Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

For the better part of the past two decades, fans of the Kansas City Royals had set their sights on the minor leagues, hoping that salvation and deliverance from the basement of the American League would come from the young players. While some of the younger players panned out, the Royals hopes of deliverance were typically dashed upon the rocks of reality.

Now, fresh off of a World Series appearance, the Royals prospects are no longer looked at as the saviors of a moribund franchise desperate for any remote sign of hope. Now, they are considered to be the continuation of Dayton Moore’s Process, the lifeblood of a team that expects to cycle through their young players while remaining a force to be reckoned with in baseball.

Even though the prospects are no longer being counted on to save the Royals, that does not diminish the interest in these players. Eventually, for the Royals to continue to succeed, these players will need to make the jump to the major league level, proving themselves worthy of their prospect status.

With that being the case, and with several potential openings coming up in the next year or two, let us look at the five most intriguing prospects in the Royals system. These players may not necessarily be the highest rated prospects, even though a few will appear, but rather the ones that could be facing a pivotal season for one reason or another.

Let us know if there are any prospects not on the list that you will be keeping an eye on this season!