If you've looked at the Naturals' roster you've probably noticed that 4 players - Rosa, Pimentel, Sanchez, and Lisson are on the Royals 40-man roster. Many probably don't know what that means, though.
Most people who follow baseball are familiar with the 25 man roster for each MLB team. Only players on the 25 man roster are eligible to play in official MLB games throughout the season. What is the 40 man roster, though? It includes the 25 man roster up to 15 players in the minor leagues - but typically something less than that - and MLB players who are on the 15-day DL. The significance of a player being on the 40 man roster is that, after September 1 the MLB club can expand their roster to include players on the 40 man roster to play in official MLB games.
This means that players like Rosa and Pimentel will likely get a chance to move up to play in a few MLB games this season after the roster expansion in September (if not sooner, in Rosa's case). Typically teams that fall out of centention are much more likely to expand their rosters to 40 and let prospects get time in the big leagues. Teams in contention might add a few guys to lessen the wear on everyday players, but don't typically give minor leaguers significant playing time.
This is because teams must still maintain their 25 man roster, and cannot change that roster after Aug 31, unless a player is placed on the 60-day DL. In that event, a player from the 40 man roster, who plays the same position, can replace the injured player (who is out for the remainder of the season since 60 days after Sept. 1 is Oct. 31 and the World Series is over).
It might be fun to look at the players who are on the Royals 40 man roster, but not on their 25 man roster. Of course, it might not be fun. We'll only know once we've done it.
John Bale - 15 day DL
Ryan Braun - RHP - Omaha Royals
Kyle Davies - RHP - Omaha Royals
Luke Hudson - 15 day DL
Tyler Lumsden - LHP - Omaha Royals
Neal Musser - LHP - Omaha Royals
Julio Pimentel - RHP - NWA Naturals
Carlos Rosa - RHP - NWA Naturals
Matt Tupman - C - Omaha Royals
Mario Lisson - 3B - NWA Naturals
Angel Sanchez - SS - NWA NAturals
Ryan Shealy - 1B - Omaha Royals
Shane Costa - OF - Omaha Royals
Mitch Maier - OF - Omaha Royals
It'll be fun if/when some of these Nats get their chance in the big leagues. I'm hoping to make a few trips up to KC to catch some games this summer, and will definitely try to do so if Rosa or Pimentel get a chance to start for the big club.
Now a look at the Royals Top Ten Prospects according to Baseball America:
Mike Moustakas - SS - Burlington Bees
Daniel Cortes - RHP - NWA Naturals (DL)
Luke Hochevar - RHP - MLB 25 Man Roster
Blake Wood - RHP - Wilmington Blue Rocks
Danny Duffy - LHP - AZL Royals
Carlos Rosa - RHP - NWA Naturals
Julio Pimentel - RHP - NWA Naturals
Matt Mitchell - RHP - Burlington Bees
Yasuhiko Yabuta - RHP - MLB 25 Man Roster
Derrick Robinson - OF - Wilmington Blue Rocks
I don't know the protocol on when a player is no longer a prospect, but I suppose one should remove Yabuta to Hochevar from the list soon, if not now. If Moustakas lives up to his potential there's a clear opening for him in KC, as Pena is not getting it done (.160 BA right now). That could mean a midseason call-up for Moustakas, which would probably send Angel Sanchez to Omaha.
Update:
I meant to include this initially, but ran out of time. It's interesting to see how few of the top prospects are also on the 40 man roster. You can tell from this that there is a huge difference in the long-term potential for a player (at least for what scouts see in a player) and their current abilities. Guys on the 40 man roster are probably the guys the club feels are the most MLB ready right now, while prospects are the guys who are thought to have the greatest potential to have the largest impact someday. Heck, Moustakas isn't even on the 40-man roster, and he's (by all accounts) the top prospect in the KC system.
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About this Blog:
In this, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals' inaugural season, I thought it would be fun to create a blog to discuss the team, and to provide some additional, original content on Arkansas' newest professional sports franchise.
I will try to focus on three things:
1. Day to day results of the Naturals' games, including as many first-hand accounts as I can give you.
2. Rehab assignments and call-ups to and from the Royals.
3. Game strategy notes plucked from Naturals games. I'll discuss pitching changes and offensive strategies, evaluating each as we go. Afterall, it's not just the players, but also the the managers and coaches who are trying to make it to the show.
