A Look At The 2025 Royals Draft, One Year Later

[Cory Moen]

Image courtesy of © AL FREY/Special to the Free Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the 2026 draft right around the corner, we wanted to take a look at how the draft class from one year ago is doing in their first year in the Royals organization. With Mondays being an off day across the minor leagues, all stats mentioned are as of Monday, July 6.

Round 1, Pick 23: Sean Gamble, OF, IMG Academy 

Gamble was taken 23rd overall and started his professional career after signing for $4 million and forgoing his commitment to Vanderbilt. In 2026, he was assigned to Single-A Columbia. Over his first two months, he has struggled at the plate, with a .567 OPS through 63 games. He has struck out at a pretty high rate (25.2%). He hasn’t hit for much power yet, but has shown the ability to steal bases, with 19 stolen bases in 23 attempts. 

It’s likely too early to worry, as many young players struggle offensively when they start their careers. The hope is that Gamble will begin to show more promise offensively as the season continues. He’s currently ranked as the #5 prospect on Royals Keep. 

Round 1, Pick 28: Josh Hammond, SS, Wesleyan Christian Academy

Hammond was taken five picks after Gamble out of Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, NC. Similar to Gamble, he did not make his professional debut until 2026. He’s also played this season at Single-A Columbia and has played most of his games at shortstop, but quite a few at third base as well. He’s played 42 games at shortstop and 28 at third base, along with two at DH as well. 

He’s been solid offensively, hitting five home runs with three triples and 17 doubles as well. His 20.7% strikeout rate is something to keep an eye on if he climbs up to the next level in the future. The 19-year old also has a 9.1 % walk rate, along with 18 stolen bases in his first 74 games played. His solid start has had him climb up to the #3 prospect in the Royals system. 

Round 2, Pick 61: Michael Lombardi, RHP, Tulane

Lombardi has also been playing this year at Single-A Columbia. He was mainly used as a relief pitcher in his final year at Tulane, but the Royals have tried him as a starter this year. His 2.44 ERA looks solid, but the 3.45 FIP tells a slightly different story. Both numbers are still solid in his first year of professional ball. He’s struck hitters out at a high rate (13.72 K/9), but also walked batters at a pretty high rate as well (5.52 BB/9). This is not uncommon for young pitchers, so the Royals are hoping those numbers can improve going forward. 

Round 2, Pick 71: Justin Lamkin, LHP, Texas A&M 

Lamkin started the year at High-A Quad Cities, and after six starts with a 1.27 ERA and 3.45 FIP along with 38 strikeouts over 28 ⅓ innings, was called up to Double-A. In two starts, he looked solid, throwing 11 ⅓ innings and a respectable 4.09 FIP. Unfortunately, he was put on the seven-day IL and then transferred to the 60-day IL with an undisclosed injury, so hopefully this is not something that gets in the way of his development long term. 

Round 3, Pick 97: Cameron Millar, RHP, Alhambra HS (Martinez, CA) 

Millar has played this year at the Complex League, pitching in six games (five starts). He’s thrown 16 ⅔ innings and has recorded 25 strikeouts. The home run rate is high (2.70/9), but it’s a small sample, so it's hard to extrapolate if this will be an issue long term or not. He’s an intriguing arm and someone to keep an eye on, as he is ranked #13 in the Royals system. 

Round 4, Pick 128: Nolan Sailors, OF, Creighton 

Drafted out of Creighton, where he was a four-year starter, Sailors was a high-average hitter, hitting for a .913 OPS in his time with the Blue Jays. He got his professional career started after being drafted, playing in 32 games with High-A Quad Cities, where he looked comfortable at the plate (.780 OPS), and he stole 17 bases in 21 attempts. In 2026, he played again at High-A, where he continued similar production with a .777 OPS and 23 stolen bases over 65 games played. 

Round 5, Pick 158: Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas

Jimenez started his collegiate career at Oregon State in 2023 and then missed the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. He pitched the 2025 season with Arkansas, where he threw 42 ⅓ innings, mostly out of the bullpen for the Razorbacks. 

He didn’t pitch in game action in 2025 after being drafted, but has pitched at High-A this year, throwing 48 innings in 14 appearances (seven starts, seven relief). Some of his underlying numbers have not been great, but the 22-year-old is still early in his career. The 5.79 FIP and 1.50 HR/9 along with a low strikeout rate (6.19 K/9) are concerning if they don’t improve going forward. 

Round 6, Pick 188: Tyriq Kemp, SS, Baylor 

Born in the Netherlands, Kemp played two seasons with Baylor, where he hit for a solid slash line of .305/.403/.446 with nine home runs over 108 games played. He got his first taste of professional ball after being drafted, playing with Single-A Columbia, and he struggled offensively, which is not uncommon for players in their professional debuts. Over 16 games played, he posted a .683 OPS, but did have five stolen bases in eight attempts as well.

In 2026, he moved up a level, playing at High-A, where he has played both middle infield positions. He’s posted at .786 OPS with seven home runs and 21 stolen bases, so he has taken clear steps forward since being drafted. Keep an eye on how he continues to develop, as he has shown some promise over the past year. 

Round 7, Pick 218: Bryson Dudley, P, Texas State

Dudley was drafted out of Texas State where he pitched as a relief pitcher. Over 50 ⅓ innings with the Bobcats, he struck out 53 hitters, but also showed some struggles with his control, where he walked 31 hitters. The Royals were intrigued with his pitch mix and saw promise, taking him in the seventh round.

After being drafted, he pitched at Single-A, striking out 22 hitters in 13 ⅓ innings in nine games, recording two saves. He was placed at High-A and subsequently placed on the full-season injury list at the beginning of the 2026 season.   

