Post by RoyalsGM on Aug 7, 2018 20:26:53 GMT -5
The plan for the 1982 Kansas City Royals was to give the vets one last shot at the title, and then bring up the top prospects to replace them in 1983. Instead, the vets have faltered, and the prospects are too good for the minors. Therefore, Royals GM David Mitchell has called up #1 overall prospect Lorenzo Gray and #15 overall prospect Otis Nixon to join #24 overall prospect Von Hayes, who joined the team less than a month ago. "It's criminal to leave these guys in AAA", Mitchell said. Indeed, it is hard to ignore the scouting reports coming out of Omaha.
1B/3B Lorenzo Gray is the prize of the pack, enjoying a breakout year in AAA. Originally a 4th round pick in 1977, scouts now rate his hitting as a 9 out of 10, and power as an 8 out of 10. Less than two years ago, Gray only boasted a power rating of 2 out 10, but his bat has developed dramatically. So far this season, Gray is batting .390, with a slugging percentage of .604. Through 69 games, he has hit 20 doubles and 16 homeruns. His recent performance has him leapfrogging Keith Moreland as a IF utility bat on the Royals major-league roster.
OF Otis Nixon has followed a different path, long projected for the majors as the #12 overall pick in 1979 based on his speed alone--he stole 51 bases last year in Omaha, and has swiped 25 already this year. Nixon's gift is finding his way on base, sporting a .381 batting average and a .486 on-base percentage this year. Scouts rate his hitting as already at an 8 out of 10 rating, along with a 6 rating for drawing walks. MR Mike Proly was demoted to make room for Nixon, but ultimately he is taking the roster spot of injured OF John Lowenstein.
1B/OF Von Hayes, selected immediately after Nixon at the 13th pick in 1979, made his major-league debut on May 3rd, currently batting .262 with a .423 slugging percentage and 22 RBI in just 35 games. Hayes is especially talented in hitting doubles and drawing walks, both of which Royals Stadium favors.
"We really wanted to hold these guys off until 1983, but they beat down the door and here they are," Mitchell said. The Royals are stuck in a 5-way battle for the AL Central, 5 games back of perennial power Detroit; they also have their eye on the wild card, just 5 games back of the high-flying Blue Jays. He continued, "I owe it to our veterans to field the best team that I can, and they all have their eye on the prize. No heads hung and complaints about playing time, just 25 guys working toward one goal--a World Series championship!"
1B/3B Lorenzo Gray is the prize of the pack, enjoying a breakout year in AAA. Originally a 4th round pick in 1977, scouts now rate his hitting as a 9 out of 10, and power as an 8 out of 10. Less than two years ago, Gray only boasted a power rating of 2 out 10, but his bat has developed dramatically. So far this season, Gray is batting .390, with a slugging percentage of .604. Through 69 games, he has hit 20 doubles and 16 homeruns. His recent performance has him leapfrogging Keith Moreland as a IF utility bat on the Royals major-league roster.
OF Otis Nixon has followed a different path, long projected for the majors as the #12 overall pick in 1979 based on his speed alone--he stole 51 bases last year in Omaha, and has swiped 25 already this year. Nixon's gift is finding his way on base, sporting a .381 batting average and a .486 on-base percentage this year. Scouts rate his hitting as already at an 8 out of 10 rating, along with a 6 rating for drawing walks. MR Mike Proly was demoted to make room for Nixon, but ultimately he is taking the roster spot of injured OF John Lowenstein.
1B/OF Von Hayes, selected immediately after Nixon at the 13th pick in 1979, made his major-league debut on May 3rd, currently batting .262 with a .423 slugging percentage and 22 RBI in just 35 games. Hayes is especially talented in hitting doubles and drawing walks, both of which Royals Stadium favors.
"We really wanted to hold these guys off until 1983, but they beat down the door and here they are," Mitchell said. The Royals are stuck in a 5-way battle for the AL Central, 5 games back of perennial power Detroit; they also have their eye on the wild card, just 5 games back of the high-flying Blue Jays. He continued, "I owe it to our veterans to field the best team that I can, and they all have their eye on the prize. No heads hung and complaints about playing time, just 25 guys working toward one goal--a World Series championship!"