In this, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals' inaugural season, I thought it would be fun to create a blog to discuss the team, and to provide some additional, original content on Arkansas' newest professional sports franchise.
I will try to focus on three things:
1. Day to day results of the Naturals' games, including as many first-hand accounts as I can give you.
2. Rehab assignments and call-ups to and from the Royals.
3. Game strategy notes plucked from Naturals games. I'll discuss pitching changes and offensive strategies, evaluating each as we go. Afterall, it's not just the players, but also the the managers and coaches who are trying to make it to the show.
10 comments:
Is Sanchez really that good of a player - his batting average seems super low for someone the Royals rate so highly. If he can't hit at AA surely he couldn't hit in the majors.
I have to admit I don't know a whole lot about baseball though so this is probably showing my ignorance.
Not at all - That's kinda the point I'm trying to make. Sanchez is on the 40 man roster, but he isn't that great - he's just the closest they have to ML ready right now. That doesn't mean that they think he can hit. He's a good fielder and baserunner, so they might think he could be useful as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.
I don't know a whole lot about the inner workings of this stuff, either. this blog is, among other things, a chance for me to try to gain knowledge and gain insight. I'm sure I'm getting plenty of stuff wrong or half right here.
Thanks for the blog - I come by and check in every few days and always learn something new or get new insight.
Keep up the good work!
Is it just me, or looking at something that isnt there? But I cannot figure out why I dont hear more about Geraldo Valentin,the infielder/outfielder for the Naturals as being part of the Royals future. Signed with the Royals as a non drafted free agent June 2003. In 6 seasons with the club,a lifetime BA of .289,a Midwest Midseason All-Star in 2005 with Burlington, Texas League Player of the Week in 2007 with Wichita,and a team leading .308 with the Naturals this season (10th in Texas League).But what impresses me the most is, with 1812 lifetime at bats and only 214 strikeouts and 129 walks,says he puts the ball in play with consistency and that he can play both infield and anywhere in the outfield. It might just be me, but how can you fail to mention him in any of your plans in the next coming years? Take a look at his detailed stats in his career and you tell me. Am I seeing something that isnt there?
I'd guess that the reason Valentin isn't considered a top prospect has a lot to do with the position he plays (formerly a SS, but with Sanchez better defensively, and Moustakas thought to be the future he's playing RF and LF).
For corner outfielders teams looks for more than a nice batting average. Also, the k/bb ratio you've cited isn't that great (this year it's 12k/1bb). Corner outfielders need to display power and drive in runs.
He's only hit three bombs in 120abs, compare that with McFall (who's also not a touted prospect) who has 7 bombs in 113 ABs. Over the previous two seasons and the first 40 games this season, Valentin has only 11 home runs in 963 ABs. That's one every 87.5 at bats.
If he's going to become a prospect this late in the game (he's 25)he'll have to develop power soon.
correction 12ks/4bbs this season, a 3/1 ratio.
Guys are put on the 40 man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft !
Players who have signed by the Royals out of of high school 5 seasons ago or college players signed 4 seasons ago could be drafted by another team if they were not protected by being placed on the 40 man roster.
The draft is in Dec. Lisson needed to be placed on the roster or he could have been drafted. Moustakus
is not eligible for the Rule 5 draft untill 2011
Thanks for the input - that does make sense - so is that the only reason, or do the September call-ups also play a part in the decision?
Presumably they would want to protect their best rule 5 eligible talent from the draft, so are the 40-man roster guys just the best players in the system who could be subject to the drtaft?
Sorry - that above comment (from Sarah) was from me - someone else was signed in on the computer, and I didn't notice.
a lot of thought and some risk goes into the 40 man roster.
You have Chris Lubanski who was a 1st rd draft pick who was playing in AAA. He was not put on the 40. Thats not to say he is not a prospect, he was in AAA if he was picked up he would have to go on the 25 man roster of the team that drafted him. He was not MLB ready so the Royals to a chance he wouldn't get picked.
Lisson was in low A. He could have been picked up in the draft and would have been placed on the AA or AAA teams of the team that drafted him. which was a huge risk. Same was true with Sanchez 2 years ago.
You want to protect your prospects who are at risk
Does that make sense?
You don't have to be on the 40 to have a Sept call up. Pitcher Hochever was called up last fall and he wasn't on the 40.
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