Round 8, Pick 248: Brooks Bryan, C, Troy 

Bryan did not make his professional debut until this season, where he has played at Single-A Columbia. He’s played in 33 games (as of July 6) and looked very solid at the plate, with a slash line of .319/.406/.496. He’s added six stolen bases, which is more than he stole in any season while at Troy. He’s currently on the 7-day IL, where he was placed on June 1. 

Round 9, Pick 278: Shane Van Dam, P, NC State 

Van Dam started his collegiate career at SUNY Cortland, but pitched the final two years with NC State, where he served as mostly a reliever out of the Wolfpack bullpen. In 2026, he’s pitched in 15 games, starting 11 of them, so the Royals are trying him as a starter to start his professional career. The states have been a bit tough, as he has a 5.34 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 57 ⅓ innings pitched. At just 22 years old, he still has time to adjust, but if he doesn’t succeed as a starter, a move to the bullpen could be in his future. 

Round 10, Pick 308: Max Martin, P, UC Irvine 

Martin got his first taste of professional ball last year after being drafted, pitching in four games, where he threw 6 ⅔ innings, recording six strikeouts and not giving up a run. Between Single-A and High-A in 2026, he’s thrown exclusively out of the bullpen, and he has thrown 35 ⅔ innings over 24 appearances and recorded 30 strikeouts, along with giving up just one home run. He’s an intriguing arm as a mid-round pick, and time will tell if he can continue to make adjustments to continue climbing the organizational ladder as he gets deeper into his career. 

Round 11, Pick 338: Hunter Alberini, P, Arizona 

Alberini appeared in four games, pitching six innings after being drafted last year at High-A Quad Cities. He started the year at High-A again, appearing in 10 games, but struggling mightily with his control, walking 17 batters in 9 ⅔ innings pitched. He was sent to Single-A Columbia in late May and has looked better since being demoted, with four walks in  11 ⅓ innings pitched. Hopefully, this reset is what he needed to start having regular success out of the bullpen. 

Round 12, Pick 368: Matthew Hoskins, P, Georgia 

Hoskins is no longer in the Royals organization, as he was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as the PTBNL as part of the Kameron Misner deal, which was completed in November of 2025. Hoskins is currently pitching in the Complex League for the Tampa Bay organization, where he has pitched in 11 games, throwing 12 innings with eight strikeouts, 12 walks, and eight hit batters. Some of the stats are rough around the edges, but Tampa saw enough in him to choose him instead of cash considerations in return for Misner. 

Round 13, Pick 398: Tyson Moran, SS, Ontario 

Playing in 38 games in the Arizona Complex League, Moran has hit seven home runs and hit for a slash line of .315/.389/.562, which is a solid start to his professional career for the Canadian. He has shown some promise and is someone who is looking to carve out a role for himself as a mid-round pick to have some success. 

Round 14, Pick 428: JC Vanek, 1B, Chipola 

Vanek got into 14 games at Single-A after being drafted and has played this year at the same level. He has shown a little bit of power, hitting seven home runs in 58 games with a .772 OPS. He’s played mostly first base, but also played a few games in the corner outfield as well. His bat will have to carry him at a position that has a high bar to be a successful big leaguer. 

Round 15, Pick 458: Connor Rasmussen, IF, Tulane 

Rasmussen has bounced mostly played second base, but also played some third base as well. He started the year at Single-A, where he hit well enough (.816 OPS) to get promoted to High-A, where he has not seen the same success, but still looked decent in his first 10 games with Quad Cities. His defensive versatility will help him, so it will be interesting to see where he plays in the future and if more positions are added to his defensive repertoire. 

Round 16, Pick 488: Randy Ramnarace, P, New Haven 

Ramnarace didn’t get into a game with the organization until this season, where he has appeared in 18 games out of the bullpen for the Fireflies in Columbia. He’s thrown 28 innings and has recorded 20 strikeouts with 29 walks, so getting his control under control, no pun intended, will be key to having success going forward. 

Round 17, Pick 518: Luke Pelzer, OF, Illinois-Chicago

Playing in 19 games after being drafted, he absolutely crushed Single-A pitching, which earned him the opportunity to play at High-A this year. His offense has not slowed down over his first taste of a full professional season, hitting for a .929 OPS over 61 games, with three home runs, six triples, and 17 doubles on the year. He’s played left field this year, but can also play in right field and played a little bit of centerfield in college as well. If he continues to hit like this, it won’t be long before he gets called up again. Keep an eye on this late-round pick to make a little noise on prospect lists if this success continues. 

Round 18, Pick 548: Grayson Boles, P, St. Augustine HS (San Diego, CA) 

Pitching in the Arizona Complex League, Boles has thrown 10 innings this year and has recorded 20 strikeouts, with nine walks. This type of production isn’t too uncommon for young pitchers, but he clearly has raw stuff and is someone the Royals believe in. The development might just take a bit of time to see it come to fruition. 

Round 20, Pick 608: Kamden Edge, P, Northern OK Tonkawa

Edge made his professional debut after being drafted, pitching 14 ⅓ innings over 9 appearances with 17 strikeouts in Single-A. He’s pitched this year out of the bullpen exclusively at High-A, where the strikeouts are still occurring at a high rate (45 in 32 ⅔ innings). For a late-round pick, he is having success early. 

The Royals signed all but one player from the draft class, but I wanted to mention him, and we can check out how he did this year as well.

Round 19, Pick 578: Dylan Wood, P, Franklin HS (Oak Grove, CA)

Wood decided to pursue a collegiate career and pitched the 2026 season with the University of Georgia, where he appeared in six games and threw 4 ⅔ innings. He struggled with his control, walking nine batters in that span, but did strike out seven. He has since entered the transfer portal and has not announced where he will be transferring this next year. 

Which of these prospects are you most intrigued by and excited by a year after the Royals drafted them?

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