23-year old lefty swinging 3B Mike Moustakas is one of the brightest young players on the Royals. He played in 89 games for the Royals last year and he was 89 of 338 (.263 avg, .675 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 5 homers, 30 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Moustakas also played in 55 games in AAA-ball last year in which he was 64 of 223 (.287 avg, .845 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 10 homers, 44 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He had 11 errors in 89 games at 3B for the Royals last year while showing good range. The Royals have high hopes for Moustakas but they aren’t going to give him anything as Kevin Kouzmanoff is in camp to challenge him for the starting 3B job.

30-year old righty swinging Kevin Kouzmanoff played in 73 games for the Rockies & A’s last year and he was 55 of 234 (.235 avg, .656 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 7 homers, 33 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 672 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 633 of 2,478 (.255 avg, .720 OPS) with 265 runs scored, 85 homers, 361 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Kouzmanoff played in 71 games at 3B last year and he had 13 errors while showing pretty good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2012: B

25-year old righty swinging Alcides Escobar will have to battle one of the guys he got traded for last year (30-year old Yuniesky Betancourt) for the starting SS job in 2012. Escobar has the edge heading into spring training. He played in 158 games for the Royals last year and he was 139 of 548 (.254 avg, .633 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 4 homers, 46 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. He has now played in 350 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 298 for 1,183 (.252 avg, .633 OPS) with 148 runs scored, 9 homers, 98 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. He had 15 errors in 158 games at SS for the Royals last year and he showed pretty good range. The Royals are hoping for more offense out of Escobar in 2012, but they like his glove at SS regardless.

The Royals re-signed 30-year old Yuniesky Betancourt with the idea of using him as a utility man. I think Betancourt is coming to camp with the idea of beating out Alcides Escobar for the starting SS job in 2012. Betancourt played in 152 games for the Brewers last year and he was 140 for 556 (.252 avg, .652 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 13 homers, 68 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has played in 222 games for the Royals in his two years with the team and he is 203 of 802 (.253 avg, .676 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 20 homers, 105 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Betancourt has now played in 962 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 925 of 3,446 (.268 avg, .683 OPS) with 381 runs scored, 60 homers, 375 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Betancourt had 21 errors in 149 games at SS last year for the Brewers, but he showed poor range there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: C+

24-year old righty swinging Johnny Giavotella is coming to spring training as the Royals’ starting 2B. He played in 46 games for the Royals last year and he was 44 for 178 (.247 avg, .649 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 2 homers, 21 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Giavotella also played in 110 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 153 of 453 (.338 avg, .871 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 9 homers, 72 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He played in 46 games at 2B for the Royals last year and he had 5 errors while showing pretty awful range there. The Royals are hoping for improvement out of Giavotella with both the bat and mitt in 2012 as he has a huge upside.

28-year old lefty swinging Chris Getz lost his starting job to Giavotella last year and he will try to get it back this spring. Getz played in 118 games for the Royals last year and he was 97 for 380 (.255 avg, .600 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 0 homers, 26 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He has now played in 190 games in his first two years with the Royals and he is 150 for 604 (.248 avg, .592 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 0 homers, 44 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. Getz has played in 307 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 250 for 986 (.254 av, .622 OPS) with 124 runs scored, 2 homers, 76 RBIs and 62 stolen bases. Getz played in 110 games at 2B for the Royals last year and he had 6 errors while showing off pretty good range. Getz could win his starting job back this spring, be a backup again of get dealt to another team…..only time will tell.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: C

22-year old lefty swinging Eric Hosmer burst on the scene in 2011 for the Royals. He played in 128 games for the Royals last year and he was 153 of 523 (.293 avg, .799 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 19 homers, 78 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Hosmer has a big time upside as I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he hit over .300 with 25-30 homers and 100+ RBIs if he can stay healthy in 2012. Hosmer did make 8 errors in 127 games at 1B for the Royals last year, so he will need to tighten up his D a little bit….but he has time on his side. It will be fun to see what kind of numbers Hosmer puts up with him starting at 1B from Day #1 in 2012.

25-year old Billy Butler will be the starting DH for the Royals, but he can give Hosmer a day off when he needs one. Butler played in 11 error-free games at 1B last year for the Royals but he doesn’t have much range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: A

21-year old righty swinging Salvador Perez heads into the 2012 season as the Royals’ unquestioned starting catcher. He played in 39 games for the Royals last year and he was 49 for 148 (.331 avg, .834 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 3 homers and 21 RBIs. Perez also played in 91 games in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 97 for 334 (.290 avg, .769 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 10 homers and 53 RBIs. Perez played in 39 games behind the plate for the Royals last year and he had 3 errors and 2 passed balls. He threw out 5 of 33 (15.2%) base stealers and Royals’ pitchers had a 4.23 ERA with him behind the plate. Expectations need to be tempered a little bit with Perez as I don’t see him hitting anywhere near the .331 that he did last year. I do think he can be a solid .280-.290 hitter in 2012.

30-year old Brayan Pena will be Perez’ caddy in 2012. Perez played in 72 games for the Royals last year and he was 55 for 222 (.248 avg, .625 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 3 homers and 24 RBIs. He has now played in 196 games in his first three years with the Royals and he is 140 for 545 (.257 avg, .671 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 10 homers, 61 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 267 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 169 for 672 (.251 avg, .652 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 12 homers, 73 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Pena played in 69 games behind the plate for the Royals last year and he had 2 errors and 4 passed balls. Pena threw out 16 of 75 (21.3%) base stealers last year and Royals’ pitchers had a 4.49 ERA with him behind the dish.

24-year old righty swinging Manuel Pina got his first taste of the majors with the Royals last year. He played in 4 games for the Royals last year and he was 3 for 14 (.214 avg, .624 OPS) with 2 runs scored. Pina also played in 71 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 52 for 218 (.239 avg, .737 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 5 homers and 28 RBIs. Pina played in 4 games behind the plate for the Royals last year and he didn’t have any errors or passed balls. Pina threw out 1 of 2 (50%) base stealers last year and Royals’ pitchers had a 2.75 ERA with him behind the plate. Look for Pina to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

27-year old righty swinging Max Ramirez used to be a hot prospect, but not so much anymore. Ramirez played in 83 games in AAA-ball for three different organizations (Cubs, Astros and Giants) and he was 74 for 266 (.278 avg, .823 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 13 homers and 48 RBIs. Ramirez last played in the majors back in 2010 with the Texas Rangers. He has played in 45 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 25 for 116 (.217 avg, .699 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. Ramirez will likely start the year in AAA-ball for the Royals in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: B