MLB Mock Draft 2011: Kansas City Royals Are Model for Draft Success

Has there been any team in baseball better at drafting in the first round in the last decade than the Kansas City Royals?

Of the Royals' first-round picks from 2004-09 (Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Luke Hochevar, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Aaron Crow), only Moustakas is not currently starting for Kansas City, and Moustakas could very well be with the team later this season.

Hosmer has 10 RBI in his last five games and is now hitting .283 with five HR and 17 RBI in his first 23 games in the majors, and Aaron Crow just took over as the closer for struggling Joakim Soria.

In the most recent mock draft posted by Baseball America, they have the Royals, who have the fifth overall pick in the Rule 4 Draft, selecting UCLA standout pitcher Trevor Bauer.

Bauer was just named the PAC-10 conference Pitcher of the Year after posting a 12-2 record and 1.27 ERA. Bauer also led the nation with 189 strikeouts, and has drawn comparisons to two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum.

Bauer's teammate, Gerrit Cole, ended his season with a 6-7 record and 3.28 ERA, and has generally been regarded as one of the top two picks in the draft along with Rice University third baseman Anthony Rendon.

However, with Bauer's award given to him today, he very well could move past Cole, leaving the Royals scrambling to draft another standout. Fortunately, the draft is loaded, and judging how well the Royals have been with first round selections over the past decade, it's hard to bet on them picking a dud.

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