Kyle Zimmer to make Kansas City Royals debut in 2016?
After a slew of injuries in his first professional seasons, is Kyle Zimmer ready to make his Kansas City Royals debut in 2016?
The Kansas City Royals selected Kyle Zimmer, out of the University of San Francisco, with the fifth pick (1st round) of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft. Many scouts raved about Kyle Zimmer’s stuff, which some believed showcased frontline-ace material. While some teams believed Kyle Zimmer could be the top pick in the Draft, the Kansas City Royals snagged him up with the fifth pick. However, Kyle Zimmer’s professional career began with a couple hiccups.
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Through the first three years of his professional career, Kyle Zimmer repeatedly suffered injuries that slowed down his development in the process. Kyle Zimmer sustained shoulder, elbow, biceps, and lat injuries in his first three professional season, causing him to pitch just over 150 innings. The Kansas City Royals believed Kyle Zimmer would contribute at the Major League level no later than 2014; however, as 2016 rolls in, Kyle Zimmer would be lucky to start the season out in Triple-A.
In 2015, Kyle Zimmer made strides to show the Kansas City Royals exactly what they drafted. Despite the regaining traction in the minor leagues, Kyle Zimmer only pitched 64 innings. But, after missing nearly all of 2014 due to injuries, the Kansas City Royals were certainly impressed with Kyle Zimmer’s production on the season. Between two leagues last season, Kyle Zimmer posted a 2.39 ERA, 10.1 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9.
Last season, in efforts to ease Kyle Zimmer back into action, the Kansas City Royals pitched him mostly out of the bullpen, making 17 of his 24 appearances as a reliever. The move to the pen for Kyle Zimmer should be looked at, primarily, as a conservation/longevity effort than a permanent move. The Kansas City Royals want Kyle Zimmer to pan out as a starting pitcher, and the team should continue to develop one of their top pitching prospects as a starter.
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With a strong 2015 season, although abbreviated, under his belt, Kyle Zimmer hopes to take a huge step forward this upcoming season. By finishing last season at the Double-A level, the Kansas City Royals may try and start Kyle Zimmer out at the Triple-A level heading into 2016. If the former first round pick succeeds out of the gate, Zimmer might see an early promotion to the MLB. However, the Kansas City Royals will likely utilize Kyle Zimmer’s arm out of the pen.
Kyle Zimmer offers four average-to-above-average pitches, pitching off the strength of his fastball, which can reach triple digits. In addition to a plus-fastball, Kyle Zimmer throws an above-average curveball, mixed with a change-up and slider. If Kyle Zimmer continues to develop his off-speed offerings, he should mold into the frontline arm the Kansas City Royals envisioned when they selected him fifth overall.
The biggest obstacle standing in Kyle Zimmer’s way is health. Kyle Zimmer needs to put together a full season in 2016 and reassert himself as one of the brightest pitching prospects in baseball. Whether Kyle Zimmer see his first MLB action out of pen or in the starting rotation, he needs to dominate this upcoming season and earn a promotion to the Royals.
While Kyle Zimmer (almost certainly) will not break camp with the Royals, he has a chance to be the first prospect called up in 2016. If Kyle Zimmer can make the most out of his reps in Spring Training and early on in 2016, he may find himself in the Royals’ starting rotation. However, the fact that Kyle Zimmer has not pitched more than 108.1 innings in a season brings question to how effective he would be in a lengthened season at the Major League level.
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If Kyle Zimmer dominates out of the gate in 2016, he could be a mid-season call-up for the Royals; however, the more likely scenario would be for the Royals to call him up once the roster expands later in the season. Regardless, Kyle Zimmer is one of the best prospects in the Royals’ farm system, and he should make his MLB debut sometime in 2016.