3 Chasers Among Royals' Top 10 Prospects

Three former Omaha Storm Chasers players have been rated as among the top ten Royals prospects according to Baseball America. A pair of 2016 alums in infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio have been rated as the third-best and ninth-best in the organization, respectively, while 2013 alum Kyle Zimmer has been ranked the tenth-best farmhand in Kansas City's system by the publication.

Dozier was named 2016 Omaha Player of the Year by the Royals after posting a .294 average (115-391) in 103 contests with the Storm Chasers, adding 65 runs, 36 doubles, one triple, 15 homers and 54 RBI. He led all Royals farmhands in batting average and home runs, while also ranking fourth among all minor league players in doubles (44).

The 25-year-old was promoted from Omaha and made his Major League debut with the Kansas City Royals and September 12 of this year. In eight contests he accumulated a .211 clip (4-19) with four runs, one double and one RBI. Dozier was selected as the eighth overall selection by the Royals in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Stephen F. Austin University.

Bonifacio compiled a .277 average (137-495) in 134 games with Omaha in 2016, along with 82 runs, 22 doubles, six triples, 19 longballs and 86 RBI. He finished the 2016 campaign ranked second among Royals farmhands in RBI, as well as fourth in home runs.

The 23-year-old led all Storm Chasers batters in games played, runs scored, triples, home runs and RBI. He was signed by Kansas City as a non-drafted free agent on December 9, 2009.

Zimmer was limited to just three starts in 2016 between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Northwest Arkansas due to injury. He combined for an 0-2 record and 3.18 ERA (1 ER/5.2 IP) with 11 strikeouts in that span before missing the rest of the year after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

The right-hander made three appearances with the Storm Chasers during the organization's Triple-A National Championship run in 2014, yielding just one hit in four innings of work during Pacific Coast League postseason play. Zimmer was selected by the Royals as the fifth overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft out of the University of San Francisco.

In addition to Dozier, two other 2016 players from Double-A Northwest Arkansas were tabbed top ten Royals prospects by Baseball America, including right-hander Josh Staumont, who was ranked the top farmhand in Kansas City's organization. 2016 Naturals Infielder Ryan O'Hearn was rated the eighth-best prospect in the system.

The full list can be viewed by clicking here.