If you are a crazy person like the people who are in our 10 person AL only keeper league with a 4 round minor draft every year, then you know the Royals had the most hyped minors system in the entire MLB.
Well this minor system is beginning to show it's faced as they have called up their most prized hitter Eric Hosmer. Yes, he is on my team, but that is not what this post it's about. It's about keeping your eyes on the Royals over the next 2 years. Hosmer's call up is really the first big sign that the Royals are about to turnover their roster to their young guys.
So far this season the Royals have been a pleasant surprise. They are currently 17-14, which is good enough for 2nd place in the AL Central (4.5 games behind the Indians). The move to bring Hosmer up though has very little to do with jumping in a playoff race. Actually their plan was to get Hosmer at least 200 at bats at AAA before calling him up, but Hosmer forced the issue hitting a .439 average in 26 games this season, and with Kila Ka'aihue showing that he is nothing but a minor leaguer the Royals decided it was time to look to the future.
People have called Hosmer the AL's Joey Votto, which is pretty damn high praise. Yet, Hosmer is not alone, and here are some players that you are going to be hearing a lot about over the next 2-3 years.
1. Mike Moustakas, 3B - Was unreal in the minors last year, has cooled off this year, but should be the Royals third baseman for years to come. Hit .322 with 36 HRs and 124 RBI between AA and AAA last year.
2. Wil Myers, OF/C - Another fantastic hitter, but it looks like he is going to be an OF instead of a catcher. Still, this is a special guy at the plate.
3. Mike Montgomery, LHP - Big left hander who isn't far away since he is already in AAA, but probably needs another year to build up some arm strength since he isn't ready to pitch a full season in the MLB.
4. John Lamb, LHP - Current in AA, and is another big left hander. Also, this is another player listed in the top #20 prospects in all of baseball (according to Baseball America), and so is everyone I mentioned so far (including Hosmer).
5. Danny Duffy, LHP - Seeing a trend yet? Yet another left hander who is currently in AAA and is kicking ass 2.08 ERA in 5 starts (2-0) with 33 Ks in just 26 innings.
6. Jake Odorizzi, RHP - Came over in the Grienke trade, and although he is only in single A most people think he will quickly move up the ranks.
7. Chris Dwyer, LHP - Hey what do you know another good left hander who is currently in AA.
What do all these players have in common? They are all in the top 100 prospects as ranked by Baseball America and they all play for the Royal. This isn't including the guys we are already seeing (Billy Butler, Tim Collins, Aaron Crow, Joakim Soria, ect). Basically what I am trying to explain to you is that this will be the next "Tampa Bay Rays" with a seemingly unending amount of good young talent.
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