Kansas City Royals Prospect Watch: Eric Hosmer

Over the last year, there has been a lot of buzz around a certain Royals first base prospect that has been rising up the minor league ranks since his breakout start to the 2010 season.

That man of course is Eric Hosmer.

The former first-round pick was summoned to Triple-A Omaha before the Royals broke camp last month, after having a very impressive spring showing.

After 19 games played for the Omaha Storm Chasers so far this season, Hosmer continues to swing the hot bat that he has had since he began spring training with the big league club earlier this year.

His stats through 19 games read as the following:

4 doubles

1 HR

10 RBI

15 runs scored

.380 BA

.937 OPS

2 SB

This is the kind of production that club officials were hoping to get out of "Hos" when they tabbed him with their first pick in the 2008 MLB Draft.

If he continues his torrid hitting and solid first base (a .987 fielding percentage to begin the season), he could force Royals GM Dayton Moore's hand sooner than expected.

Stay tuned for more developments on Hosmer and other Royals prospects as they get closer to the big leagues.