Five Options That the Royals Could Select at No. 30 in the MLB Draft

 In my first MLB Draft writeup on the Royals' options at No. 6, I looked at five candidates. That included three prep prospects (EJ Booth, Gio Rojas, and Jacob Lombard) and two college ones (Drew Burress and Jackson Flora). 

In this latest writeup, I am going to explore the Royals' options in the Competitive Balance A round, as they hold pick No. 30. A lot of what they do at No. 30 will depend on what they do at No. 6. If they draft an underslot college guy, they likely could spend a bit more on an overslot prep prospect. If they draft a prep prospect like Booth or Lombard, who will command a high signing bonus, they will likely have to settle for a more signable college player (Rojas may sign underslot, but his stock has risen a lot in the past couple of weeks). 

Thus, let's take a look at the Royals' possible options at No. 30, and what each of those draft candidates could offer Kansas City in the future if drafted. 

Like last time, all draft reports will come from Jamie Cameron's latest Mock Draft on Diamondcentric.

Coleman Borthwick, 3B/RHP, South Walton High School (FL)

Borthwick is a big pitcher with big stuff and a strong pedigree for a prep prospect. The Auburn commit is 6'6 and 255 pounds, looking more like a linebacker or tight end than a baseball player. However, he has excellent upside, especially on the mound. He's the kind of pitcher who could be a No. 1 or 2 starter at the Major League level. 

Because of his multi-positional profile, his pitching repertoire is pretty limited. He throws a four-seamer, slider, and changeup. However, his pitches sport strong stuff profiles, with good velocity and movement, according to scouts. In high school at South Walton, Borthwick piled up strikeouts in bunches, as evidenced in this Tweet below. 

It seems like people are high on Borthwick not just for his physical profile, but for his polish as a prep pitcher as well. Cameron, who mocked Borthwick at No. 27, noted that his control was much better than expected for a prep pitcher of his frame.

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Borthwick is a physical monster out of Florida, built more like an NFL linebacker than a high school baseball player. Standing at 6'6, 255 pounds, he's an exciting two way prospect, but most believe his future is on the mound. It's a slightly crossfire delivery which helps to create a more unusual angle for hitters as he strides down the mound. However it looks, there's a ton of quality in the stuff. Borthwick recently ran his fastball up to 100 mph for the first time. It's a pitch that will sit 94-96 mph with plenty of run. It's paired with a quality slider, a pitch that might already be plus. It sits in the mid-80s with some sharp, late tilt. Borthwick has a changeup in the bank too, but it's been used sparingly to date. Borthwick has been a more effective strike thrower to date than you might expect from a frame his size and such an explosive arsenal. He's committed to Auburn but has T30 pick upside.

The Royals have liked pitchers like Borthwick in the past. Blake Wolters, our No. 15 prospect at Royals Keep, is a similar pitcher to Borthwick in his size and stuff profile. Wolters, a 2023 second-round pick, has moved slowly in the Royals' system (he just reached High-A this year), but he also didn't quite have Borthwick's command either as a high schooler out of Mahomet-Seymour High School in Illinois. 

Another positive in Borthwick's favor is that he has done well in international competition. He was named 2025 WBSC Player of the Year for his strong play as both a hitter and pitcher in the 18-and-Under World Cup last August. 

Borthwick will most likely command a high signing bonus in the $2.8-$3 million range. Thus, it is more likely that the Royals would select Borthwick if they draft someone like Flora, Burress, or Rojas at No. 6.

Mason Edwards, LHP, University of Southern California

The USC lefty has shot up a lot of boards recently, with many thinking that the 21-year-old could crack into the first round on Draft Day. His mocks still have him in the 28-32 range, so it's possible that the prolific strikeout artist could be available at No. 30. 

Edwards is coming off a sensational season with the Trojans. In 17 starts and 95.2 IP, he posted a 2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a K/BB ratio of 3.60. Strikeouts came easily for Edwards as a 20-year-old, as he sported a K/9 of 15.9, which is 3.2 better than his K/9 mark in 2025. One of Edwards' highlights last season was his 16-strikeout game against Iowa back in April. 

At 6'2, 210 pounds, Edwards has some size, but he's not as physically dominant as Borthwick. Furthermore, his stuff is a bit of a question mark, as he doesn't have a premium fastball.

Cameron mocks him at No. 28, just two slots ahead of the Royals' pick. In his scouting report of Edwards, Cameron notes the fastball velocity concerns, but does point to Edwards' pitchability as a factor in his favor in this particular Draft. 

