Kansas City Royals: Bubba Starling and the Top 10 Prospects in the Farm System

Much has been made about the Kansas City Royals farm system and how it's become the No. 1 unit in all of baseball before this season.

With the recent addition of five-tool outfield prospect Bubba Starling, they just got even better.

Take a look at my guide to the top 10 current prospects that the Royals have waiting down in the farm to become a part of the team's future.

10. SP John Lamb

Lamb has been one of the biggest disappointments in the KC farm system this year.

After a so-so beginning to the season for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Lamb saw the rest of his '11 campaign and his '12 season go down the drown after finding out that he would need Tommy John surgery for his injured elbow.

With the news of this injury, Lamb's prospect stock has dropped quite a bit in the past few weeks.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: 2015

9. SS Christian Colon

The former Cal-State Fullerton star was taken by the Royals in the first round of last year's MLB Draft.

Known of his bat, he has yet to get that going until late, as he is now hitting .260 with four homers and 34 RBI at Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

With KC looking to have Alcides Escobar at short for many years into the future, and fellow prospect Johnny Giavotella likely manning down second as well, its unclear whether Colon will ever play for the Royals once he is ready to make the jump to the big leagues.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: N/A

8. DH Clint Robinson

Robinson has been knocking on the door of a big league promotion for practically the entire 2011 season.

Going into today's action he is hitting .345 with 17 doubles, 17 homers and 53 RBI in 70 games played for the Omaha Storm Chasers.

The main problem for Robinson is that he has current Royals 1B Eric Hosmer and DH Billy Butler blocking him, but I still see him getting a late season call-up to KC this year.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: Late 2011

7. C Salvador Perez

Perez is already being named the catcher of the future by many Royals officials.

It's easy to see why, as he is a big, strong catcher, standing at 6'3" and 230 lbs, who is very sound defensively behind the plate.

If he could just improve his hitting some, he will be in the majors in no time.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: Mid 2012

6. 2B Johnny Giavotella

Other than teammate Lorenzo Cain, Johnny G is probably the next closest prospect to be called up by the Royals.

He is having a fantastic season offensively with Triple-A Omaha, hitting .317 with 26 extra-base hits and 53 RBI in 73 games with the club.

Giavotella has a bigger upside both offensively and defensively than current Royals starting 2B Chris Getz, and he could be starting at second by Opening Day 2012.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: 2012

5. OF Lorenzo Cain

Cain has already been dubbed by many as the center-fielder of the future for the Royals.

The former Brewers prospect has been having a great season at Triple-A Omaha, as he is hitting .305 with 19 doubles, eight homers and 39 RBI, to go along with seven stolen bases in just 64 games played in '11.

I see the Royals dealing current starting center-fielder Melky Cabrera by next month's trade deadline, clearing the way for Cain to roam center-field in Kauffman Stadium for years to come.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: Mid 2011

4. OF Bubba Starling

The Royals selected can't-miss local prospect Bubba Starling with the fifth pick in this month's MLB Draft.

Many have compared him to Rangers All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton, as Starling has elite size, speed and power for a kid his age.

He has the chance to be a cornerstone for KC's outfield in the years to come as his upside is through the roof.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: 2014

3. SP Jake Odorizzi

Odorizzi is the crown jewel of the Royals return in a trade that sent former Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke to Milwaukee last December.

So far at Single-A Wilmington this season, he is 5-2 with a 2.71 ERA and 93 strikeouts in just 66-plus inning pitched.

I expect Odorizzi to continue his fast track to the majors over the next couple seasons.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: Mid 2012

2. SP Mike Montgomery

Many around the Royals organization thought that Montgomery would have been called up to the big leagues by now, but it just hasn't happened yet.

After a stellar 2010 campaign, he has gone 2-4 with a 5.83 ERA so far in '11, showing that he is still not ready for the majors at this time.

I see Monty getting his act together by next season and getting called up then.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: Mid 2012

1. OF Wil Myers

Myers is the new number-one prospect in the Royals system after minor league stars Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas both got called up to the big leagues in the last two months.

After a breakout 2010 season where he hit .315 with 37 doubles, Myers has only played 38 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season, due to a freak injury that he suffered earlier in the year.

He is still very young at just 20 years old, and I expect him to improve as this season goes on, and get promoted to Triple-A Omaha before the seasons end.

Projected Arrival Time in Kansas City: 2013