Ranking Kansas City Royals’ 10 Best Prospects Heading Into 2015

This 18-year-old could translate into a legit lefty starter if all goes well. His 6-foot-6 frame and remarkable command point to a very bright future for KC’s latest second-round pick. He doesn’t have the power one would expect from a starter of his size, but his control makes him noteworthy even at such a young age.

A plethora of raw talent and the fanbase’s desire for a local hero afford Bubba plenty of time to turn things around, but he hasn’t yet shown an ability to hit himself into a starting job. Starling has yet to hit better than .218 at the High-A level, but showed some offensive potential during his latest stint in the Arizona Fall League. Any good news about his progress from now on will be huge.

This promising outfielder exhibits all the necessary skills for a starting big-league right fielder, but his bat regressed when he was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas last season. At that level, Bonifacio posted a .209/.303/.312 line, which just proves that he won’t be rushed up to the major leagues. At 21, he still has plenty of upside and room to grow.

This 19-year-old pitcher has an unexpectedly high ceiling, and he is progressing quickly. Griffin already showed potential for three better-than-average pitches, and improving his ability to repeat his delivery over time should make him a strong choice for a starter in 3-4 years.

Here we have another remarkably underrated pitching prospect. This 21-year-old lefty posted a 2.40 ERA in over 80 innings in Wilmington before being promoted to the Double-A level. He continued to excel in 48 innings at this stage, posting a 3.19 ERA, but his K/9 ratio dropped by nearly three. A little more refinement could make Binford a legit big-league option within a season or two.

This intriguing young pitcher needs to improve his off-speed stuff, but a fastball that touches 95 mph is already worthy of the big leagues. Almonte averaged more than one K per inning in Low-A ball during his latest season, posting a 3.1 ERA in 132 2-3 innings. In slightly less time with the Royals’ High-A affiliate, better batters exposed his lack of control inside the strike zone. He will have starter potential once it all comes together.

Dozier’s .295/.397/.429 slash line at High-A last season was impressive, but he had exactly as many plate appearances at the Double-A level and struggled to match that effectiveness. Dozier batted just .209/.303/.312 with Northwest Arkansas. Scouts still project him as an everyday starter once his batting progresses -- not bad for an eighth overall pick who was panned by many.

Mondesi ranks up there with Starling when it comes to raw talent, but he struggled mightily against Carolina League pitching in his most recent efforts. His defensive skills and overall athleticism will keep eyes on him for seasons to come, but he needs more patience and better pitch recognition to advance to the next level. Thankfully, with Raul at just 19, he has plenty of time to get better.

KC’s former first-round pick has all the pitches and strike zone command that he needs to be a legit No. 2 in the big leagues, with the only question mark being his health. If he can successfully recover from his recent shoulder surgery, Zimmer could fight for a starting job with the major-league club this season or the next.

Because he has control of three strong pitches and proven success in the Kansas City farm system, Manaea is KC's best prospect right now. He threw 121 2-3 innings at Double-A Wilmington last season, posting a 3.11 ERA and average 10.8 K/9. Depending on how the Royals use their extra cash this offseason and how other prospects perform in Spring Training, Manaea could have a shot at the starting rotation in 2015.