Another first round draft pick, Chris Lubanski was the 5th overall in the 2003 class. Taken by the Kansas City Royals, they got him for the bargain price of a 2.1 million bonus, a fair chunk of change for a kid from Schwenksville, PA.
He was assigned to a Rookie Royals squad in the Arizona League, where he batted .326/.452 (AVG/SLG) with 4 home runs and 27 RBIs.
Lubanski didn't make the 2004 FAB50. His .275/.414, and some buzz on his D needing a lot of work gave him enough negative mojo to miss the cut.
The Royals put him in their new High-A affiliate, the High Desert Mavericks (Mavs) in the California League for 2005, hoping he would have a breakout year in the hitter-happy CAL.
High School:Kennedy-Kenrick High
School Home town:Schwenksville, PA.
Bats:L Throws:L
Organization:Kansas
City Royals Acquired: Royals, 2003 Draft, 1st Round, 5th OA
Last Ballclub:High
Desert Mavericks
2004 FAB50 Ranking: NR
Thus far, he's cruising in just under a .300 season, with a .294/.531 with 31 doubles, 6 triples, and 23 home runs. He still strikes out too much, 122 times to date this season, and he even though he stole 13 bases this year, he's getting caught too often.
The scouts and touts say that he's left field material, even though he currently plays center. They say he needs to work on his reads at the plate, as well as on incoming balls to center field. All aspects of his game have improved tremendously, we're told, and we expect Lubanski to fight for whatever he gets.
We see him in Omaha in mid-to-late 2006, and a major leaguer in 2007 or 2008, depending upon how he handles the notch upward in pitching at each level.
