With the offseason in full swing and the Royals methods to construct off of a robust 2024, it’s a nice time to drag collectively a Kansas Metropolis Royals’ prime prospect checklist. Final yr, many thought of the Royals’ farm system one of many weakest in all of baseball. That wasn’t all unfavourable – the Royals graduated tons of prime prospects, many impacting the big-league membership. Nonetheless the Royals certainly struggled to draft and develop some gamers.
Some optimistic steps ahead within the final yr have the Royals shifting in the precise path. Former first-rounder Gavin Cross took optimistic strides and located success and the Royals had a robust 2024 draft, choosing Jac Caglianone, Drew Beam, and David Shields. The brand new regime really confirmed its colours in that draft, and there could possibly be some vivid indicators for the way forward for this farm system. Whereas the farm system is way from stacked prefer it was within the Eric Hosmer/Mike Moustakas days, it’s loaded with depth.
Let’s begin the Royals prime 15 prospect checklist with the honorable mentions that simply missed the lower. These are the blokes to concentrate to who’re undoubtedly prime 30 prospects within the system. The Royals are loaded with many prospects who’re rated 40 and 45 Total Future Potential (OFP), so it was difficult to slim this checklist and maintain lots of them out of the highest 15.
Honorable point out hitters
SS Austin Charles
Chosen within the twentieth spherical of the 2022 draft, Charles is an athletic infielder with a 6-foot-5 body, defensive versatility, and intriguing two-way potential. Splitting time between shortstop and third base in 2024, he showcased a robust arm and plus velocity, stealing 36 bases whereas slashing .257/.353/.386 with 10 residence runs at Single-A. Although his strikeout fee stays a priority, his persistence on the plate, uncooked energy, and athleticism give him the instruments to grow to be a flexible participant with offensive and defensive upside.
SS Yandel Ricardo
The Royals’ prime worldwide signing in 2024 and Cuba’s prime prospect, Yandel is a uncooked however athletic expertise with thrilling potential. His compact swing and stable bat-to-ball expertise present a superb basis, although he’ll must refine his method on the plate to faucet into his projected plus energy from each side. Defensively, his vary and footwork counsel he might turn into a standout shortstop, although he has the arm power to deal with third base if he outgrows the place.
SS Daniel Vazquez
Signed by the Royals in 2021 for $1.5 million, Vazquez is a wiry, athletic defender with standout instruments, particularly his glove and arm, which each venture as potential plus. Whereas his protection is spectacular, with glorious lateral motion and a robust arm, his offensive recreation lags behind, exhibiting some uncooked energy and enhancing swing choices however nonetheless needing extra consistency and in-game affect. At 21 and Rule 5 eligible at season’s finish, Vazquez has time to develop however should show he will be greater than a defense-first participant to solidify his future with the Royals.
SS Jhonayker Ugarte
Ugarte was one of many prime worldwide indicators for the Royals in 2024 they usually signed him for $1,300,000 out of Venezuela. Ugarte had the best ceiling out of that worldwide class exterior of the blokes not named Yandel Ricardo. He’s grown fairly a bit already and has proven off some intriguing bat velocity. He flashed a ton of success within the Dominican Summer time League slashing .299/.423/.395 with 9 doubles, one triple, a house run, 20 RBI, and 11 SBs. He additionally walked nearly as a lot as he struck out sporting 16.4 BB% and 19.7 Ok%. It’s exhausting to make a lot of DSL numbers however the efficiency ought to have you ever watching Ugarte as he makes his method stateside on the very least.
C Hyungchan Um
Hyungcham Um is striving to make historical past as the primary South Korean catcher to succeed in the key leagues. A stable defender with good mobility and framing expertise, he has the instruments to deal with a platoon function behind the plate, although his pitch recognition and excessive chase charges restrict his offensive consistency. If Um can enhance his contact expertise and higher make the most of his uncooked energy, he has the potential to be greater than only a timeshare catcher sooner or later.
