Both the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves are ranked highly among MLB organizations in regards to their minor league systems.
This season, both are likely to see their top prospects – namely Eric Hosmer for the Royals and Freddie Freeman for the Braves – have major breakthrough seasons.
Hosmer, the Royals first round choice in 2008, is listed as the No. 8 prospect on MLB.com’s Top 50 Prospects list and is the team’s No. 1 first base prospect.
Through his first 12 at-bats this spring, Hosmer is batting .625 with two home runs and five RBI. His most recent home run, a grand slam off of Chicago Cubs pitcher John Gaub, tied the game at 4-4, a game which the Royals ultimately won.
Despite the torrid spring numbers, Royals manager Ned Yost told reporters Hosmer will likely begin the season at Triple-A Omaha. Yost did, however, hint that Hosmer will likely receive a mid-season call-up if he continues to swing a hot bat at the Triple-A level.
Last season, Hosmer hit .354 in 87 games with Class-A Wilmington before being promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In 50 games with the Double-A club, Hosmer hit .313 with 19 home runs, six of which came in the Texas League playoffs.
Expect Hosmer to continue his Minor League success and earn a call-up in late June. He, along with rookie teammate Mike Moustakas, who ranks No.7 on MLB.com’s Top 50 Prospects list, will help turn the Royals’ organization around.
Though they won’t put up much of a fight for the AL Central this year, expect the team to be a strong contender in 2012 when Hosmer will be the Royals full-time first baseman.
Like Hosmer, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has been swinging a hot bat this spring.
In eight games this spring, Freeman has a pair of 3-for-3 hitting performances and, as of Saturday, had four more hits than anyone on the team. After the Braves’ loss to the Marlins on March 7, Freeman was batting a stifling .458 with a .500 on-base percentage.
In his 24 at-bats this Spring Training, Freeman has three doubles, four RBIs, two walks and four strikeouts. In addition to his hot bat, Freeman has showcased his ability to field as well, most recently scooping up a short-hopped throw to complete a double play against the Marlins.
Freeman, last year’s International League Rookie of the Year, was hitting .319 with 18 home runs for Triple-A Gwinnett before being called up to Atlanta late last season. In his 24 at-bats with Atlanta, he had four hits, including one long home run off of Phillies ace Roy Halladay.
Despite being only 21, Freeman is playing in his third Spring Training with the Braves. He was named the team’s starting first baseman during the offseason, so he already has a leg up on Hosmer, who will likely not get a taste of the majors until June.
Look for Freeman to hit around 10 home runs and end with 67 RBI in his rookie campaign, something that should earn him NL Rookie of the Year honors.
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