"Nobody expected — did they? — that general manager Dayton Moore would reveal any specifics Thursday about the Royals' draft strategy in what the club billed as its only public predraft discussion.

So here you go:

"It's very important that you don't give away any information that could hurt your credibility or your opportunity to select a player," Moore said. "You want to keep a lot of that information close to the vest."

All clubs, but particularly those with selections near the top of the first round, increasingly cloak their internal evaluations. The Royals achieved near total surprise last year when they chose shortstop Christian Colon with the fourth overall pick.

The Royals own the fifth overall pick this season behind Pittsburgh, Seattle, Arizona and Baltimore. The draft, which runs Monday through Wednesday, is viewed as especially steeped in advanced college pitchers.

That depth fits smoothly with what is believed to be the Royals' preference. Note the qualifier phrase "believed to be," but the general view within the industry is the Royals want an advanced college arm to add to their stockpile of close-to-the-majors talent.

If so, there are plenty to choose from: UCLA right-handed teammates Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, Virginia lefty Danny Hultzen, Texas righty Taylor Jungmann, Vanderbilt righty Sonny Gray, Connecticut righty Matt Barnes and Georgia Tech lefty Jed Bradley.

Baseball America ranks all seven among its top 14 overall prospects, but the magazine also identifies Gardner Edgerton outfielder/pitcher Bubba Starling as the draft's best athlete and No. 6 overall prospect.

Could the Royals afford to pass on Starling, if he remains on the board, and risk the same backlash, if he blossoms, that still lingers from their 1999 decision not to select Fort Osage/Maple Wood standout Albert Pujols through 13 rounds?"