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Edwards is a college lefty on the rise. It's a bit of a tweener profile for me. It's not quite stuff driven, but neither is he exclusively a pitchability college arm. What is clear, is how incredibly productive he's been in his draft eligible season for USC. It's a deceptive delivery on the mound. Edwards uses a rocker step to get going into his delivery, with some crossfire in his delivery and hides the ball well before releasing from a high slot. It's a fastball that's a little light on velocity. It sits 91-93 mph with quality carry at the top of the zone, and can grab 95-96 mph at its best. For secondaries, Edwards has a gyro type slider and a sharper curveball, the latter of which he'll throw in the high 70s to low 80s. Finally, there's a changeup which has a chance to be a plus pitch, with good fade and tumble to it. Edwards has amassed 95.2 innings with a 2.26 FIP and a strikeout rate of 42.7%. There's some refinement in the consistency of his strike throwing (11.9 BB%), but the production has him in T30 consideration.

When looking at Edwards, his profile feels similar to Kris Bubic in the sense that the USC product can generate strikeouts in bunches despite not sporting premium velocity. The Royals have seemed to do wonders with pitchers with this profile, with Bubic and Noah Cameron being homegrown success stories who have matriculated through the farm system to find Major League success. 

An example of Edwards being a mature pitcher for his age was evident in a bad-weather game on March 28th against Maryland (classic Big Ten matchup). Even though Edwards only went 4.1 IP and didn't have the best stuff on his fastball, he still struck out 10 batters. 

If the Royals are looking for a pitcher who can move quickly in the farm system, Edwards fits the bill at No. 30. He could be a nice arm in this slot who could complement a premium prep talent like Booth or Lombard, or he could be a quick mover in the system that could debut at the same time as Burress. 

Zion Rose, OF, University of Louisville

Rose is an interesting draft candidate because his 2026 campaign was affected by injury. After playing 66 games in 2025, he played only 36 games with the Cardinals this past season due to an ankle injury at the start of the season. Thus, there are some question marks about Rose's durability heading into this Draft.

However, when he was healthy, Rose absolutely mashed with Louisville. 

In 173 plate appearances, the outfielder hit .417 with a 1.137 OPS. That included six home runs, 44 runs scored, 47 RBI, and 24 stolen bases on 27 attempts. When looking at his highlights, Rose has five-tool potential, with a unique blend of power and speed for a player of his profile (6'1, 200 pounds). 

Mocked at No. 29 by Cameron, Rose can be a bit free-swinging, though Cameron notes that he makes a lot of out-of-zone contact. Still, the strong bat speed and excellent BB/K ratio (19 walks to 15 strikeouts) make him an intriguing draft candidate who could move quickly in the Royals' farm system.

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Rose was a highly regarded catching prospect out of IMG Academy as a high school player. Since arriving on campus at Louisville, he's transitioned to a full time role in the outfield. Rose slid a little early in the season due to missed time with injuries, but has since returned to his typical, productive self. At the plate, Rose has a direct right-handed swing with strong bat-to-ball skills. He is particularly adept at making out of zone contact, possibly a dangerous combination for him as it's paired with a higher chase rate than you'd like to see. Rose has above average power too, backed by good bat speed. There's an opportunity to get into this more in game as he doesn't yet pull the ball much in the air. Defensively, it's likely a corner outfield spot. Rose has above average speed and a solid glove. In 36 games in 2026, Rose managed a .417/.491/.646 line with 6 home runs (20 XBH), an 11% walk rate, an 8.7 K%, and a 147 wRC+.

Rose is a competitive player who has received rave reviews for his makeup and leadership. He also has demonstrated strong defense in the outfield, though he doesn't have elite arm strength. Still, he should be able to handle Kauffman Stadium's dimensions, though he may not have much time out there before the stadium transition (ETA in 2031). 

Rose makes the most sense at No. 30 if the Royals draft Flora and want two picks who will debut soon in Kansas City. It also could make sense for the Royals to draft Rose, if available, if they nab Rojas at No. 6. Regardless, the Cardinals outfielder is a premium athlete with a strong college pedigree who could debut as a Top-3 prospect immediately in the Royals' system. 

Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA

The Royals need pitching. I mean, what MLB team doesn't? Thus, it's possible to see the Royals invest in a polished college arm like Redderman if Edwards is not available at No. 30. 

Reddemann was one of the best arms for UCLA, one of the best teams in the country last season. Unfortunately, he was shut down at the end of the year due to injury, and the Bruins ended up bowing out early in the NCAA Tournament. When he was healthy, Reddemann was dominant and probably would've been a Top-20 pick in this year's Draft.

In 10 starts and 59.2 IP, the 21-year-old righty posted a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 7.64 K/BB ratio. Reddemann's command was impressive, as he had a K/9 of 12.7 and a BB/9 of only 1.7. A prime example of Reddemann's supreme command was on display against TCU, as he struck out 10 Horned Frogs over five innings.

