Royals select Jack Slightom with No. 56 overall pick

The Kansas City Royals selected Jack Slightom with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The slot value for that selection is $1,721,700. Slightom is a Cincinnati Bearcat signee but is likely to sign with Kansas City rather than taking the college route. 

A three-sport athlete, Slightom wasn't serious about full-time baseball until his senior season. He certainly locked in and showed his potential, posting a 7-0 record with a 0.38 ERA, the best in all of Illinois high school baseball. Here is what our draft expert Jamie Cameron had to say about Slightom.

"Jack Slightom is a cold-weather arm out of Illinois, currently committed to Cincinnati, who has surged up draft boards towards the end of the cycle. A projectable righty at 6'4, 200 pounds, he's made strides in the last 12 months and should flourish in a pro system after splitting time between baseball and football in high school. Slightom has some interesting release traits with a lower arm slot and above-average extension. It's a run and ride fastball that has been as high as 98 mph, but will likely sit in the 93-95 mph range, a significant step forward from his junior year. Slightom's primary breaking pitch is a sweeping slider that could use more firmness. He's also shown capacity for a changeup with tumble and fade."

Slightom is the second pitcher selected by Kansas City in the first round of the draft, joining Ole Miss right-hander Taylor Rabe. Slightom will join a top prospect list that already contains 17 of its top 30 as starting pitchers.

If the fastball velocity can be paired with the offseason command, Slightom has a chance to rival the success that the Royals front office expects Rabe to have.

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