Draft Update: 2004

The 2004 draft looks like a success so far. Billy Butler is one of the best hitting prospects in the minors. JP Howell has already made his major league debut. Luis Cota is having a very good season at Burlington, even though he's one of the youngest pitchers in the league (technically, Cota belongs in the 2003 draft category). The Royals also did pretty well in the later rounds. The only real bust in the draft was Matt Campbell. He was doing alright at Burlington, but he's been shutdown due to injuries. Here's a list of the 2004 selections, scouting reports, and some videos from mlb.com:

2004 Scouting Reports and Videos

Here's a look at how the Royals 2004 draftees have done so far:

1-14. Billy Butler/LF (Round-Pick Player/Pos): Butler has been a great pick for the Royals. Butler has the most offensive upside of any Royals' prospect in quite some time. This was an example of a good signability pick. Grade: A+

2005 stats: High A 376 ABs .348/.438/.636 29 2Bs 25 HRs 91 RBIs

1-29. Matt Campbell/LHP: Campbell was the worst pick in the draft. Other than a plus curve, Campbell doesn't have much going for him. Campbell has been sidelined by injury problems. After watching his scouting video, I didn't see what the Royals saw in him. I wish the Royals would stop drafting soft-tossing lefties and hoping they become Jaime Moyer. Only 1 in 100 ever become Jaime Moyer. Grade: D

2005 stats: 1-5 4.66 ERA 63 2/3 IP 37 BBs 48 Ks

1-31: James Howell/LHP: Howell looks like a good pick by the Royals. Howell has 3 solid pitchers with his sinker, curve, and splitter. He also throws a 4-seam fastball touching 89 mph (and gets hit hard) and a changeup. Howell could eventually be a good No. 3 or 4 starter. His command needs improvement. Grade: A-

2005 stats (short version): High A and AA good, AAA and ML's not so good

2-55: Billy Buckner/RHP: Buckner is having a pretty good season, earning a quick promotion to High Desert. Buckner features a low 90s fastball, a plus curve, and a developing change. Should move quickly and enter the rotation by 2007. Grade: B+

2005 stats: (low A) 3-7 3.88 ERA 60 1/3 IP 17 BBs 60 Ks
(high A) 5-4 5.43 ERA 63 IP 25 BBs 62 Ks

2-63: Eric Cordier/RHP: Cordier has been shutdown due to injury problems, thankfully not to his arm. Cordier has good upside and projection with 3 potential plus pitches. Grade: B

3-85: Josh Johnson/SS: Johnson hasn't been terribly impressive. Johnson hasn't hit for average or power, but has shown good plate discipline. But, a later pick makes up for this one
Grade: C-

2005 stats: (AZL) 112 ABs .259/.387/.393
(Pio) 32 ABs .125/.222/.281

4-115: Nate Moore/RHP: Moore is doing alright at High Desert after a swift promotion from High A. Moore isn't overpowering. His arm slot is almost sidearm and he gets some sinking action on his fastball and has an average slurve. Moore could be a decent middle reliever down the road. Grade: B

2005 stats: (low A) 3.94 ERA 16 IP 5 BBs 21 Ks
(high A) 5.10 ERA 47 2/3 IP 20 BBs 24 Ks

5-145: Henry Barrera/RHP: Barrera has plenty of projection and already throws in the mid-90s. He's still very raw though. Grade: B

2005 stats: (AZL): 6.48 ERA 16 2/3 IP 7 BBs 16 Ks

6-175: Chad Blackwell/RHP: Blackwell has a unique sidearm delivery. His size and awkward delivery are similar to Leo Nunez, except for the arm slot and much slower fastball. Blackwell has a good slider and does a good job of locating his fastball. Blackwell is doing very well in his first full pro season. Grade: A-

2005 stats: (low A) 2.47 ERA 51 IP 23 BBs 54 Ks 11 SVs

7-205: Patrick Green/RHP: Green has a fastball that sits in the upper 80s with pretty good movement. Green also throws a hard and soft curve. He has good command and mixes his pitches effectively. Grade: A-

2005 stats: (low A) 4.09 ERA 103 IP 22 BBs 60 Ks
(high A) 0.60 ERA 15 IP 2 BBs 10 Ks

8-235: Edward Lucas/SS: Lucas is a speedy infielder with good speed and on-base skills. His defense needs some work though. Could be a utility guy in the future with useful speed off the bench. Grade: B

2005 stats: (low A) 315 ABs .311/.373/.368 23 SBs

9-265: Chris McConnell/SS: McConnell is having a great season at Idaho Falls. McConnell's strength is his defense with great range. He's done quite well offensively as well, posting a .339/.420/.452. Sean Rooney signed him as well as Bianchi. Rooney has a knack for drafting shortstops out of the northeast. Just don't let him draft any outfielders (Lubanski). Grade: A

2005 stats: (Pio) 162 ABs .340/.385/.519 3 HRs 19 RBIs

10-295: Bobby Beeson/LHP: Regressed this season. Grade: D

Other notables:

16-475: Patrick Hicklen/RHP: Hicklen uses an upper 80s fastball, fast and slow curve, and a slider. He's having a good season at Burlington, but his stuff probably won't take him to the big leagues.

27-805: Zane Carlson/RHP: Carlson pitched well at Idaho Falls and earned a promotion to Burlington. Carlson's fastball can hit 93 mph and has a good splitter.

34-1015: Kyle Crist/RHP: Crist's fastball can hit 93 mph and he has some projection left. Crist has good late tailing action on his fastball as well. He shows signs of developing a plus slider and curve. Best late-round pick by the Royals. Grade: A

Overall, the 2004 draft was a good one for the Royals. The Royals acquired a hitting phenom in Billy Butler who maybe has more raw power than any Royal in quite some time. The Royals added some pitching to a farm system that badly needed it. The Royals mixed in some high school pitchers with good upside (Cordier and Barrera) as well as polished college pitchers. Overall, the 2004 draft was one of the Royals best in quite some time.