Where the Royals' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
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With the 2017 season getting started, here's a look at where the Royals' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Matt Strahm -- Kansas City Royals (MLB)
- Hunter Dozier -- Kansas City Royals (MLB) -- DL
- Josh Staumont -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Eric Skoglund -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Scott Blewett -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Jakob Junis -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Chase Vallot -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Ryan O'Hearn -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Kyle Zimmer -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Seuly Matias -- Extended spring training
- A.J. Puckett -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Jorge Bonifacio -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Donnie Dewees -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Khalil Lee -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Meibrys Viloria -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Nolan Watson -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Miguel Almonte -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Garrett Davila -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Samir Dueñez -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Marten Gasparini -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Jeison Guzman -- Extended spring training
- Foster Griffin -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Andrew Edwards -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Nicky Lopez -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
- Corey Toups -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
- Corey Ray -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
- Ashe Russell -- Extended spring training
- Ricky Aracena -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Gerson Garabito -- Lexington Legends (A)
- Cam Gallagher -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
• Complete Royals prospect coverage on MLBPipeline.com/Royals
Team to watch
Triple-A Omaha features one of the game's hardest-throwing starters in right-hander Josh Staumont, who has hit 102 mph with his fastball and led the Minors in strikeout rate (12.2 per nine innings) in 2016. The Storm Chasers also feature the system's best power hitter (first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn), best on-base guy (middle infielder Corey Toups), best defender (catcher Cam Gallagher) and owner of its best slider (righty Andrew Edwards, who also has touched 102 mph). Underrated righty Jake Junis might wind up being the best starter among Kansas City's farmhands, while Jorge Bonifacio could push for the big league right-field job in the near future.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2017 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Omaha Storm Chasers
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Lexington Legends
Idaho Falls Chukars
New faces
A pure hitter with well above-average speed, outfielder Donnie Dewees came over from the Cubs in a February trade for Alec Mills.
On the shelf
The Royals' top position prospect, third baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier, will miss 6-8 weeks after going on the 60-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. He would have opened the season in Triple-A if healthy.