Honorable point out pitchers
LHP Frank Mozzicato
It was actually robust to not put Mozzicato within the prime 15, however he’s sadly actually fallen in rankings since being drafted. Regardless of his plus curveball, the event of his fastball and command haven’t improved a lot through the years. And though he posted good numbers final yr, he noticed an enormous dip in his strikeout numbers. The fastball nonetheless sits within the high-80s to low-90s and simply lacks upside. He did develop a brand new slider which has helped spherical out his arsenal however he’s received an extended methods to go by way of enhancing his command and management and the effectivity of his pitches.
RHP Hunter Owen
The Vanderbilt right-hander was taken within the 4th spherical of the 2023 MLB Draft and he possess some severe stuff. With three above-average choices, Owen confirmed some flashes in what makes him such a enjoyable expertise in 2024. His final begin of the season he went 3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, and 6 Ok’s. He struggled to rack up the strikeouts because of and he’ll must generate extra swing-and-miss if he needs to be a licensed beginning pitcher and never a back-end of the rotation or long-relief kind. The arsenal offers you some hope however he nonetheless must hone in his command and enhance his sturdiness if he needs to have a significant affect on the MLB stage.
RHP Eric Cerantola
Added to the Royals’ 40-man roster after the 2024 season, Cerantola is a pure reliever with a mid-90s fastball that may contact 99 and a pair of plus-breaking balls. Whereas his curveball and slider are extremely efficient at lacking bats, his fastball command stays a significant concern, with over half of his Triple-A heaters touchdown exterior the zone. His future function hinges on enhancing his management, as his present struggles with strikes restrict him to an up-and-down bullpen possibility.
RHP Kyle DeGroat
A Texas commit from New York, DeGroat is an athletic pitcher the Royals snagged late within the draft, signing him for $347,500 to bypass faculty. His compact arm motion and low launch level assist his fastball play up, sustaining velocity deep into begins and reaching 95-96 MPH with a flat method angle that generates loads of swings and misses. Whereas his sharp curveball and agency changeup present potential, inconsistent command raises questions on whether or not he’ll stick as a starter or transition to the bullpen long-term.
RHP Emmanuel Reyes
Reyes is a smaller right-handed pitcher with a reside arm and robust command, persistently filling up the zone with a profession 70% strike fee. Whereas his fastball sits within the low 90s and loses velocity late, its horizontal motion generates weak contact, and his sharp curveball flashes as his greatest secondary pitch, although it turns into hittable as video games progress. Questions on his skill to maintain velocity and effectiveness over longer outings increase considerations about his starter profile, however with added stamina or velocity, he might evolve right into a dependable rotation arm or a dominant bullpen piece.
LHP L.P. Langevin
A former JUCO standout, Langevin grew to become a fourth-round decide in 2024 after showcasing one of the vital electrical fastballs within the class, incomes a signing bonus slightly below $600,000. His 92-96 MPH heater, that includes glorious horizontal motion, robust carry, and elite metrics like a low Vertical Strategy Angle (VAA), grades out as a real 70 pitch and dominates hitters with a whiff fee above 45%. Whereas his slider and changeup present potential, he’ll must refine each to enhance his fastball and maintain hitters off steadiness as he develops right into a multi-inning reliever with fast-track potential.
RHP Luinder Avila
Added to the Royals’ 40-man roster this offseason, Avila is an athletic, sturdy pitcher with a fast arm who’s on the verge of reaching the massive leagues. His arsenal features a 93-95 MPH sinker that may contact 97, a cutter, a deep curveball, a slider, and a changeup with good motion however inconsistent command. Whereas his management regressed in 2024, his robust exhibiting as a reliever within the Arizona Fall League suggests he might rise shortly if shifted to the bullpen, with a possible MLB debut in 2025.
RHP Chandler Champlain
Drafted by the Yankees in 2021 and purchased by the Royals within the Andrew Benintendi commerce, Champlain is a bodily right-hander with a five-pitch combine. His 94-96 MPH fastball pairs effectively with an above-average 12-to-6 curveball, whereas his slider, changeup, and splitter are nonetheless creating, with the slider holding the important thing to his function as a starter or reliever. Champlain tasks as a virtually big-league-ready back-end starter, however his fastball-curveball mixture might make him an efficient high-leverage reliever if he shifts to the bullpen, with a 2025 debut seemingly.
