- SS Raul Mondesi
- RHP Miguel Almonte
- LHP Sean Manaea
- LHP Brandon Finnegan
- 3B Hunter Dozier
- RHP Kyle Zimmer
- RHP Christian Binford
- C Chase Vallot
- LHP Foster Griffin
- OF Jorge Bonifacio
1. Raul Mondesi
Position: SS
DOB: 07/27/1995
Height/Weight: 6’1” 165 lbs
Bats/Throws: S/R
Drafted/Acquired: International free agent, 2011, Dominican Republic
Previous Ranking: #2 (Org), #29 (Top 101)
2014 Stats: .211/.256/.354 at High-A Wilmington (110 games)
The Tools: 6 glove; 6 arm; 5+ potential hit; 5 potential power; 6+ run
What Happened in 2014: The precocious six-spotter flashed impact potential on all sides of the ball despite underwhelming production as the third youngest player in the High-A Carolina League.
Strengths: Shows flash and substance with the leather; fluid actions, soft hands, and left-side arm; spry lower half; swing works short and direct from both sides; capable of producing impactful contact across zone; easy 6+ straight-line speed with quick acceleration; improving reads on the bases; could boast solid-average power buoyed by doubles/triples.
Weaknesses: Undisciplined approach at the plate; can be led out of the zone; lacks ability to conform approach to game situations; pitch identification has not advanced as hoped; often overmatched by quality sequencing; over-the-fence pop could play solidly below average.
Overall Future Potential: High 6; first-division/all-star player
Realistic Role: 5; major-league regular
Risk Factor/Injury History: High; teenager still transitioning to high minors.
Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: There is plenty to like about Mondesi from a fantasy standpoint, but the usable ETA and home-run power diminish his shine a little. In roto leagues, he’ll likely play similarly to Erick Aybar with a touch more power at peak, but likely topping out in the 10-12 range annually. He’s a good prospect to shop in dynasty leagues because his lofty value on prospect lists is buoyed by his defense.
The Year Ahead: Mondesi has been pushed aggressively by the Royals, debuting stateside in 2012 as a 16-year-old and advancing one level each season thanks to an advanced glove and immense natural ability that has allowed him to keep his head above water while regularly competing against players two, three, and four years his senior. Evaluators who catch him on the right day have seen signs of an emerging star, but much of Mondesi’s game remains understandably unrefined. Carolina League arms were often able to draw empty swings and disrupt timing with quality secondaries and moving the ball around the zone, and the young Dominican has yet to display an ability to regularly put together a coherent approach in the box. To Mondesi’s credit, he has shown a high degree of consistency in his swing and solid balance to go with a compact stroke, all of which could add up to a plus hit tool if he can prove capable of tightening his attack and forcing pitchers to work more frequently in the zone. The time may have come for Kansas City to let Mondesi repeat a level, and another year in the eight-team Carolina League would afford him the luxury of working on his approach while getting multiple looks at a relatively limited universe of High-A arms. Despite an underwhelming 2014 slash line, this remains one of the top shortstops in the game, and even if the bat never fully emerges, he should provide value at the major-league level in some capacity thanks to the plus or better grades across the balance of his game.
Major league ETA: 2017
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