People with big brains work at Baseball Prospectus. Writers at the Web and book publisher have joined major-league front offices and risen to fame as political analysts.
So when the analysts at BP turn their attention to the Royals, it's time to take a knee.
Today BP's Kevin Goldstein looked at the young players under the Royals' control. He came away impressed, writing, "While they're not ready to be this year's version of the [Tampa Bay] Rays, there is plenty of high-ceiling talent on both offense and defense, and if the pitching develops and they find some up-the-middle talent in the next three years or so, they have a chance to be that young team that everyone is talking about."
Goldstein says the Royals have two five-star prospects: Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, both former first-round picks.
Hosmer is a 6-foot-5 first baseman. Goldstein say his bat speed is fantastic, "and he make[s] adjustments to pitches in-flight as if he were a veteran, hitting to all fields without any reduction in his massive power."
Moustakas, an infielder, has "plus-plus raw power" by virtue of strong wrists. Goldstein talked with one scout who compares Moustakas to a smaller version of Billy Butler.
Fun trivia about Moustakas, courtesy of Goldstein: He attended Chatsworth High School in California, as did former ballpayer Dwight Evans and actors Kevin Spacey and Val Kilmer.
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