHIP
Northwest Arkansas (AA): 14 inn, 1.93 ERA, 19 K, 5 BB, 1.00 WHIP
Cerantola was taken in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State. While players taken in the top five rounds of the draft tend to have higher prospect status, Cerantola’s first full season in the minor leagues was marked by injury. After only being able to pitch 30 innings in 2022, Cerantola was able to work his way up to 76 innings this past season. The results, especially in the limited sample size in NW Arkansas, were promising. While I am sure he would have liked a lower walk rate in Quad Cities, Cerantola kept opponents under a .200 batting average at both levels last season. Things seem to be trending in the right direction for Cerantola heading into 2024.
High-A
River Town (OF)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Quad Cities (A+): 84 games, .269 Avg, .375 OBP, .740 OPS, 18.2 K%, 13.6 BB%
Besides having an incredible name, River Town has been one of the system’s most consistent hitters over the past couple of seasons. There is little he does poorly offensively, with a ridiculously good on-base ability and above-average strikeout and walk numbers. The one knock for him offensively may be the lack of power. With only 21 home runs in 759 plate appearances, Town got a taste of Double-A last season for a few at-bats while filling in due to injuries. He hopes to continue to move his way up the system in 2024.
Tyson Guerrero (SP)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Quad Cities (A+): 84.1 innings, 3.63 ERA, 106 K, 29 BB, 1.11 WHIP
Northwest Arkansas (AA): 11 innings, 6.55 ERA, 15 K, 5 BB, 1.36 WHIP
Guerrero had a great season in Quad Cities this past year, fanning over 100 batters in 84 innings. Farm to Fountains Founder, Preston Farr, has a great thread on X where he shows just how dominant Guerrero was last season, ranking in the top-five in the Royals’ farm system in K% and K-BB%. His brief stint in NW Arkansas was nothing to write home about, but the sample size is far too small. He will look to build on a really strong 2023 season, whether that begins in Quad Cities or NW Arkansas.
Low-A
Trevor Werner (3B)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Columbia (A): 31 games, .354 Avg, .459 OBP, 1.158 OPS, 27.4 K%, 18.5 BB%
I am aware that the sample size is fairly small — only 113 at-bats — but the numbers are simply eye-popping. It is no wonder Werner was named the Carolina League Player of the Month for September. His 11 doubles, eight home runs, and 36 RBIs in 31 games were extremely impressive. The numbers will average out a bit at higher levels, but if he can maintain above-average power with a high walk rate, there is no telling what his ceiling may be. Some things I am sure he will be focusing on this season are his high strikeout numbers and poor fielding metrics at third base (eight errors in 41 total chances).
Cooper McKeehan (RP)
Notable 2023 season stats:
Columbia (A): 50 innings, 1.08 ERA, 53 K, 10 BB, 0.78 WHIP
Quad Cities (A+): 13.1 innings, 8.78 ERA, 14 K, 12 BB, 2.18 WHIP
McKeehan was a 16th-round selection for the Royals in the 2022 MLB Draft. He showed promise in a very limited 2022 showing and built upon that tremendously in 2023. The focus should be on his stats in Columbia, where he spent most of his time last season. He was dominant as a reliever in almost every statistical category, earning a spot as a Carolina League All-Star. He will look to bounce back from a rocky start in Quad Cities at the very end of last season.