Josh Staumont

Staumont had his most successful season to date, going 4-3 with five saves and 16 holds for Kansas City over a career-high 64 appearances. The right-hander finished with a 2.88 ERA (3.89 xERA) and career-best 1.07 WHIP over 65.2 innings. Staumont's control woes persisted, but his 10.2% walk rate was his best yet and a huge improvement over last year's 14.3% clip. He was far less hittable (5.9 H/9) than years past, but continued to give up plenty of hard contact when batters did connect. Ultimately, Staumont ran hot and cold throughout the season, opening 2021 with a 0.68 ERA in April before struggling for a two-month stretch (5.09 ERA) prior to the All-Star break. He finished the year strong, however, recording a 1.93 ERA over the final three months. Royals manager Mike Matheny likes to be fluid with his bullpen usage, so Staumont should continue to receive a mix of saves and holds in his high-leverage role.

Staumont made 23 relief appearances last season, allowing earned runs in three outings on the way to a 2.45 ERA. However, his WHIP was 1.40 due to a generous 14.3 BB%. Staumont avoided more damage via a 33.0 K%, fueled by a fastball averaging 98.4 mph, touching triple-digits. Staumont was also lucky, allowing just two homers in 25 innings despite a low 28.6% groundball rate. His 4.71 xFIP reflects this good fortune. Still just 27 years old, Staumont wouldn't be the first to fix control woes at this point of his career, and in fact took a step in the right direction despite his high BB%, throwing 63.3% strikes last season compared to 60.4% in 2019. The Royals re-signed Greg Holland, but they could trade Holland at some point, or he could pitch his way out of the ninth. If that happens, Staumont will be among the top candidates to step in. He certainly has a closer arsenal.

A second-round pick in 2015, Staumont reached the majors last season and finished with a 3.72 ERA in 16 appearances. The estimators say he deserved an ERA closer to 6.00. While Staumont has always had good stuff -- a fastball that averages 96 mph and a swing-and-miss curveball -- he has absolutely no idea where those pitches are going. The right-hander walked the ballpark in the minors, never once posting a walk rate below 15% on the farm. He had his lowest walk rate ever last season after reaching the majors, but 11.4% is still poor, especially when it comes with a modest 17.1 K% and 1.86 HR/9. There is more of a strikeout punch here than he showed in his debut, but Staumont will likely always be a WHIP liability given his control issues. If he's all over the place in the spring, the Royals could send Staumont back down to begin the 2020 campaign.

Staumont didn't get his first big-league callup in 2018, but his numbers for Triple-A Omaha dramatically improved, as he cut his ERA from 6.28 to 3.51. He was helped by a move to the bullpen. Such a move makes sense for a pitcher with control problems as severe as Staumont's -- his ugly 15.8% walk rate last season was actually tied for the lowest he's put up at any stop thus far in his professional career. Despite his problems finding the strike zone, he still has some potential thanks to a strong 31.3% strikeout rate. Like most rebuilding teams, the Royals are short on established arms at the back of their bullpen, and it's possible Staumont is given a chance at some point this year, though it would be a surprise to see him jump into the closer role.

Staumont has an 80-grade fastball, a plus curveball, shaky command, and no reliable third pitch. He could probably skip Triple-A and thrive in the Royals' bullpen for all of 2017, as his stuff is that good. However, the move to a full-time relief role should be put on hold for at least another year, given how tantalizing his tools are. In addition to having two monster pitches, he has a starter's body and is entering his age-23 season while already having 50.1 innings at Double-A under his belt. If his changeup can become at all serviceable and he can develop fringe-average command, Staumont could be a No. 2 starter. He showed some encouraging signs down the stretch, posting a 1.84 ERA and 49:10 K:BB in 29.1 innings over his final five starts -- two of which came in the Texas League playoffs.