Cameron mocked Reddemann at 30, right in the Royals' spot. He noted that if Reddemann can prove to be healthy in pre-draft workouts, he could jump back into first-round consideration. 

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Reddemann has surged up draft boards after not featuring prominently on pre or early season lists. A transfer from San Diego, the 6'2 righty has turned a developmental corner for an outstanding UCLA team and is putting it all together in his draft eligible junior season. Reddeman has a little bit of a jerky delivery to the plate. Even so, he keeps the baseball well hidden behind his plate until release, creating some deception for hitters and making the ball difficult to track. Reddemann is an excellent strike thrower, which, in concert with an uptick in velocity this year, has left B1G Ten hitters with little chance against his stuff. Reddemann relies on a fastball that sits 94-96 mph but can grab 98 mph. There's a sinker and a cutter too, to round out a trio of fastballs. Reddemann has a slider, which he throws in the low 80s, although it tends to blur with his cutter, and a high-70s curveball to round out a diverse arsenal of pitches. Reddemann managed a 2.68 FIP with a 35.7 K% and a stingy 4.7 BB% in 59.2 innings in 2026. A flexor strain prevented him from pitching down the stretch (including postseason play). If he can prove his health in pre-draft bullpens, he’s likely to still be a first round pick.

Reddemann participated in the MLB Draft Combine and showed strong velocity and movement on his pitches. That was especially true with his fastball, which averaged 94-95 MPH and had 18 inches of vertical break. 

I like Reddemann more than Edwards just on profile alone. Reddemann has better stuff, and his profile seems more prototypical of a strong No. 2-3 starter. He reminds me a lot of Brady Singer with a couple of more offerings. The Royals could use that kind of profile in their system, especially with the lack of premium prospect arms at Double-A and Triple-A. 

Cole Prosek, 3B/OF, Magnolia Heights High School (MS)

If the Royals go with Flora or another college arm at No. 6 (Coastal Carolina's Cameron Flukey is getting some late buzz), then it may make sense for Kansas City to select a high-upside prep talent. It seems like Scouting Director Brian Bridges likes those athletic, high-ceiling prep types, as evidenced by their selections of Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond with their first two picks in last year's Draft.

A candidate who could fit in that Gamble/Hammond mold is Prosek, a prep prospect out of Mississippi. Prosek has an athletic profile with some serious power potential. He participated in the MLB Draft Combine and impressed scouts during batting practice, producing many hard hits and barrels. 

A lefty with a smooth swing, there seems to be 20+ HR potential with Prosek, especially once he fills out into his 6'1 frame. He doesn't have eye-popping tools beyond his power, which explains why he's going in the Competitive Balance A or Second Round by most draft experts. Cameron has him at No. 35 and points out that his hit tool needs work when he debuts professionally. 

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Prosek is one of the most polished high school hitters in the class, and is currently committed to Ole' Miss. He hits from the left side of the plate, often starting deep in the batter's box, with a shoulder high handset and minimal pre-swing movement. It's a long stride into his swing but it's short, direct and repeatable. This isn't simply a strong hit tool, however. Prosek can pull the ball in the air and may grow into ~20 home run power as a pro. Defensively, he's a bit more of a fringy athlete than some others in the class. He's not the most fleet of foot, but does have an above average arm that should allow him to stick somewhere in the infield (second or third base) where his range limitations won't expose him. He’s also played increasingly as a catcher in recent months (including at the Draft Combine), a potential additional value add. Prosek will be a little older than some on draft day (19). He probably has one 60-grade tool, but it's the most important one. He'll be eligible again as a sophomore if he makes it to campus.

Prosek's multi-position versatility is intriguing, with his ability to play in the infield, outfield, and possibly catcher. The Royals like athletes like this, with Gamble being a prime example.

Prosek's situation may be similar to that of Gamble, who needed some intensive tutelage after a rough couple of months in Low-A Columbia. However, the 2025 first-round pick has turned it around and looks to be settling into Minor League ball. Something similar could happen with Prosek, though he has more pedigree and polish than Gamble did as a prep player. 

The one difference between Gamble and Prosek, however, is that the Mississippi prep product's power is already way more developed than Gamble's, as evidenced by Prosek's gaudy home run numbers in high school.

The Royals need good athletes who can hit and hit for power, regardless of position. Prosek may be more of a project, as he won't move as quickly through the farm system as other candidates at No. 30, like Rose. Still, if the Royals want a high-upside position prep prospect in this Draft outside of No. 6, then Prosek could fit the bill nicely for the Royals at this slot in the Draft. 

Check out our 2026 mock draft board, updated regularly, and with detailed player write-ups!