SPRINGDALE -- Last October while discussing all the former Northwest Arkansas players that provided key contributions as Kansas City won the American League Championship Series, Naturals general manager Justin Cole also took a minute to look ahead to the future.
"Another wave of prospects is coming," Cole said.
At A Glance
Texas League season opener
Northwest Arkansas (0-0) at Midland (0-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Security Bank Ballpark, Midland, Texas
PROBABLE STARTERS: Northwest Arkansas, TBD. Midland, RHP Zach Neal (10-7, 3.09).
RADIO: 92.1 FM The Ticket
That wave is about to hit for the Royals' Double-A affiliate as six of the franchise's top prospects will be in a Naturals uniform when the team opens the 2015 season tonight in Midland. Tops on that list is shortstop Raul Mondesi, who is rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the farm system.
And good news is that Naturals fans will probably get a chance to see Mondesi play a lot this season.
Mondesi signed with Kansas City as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic and the 6-foot-1, 185-pound shortstop won't turn 20 until there is about a month left in the regular season.
The jump to Double-A is one of the biggest in baseball, but Mondesi said he is ready for the challenge after being invited to the Royals' spring training camp in Arizona following his play in the Arizona Fall League.
"It was my first time, and I just tried to do my job," Mondesi said. "I learned a lot about playing with those veteran guys and I think that is going to help me help this team win games. It feels good to work hard and get results. I feel really comfortable and confident in the box."
Mondesi spent all of last season at Class A-Advanced Wilmington, where he hit .211 while leading the Carolina League with 12 triples. He has a strong arm, good hands and speed and Naturals manager Vance Wilson said Mondesi's hitting is beginning to catch up to the rest of his skills.
Mondesi, who is a switch-hitter, played for Wilson in the Arizona Fall League and he hit .233 with six doubles and a triple in 17 games. His father, Raul, was a Major League Baseball player for 13 seasons, including seven with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1994.
"I was lucky to have Mondesi in the Arizona Fall League, and when a kid starts to mature, it is amazing how you can see it overnight," Wilson said. "From the fall through spring training, Raul is twice the player he was."
Wilson said Mondesi's speed and defensive skills will bode well for the Royals, especially in Kauffman Stadium.
"He is a dynamic shortstop, the type of kid you look for up the middle when you are building a team," Wilson said. "World Class speed on the baseball field. He could steal 50 bases in a season, which is pretty special. There is still some youth there when it comes to disciplined hitting, but the way he has grown since the fall, I look for big things from Raul."
Northwest Arkansas will play three games in Midland before concluding the six-game opening road swing at Frisco.
The home opener is Thursday, April 16 against Midland. The first homestand of the year includes three games with Midland and three games against Frisco.
Paul Nielsen can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaul.
Sports on 04/09/2015