Hammond was the 28th overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft and the Royals' second selection in that particular draft. However, many scouts believed that Hammond was the Royals' top overall selection last season, given his upside and potential. The son of a college coach, Hammond was a two-way player who showed excellent bat speed and batted-ball ability, not just a prep player, but in pre-draft workouts.

Here's what MLB Pipeline said about Hammond in their own scouting report, pointing out not just his power, but his mature decision-making at the plate for a teenager.

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Hammond has at least plus raw power that plays to all fields and he hits the ball exceptionally hard from the right side of the plate. His bat speed and strength should translate into 20-25 homers per season, perhaps more if he learns to lift balls in the air more consistently. While his pop stands out more than his pure hitting ability, he's making better swing decisions as he leaves pitching behind to focus full-time on hitting.

Hammond had a thicker lower half when he pitched more often, but he has trimmed up his 6-foot-1 frame a bit and is now an average runner. The former Wake Forest recruit was drafted as a shortstop, but many see him as a future third baseman with enough agility and plenty of arm strength to handle the position.

Hammond did get some time in the instructional league and seemed to hold his own, according to reports. While no public stats are shared about his time there, he did showcase his power, as evidenced in this clip below from the Royals Player Development account.

There's definitely a maturity in the way he carries himself at the plate, even in that limited sample clip. However, he will be much more challenged in Low-A Columbia, where he likely will play in his first full-season experience. How he handles not just professional pitching, but the grind of "bus league" ball could determine his long-term outlook, as the physical tools are there for Hammond to be successful at the plate and on the field (his arm is a plus tool due to his pitching background).

The Royals tend to move more slowly with prospects drafted out of high school, and there's no reason to think that they won't do that with Hammond. However, a strong start in Columbia could make the Royals more aggressive about promoting to High-A later in 2026.