Where the Royals' top 30 prospects are starting the season
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With the 2016 season getting started, here's a look at where the Royals' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Raul Mondesi -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Kyle Zimmer -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA) -- DL
- Ashe Russell -- Extended spring camp
- Miguel Almonte -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Nolan Watson -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Scott Blewett -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Bubba Starling -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Marten Gasparini -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Foster Griffin -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Matt Strahm -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Chase Vallot -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Cheslor Cuthbert -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Ryan O'Hearn -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Alec Mills -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Hunter Dozier -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Jorge Bonifacio -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Seuly Matias -- Extended spring camp
- Josh Staumont -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Reymond Fuentes -- Kansas City Royals (MLB)
- Amalani Fukofuka -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Pedro Fernandez -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Garrett Davila -- Extended spring camp
- Brett Eibner -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Brandon Downes -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Anderson Miller -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Ricky Aracena -- Extended spring camp
- Jeison Guzman -- Extended spring camp
- Eric Skoglund -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Brooks Pounders -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Yunior Marte -- Lexington Legends (A)
Team to watch
With right-handers Nolan Watson and Scott Blewett and lefty Foster Griffin, low Class A Lexington has three of the four high school pitchers whom the Royals have given seven-figure bonuses in the past two Drafts. The fourth, righty Ashe Russell, should join them after some time in extended spring camp. The Legends also have a pair of seven-figure bonus babies among their position prospects: Italian shortstop Marten Gasparini and catcher Chase Vallot.
Where teams' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Omaha Storm Chasers
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Lexington Legends
New faces
Dominican outfielder Seuly Matias, fourth-round left-hander Garrett Davila and Dominican shortstop Jeison Guzman all will make their pro debuts this summer after signing for a combined $4.5 million last year. They're in extended spring camp for now.
On the shelf
Right-hander Kyle Zimmer has ace potential, but he has pitched just 216 2/3 pro innings since Kansas City made him the fifth overall pick in the 2012 Draft. He'll open this year on Triple-A Omaha's disabled list after coming down with shoulder fatigue during Spring Training.