Anyone who has been regularly reading Kings of Kauffman should know that I’m excited by Josh Staumont. He’s a 22-year-old Kansas City Royals prospect with an 80 grade fastball (the highest evaluation a scout can give). But, he has walked an unsightly 7.5 batters per nine innings in his minor-league career.
That number fell to a very acceptable 3.1 BB/9 in his last six starts of 2016 (including two starts in the AA playoffs for NW Arkansas). He paired that command with a flurry of strikeouts, whiffing 13.9 hitters per nine innings.
In his first two Arizona Fall League appearances, Staumont has allowed one walk in seven innings pitched.