After a long and arduous rebuilding process, the Kansas City Royals exclaimed 2015 would be the year they compete .  While they’ve gotten off to a slow start, the major league team has a nice combination of young emerging stars and veterans.  To get there, they’ve traded away talented players such as Wil Myers, Mike Montgomery and Jake Odorizzi.  While there is still talent within the organization, most of it is in the lower minors with only right-handed pitcher Kyle Zimmer as the true impact talent available to help the big league club. However, Zimmer has yet to make his 2014 debut and his barking bicep/shoulder is getting concerning.

1. Next in Line Infield Prospects

• Johnny Giavotella (2B, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Low
  
• Jimmy Paredes (2B, 3B, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Low
• Christian Colon (2B, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Low

Notes: Christian Colon has the best pedigree of this group but all profile as utility players in the major leagues.  Paredes is still a plus runner and can provide some stolen bases and Colon has the upside of a 15/15, .260 hitter at the highest level.  Johnny Giavotella will be up and down all year but could see more consistent playing time at third if Mike Moustakas continues to struggle.  He’s not a great fantasy option but makes good contact and might be able to score some runs if the Royals play him towards to the top-of-the-lineup.

2. Next in Line Outfield Prospects

• Carlos Peguero (OF, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Low
• Brett Eibner (OF, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Medium
  

Notes: Carlos Peguero is 27-years-old and does have solid pop.  However, he does have a long swing and has struggled to make enough contact to see consistent at-bats in the major leagues.  Brett Eibner is an intriguing prospect.  While he has a similar profile of Peguero, there have been reports of a shorten swing and the early results suggest he’s making better contact.  We’ve moved him up to a Medium on the fantasy meter.  In other words, it’s time to monitor.

3. Next in Line Pitching Prospects

• Aaron Brooks (RHP, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Low
• John Lamb (LHP, Triple-A) – Fantasy relevance: Low
• Kyle Zimmer (LHP, Injured) – Fantasy relevance: High

Notes: The impact prospect is Kyle Zimmer, but the Royals held him back in extended spring training due to bicep tendinitis.  If we don’t see him put up a stat line soon, the chance of him helping the Royals in the second half will vanish.  John Lamb has never fully recovered from his Tommy John surgery and while the stuff is good, the fastball velocity would suggest that his margin for error is very small.

4. Next in Line Relief Prospects

• Donnie Joseph (RHP, Triple-A)  – Fantasy relevance: Low