http://www.kansascity.com/2011/02/23/2677593/royals-farm-system-gets-its-best.htmlRoyals' farm system gets its best-ever ranking
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
JOHN SLEEZER | The Kansas City Star
1. 1B Eric Hosmer (6-4, 215, L/L): Seeing is believing. Underwent LASIK eye surgery in August 2009 and responded with a breakout year that continued in the Arizona Fall League. One of the game’s top prospects.
Royals focus on running the bases Photo day at Royals spring training, and six top prospects are in camp More News
Royals' farm system gets its best-ever ranking Royals' Soria wants to leave 'Mexicutioner' behind Yost places heightened emphasis on base-running Royals’ Teaford won't let stolen truck slow him down Royals notebook: Dyson is preferred leadoff option — if he makes team Royals' Yost impressed with young players Royals' prospects can accelerate pace to the big leagues Royals notebook: Seven more players reach one-year agreements Hochevar is well-versed with hoopla surrounding Royals’ prospects Breaking down the candidates for the Royals’ rotation Royals notebook: Myers’ switch to outfield starts in early minor-league camp A healthy Aviles is a confident Aviles Ex-Marlins outfielder getting look Perez solidifying status as Royals’ catcher of the future Royals chat with Bob Dutton Royals' Yost impressed with Collins Royals agree to deals with Aviles, Escobar Recap of Friday's Royals spring training workout Royals notebook: Weight-loss efforts paying dividends Kendall cleared to test shoulder with limited activities Royals notebook: Ex-Mets pitcher Maine on club’s radar Royals' Yost: Kendall is 'way ahead of schedule' Yost stresses patience in bullpen evaluation process Royals notebook: Starting life without Greinke Royals' Yost: 'A lot of competition' heading into camp Don’t expect Royals to pursue Pujols despite KC ties Kendall heads to Los Angeles for exam on rotator cuff Royals’ Chen out to prove last year’s success was no fluke Royals notebook: Deal complete for Dominican pitcher Breaking down the Royals' spring training roster Here comes the sun: Spring training just days away for Royals Time to talk Royals Court ruling goes in favor of former Royal Brown Royals’ 2011 TV schedule announced Royals sign Pedro Feliz to minor-league deal Former Royal Aikens returns to team as minor-league instructor Nobody wins after Royals drop ball on White Royals icon White leaves the franchise Royals moving prospect Wil Myers to outfield Despite struggles, fans still believe in Royals’ Gordon SURPRISE, Ariz. | Add another bouquet to the glowing compliments showered on the Royals for the deep collection of talent in their farm system.
Baseball America cited nine Royals among the game’s top 100 prospects, a record for any team, in rankings released Wednesday on its website. The Royals also received the highest class score in the rankings’ 22-year history.
“It’s fair to say that this year’s Royals prospect class is among the best we’ve seen,” managing editor J.J. Cooper said. “In the 22 years of Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects list, we've never before had a team place nine players in the Top 100.
“We’ve also never had a team place five prospects in the Top 20.”
First baseman Eric Hosmer ranked eighth, followed by third baseman Mike Moustakas (No. 9), outfielder Wil Myers (No. 10), left-handed pitcher John Lamb (No. 18) and left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery (No. 19).
Shortstop Christian Colon was No. 51; left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy was No. 68; right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi was No. 69; and left-handed pitcher Chris Dwyer was No. 83.
“Aaron Crow just missed making the list,” Cooper said, “and Jeremy Jeffress, Brett Eibner and Tim Collins all received mentions when we were putting together our Top 100.”
Baseball America declared the Royals’ current class to the best in the list’s history after assigning a point value to each pick over the 22 years — 100 points for a No. 1 prospect down to one point for a No. 100 prospect.
The Royals finished with 574 points, which topped the previous best of 541 points by the 2006 Arizona Diamondbacks, who had Justin Upton, Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Chris Young and Carlos Gonzalez.
The 2000 Florida Marlins rank third with 472 points, followed by the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays at 466, and the 1999 Marlins at 441.
“It gives you a little energy boost,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said. “It’s a compliment to our scouts and our people in player development for the work they’ve put in over the last five years.
“We’re starting to see some positive signs.”
Teaford's truck located
The stolen truck of left-handed pitcher Everett Teaford surfaced — stripped — about 85 miles southeast of Surprise in Arizona City, Ariz.
“It was in the desert on an Indian reservation,” Teaford said. “I really don’t want to see it. I hear it was completely stripped and has scratches all over the side from being out in the desert.”
The 2004 Ford F-250 diesel truck was stolen Sunday night from a restaurant parking lot in Surprise while Teaford dined with teammates. An insurance claim is pending.
“The cops said the best we could hope for is they got bit by rattlesnakes out in the desert while they were stripping it,” Teaford said. “I’m not hoping the guy dies, but maybe a little (sick).”
Game action
The Royals play the first of two blue/white intrasquad games today as a tune-up for Sunday’s start of their 32-game Cactus League schedule.
Here are the tentative lineups:
White team: Gregor Blanco, left field; Melky Cabrera, center field; Billy Butler, first base; Mike Moustakas, third base; Clint Robinson, designated hitter; Brayan Peña, catcher; David Lough, right field; Johnny Giavotella, second base; and Lance Zawadzki, shortstop.
Blue team: Jarrod Dyson, left field; Chris Getz, second base; Mike Aviles, third base; Kila Ka'aihue, first base; Jeff Francoeur, right field; Mitch Maier, designated hitter; Lorenzo Cain, center field; Lucas May, catcher; and Alcides Escobar, shortstop.
White reserves: catchers Cody Clark and Salvador Perez, infielders Irving Falu and Joaquin Arias, and outfielder Brett Carroll.
Blue reserves: catchers Manny Piña and Ryan Eigsti, first baseman Eric Hosmer, shortstop Jeff Bianchi and third baseman Pedro Feliz.
Sixteen pitchers are scheduled to work one inning: Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, Bruce Chen, Vin Mazzaro, Steven Shell, Jeremy Jeffress, Luis Mendoza, Aaron Crow, Kevin Pucetas, Blaine Hardy, Patrick Keating, Louis Coleman, Mike Montgomery, Tim Collins, Chris Dwyer and Nate Adcock.
Missing in action
Three players are not scheduled to play in today’s scrimmage as a precaution because of minor ailments.
Left fielder Alex Gordon exited Sunday’s workout because of a cramp but should play in Friday’s intrasquad game. Infielder Wilson Betemit is still recovering from a sore elbow, while outfielder Derrick Robinson is nursing a mild strain in his hamstring/groin area.
Dominican signing
The Royals landed another Dominican pitching prospect by reaching agreement with right-hander Igor Feliz for $225,000, according to the Dominican Prospect League website.
Feliz, 17, possesses a fastball that works in the low 90s but touches 95. The signing follows a recent $300,000 deal with Darwin Castillo, an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher.
To reach Bob Dutton, call 816-234-4352 or send e-mail to bdutton@kcstar.com. Follow his news updates at Royals_Report@twitter.com.
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