Kansas City Royals 2026 Top Prospect Ranking: #1-5

We've finally arrived at part four in our series, which explores our top-five prospects in the Royals farm system. As stated before, the Kansas City Royals may not receive much respect from prospect experts for their system. For example, Bleacher Report, in their updated system rankings in September, ranked the Royals as the 23rd-best system in baseball. 

However, under scouting director Brian Bridges, the Royals have done a much better job in terms of amateur scouting and drafting since he joined the organization in 2024. That has resulted in much better Royals prospects, especially at the top of the system.

In part four of Royal Keep's Top-20 Prospects rankings, we look at a pitcher just recently added to the 40-man roster, two teenage pitchers who did well in Low-A ball in 2025, a former first-round pick who had a solid fall in Arizona, and a local KC-area catcher who made his debut in September and could be a centerpiece for this franchise for years to come.

5th: Ben Kurdna, RHP (Highest Level: Triple-A)

The Royals added Kudrna to the 40-man roster last week (along with fellow right-hander Steven Zobac) to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft in December. A former Blue Valley Southwest High School product and 2021 second-round pick, the right-hander has shown growth the past couple of seasons in ways that Frank Mozzicato, who was drafted ahead of Kudrna in 2021, hasn't.

Kudrna has done a much better job of striking out batters each season in the Minor Leagues. After only generating a 19.2% K rate in 2023 in High-A Quad Cities, he has shown improvement over the past two seasons. In 2024, in 115.1 IP between High-A and Double-A, he produced a 24.2% K rate. In 2025, in 105.1 IP, he posted a 22.9% K rate between Double-A and Triple-A, but sported a 24% K rate in 94 IP in Northwest Arkansas.

In addition to strikeouts, the 22-year-old has also demonstrated solid CSW (called-strike plus whiff) rates as well as strong groundball rates over the past two years. In 2024, he posted a 30% CSW and a 45.6% GB% across High-A and Double-A. In 2025 with the Naturals, he induced a 45.4% GB% and 27.5% CSW, both solid marks for a starting pitcher.

Unfortunately, Kudrna hit a bit of a wall in his first exposure to Triple-A at the end of last season. In four games (three starts) and 11.1 IP, he posted a 14.29 ERA, 2.74 WHIP, and 9.94 FIP. He struggled immensely with his command while pitching for the Storm Chasers. His K rate didn't just drop by 8.1%; his walk rate also jumped to 27% (resulting in a K-BB% of -11.1%). Furthermore, the stuff didn't profile well on a TJ Stuff+ end as well.

He only sported a TJ Stuff+ mark of 94, and only one of his six offerings had a TJ Stuff+ mark in the triple digits. His other metrics, such as zone rate (35.5%) and chase rate (20.6%), didn't profile well either. That said, he did generate a decent 29.5% whiff rate, and his GB% of 45.7% was actually 0.2% higher than his GB% in Northwest Arkansas. Hence, there were some positive signs for Kudrna in his brief exposure to Triple-A, even though the overall metrics weren't great.

With a fresh start and a complete Spring Training in big league camp, Kudrna could make a push to join the rotation midseason, especially if he can continue to generate whiffs and strong groundball rates in 2026. 

4th: Kendry Chourio, RHP (Highest Level: Low-A)

Arguably the biggest riser in the Royals' farm system last year, Chourio advanced to three different levels of play in 2025 as a 17-year-old: DSL, Complex, and Low-A. 

At each level, the Venezuelan teenager dominated on the mound. 

In five appearances and 17.2 IP in the DSL, he posted a 2.04 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 32.8% K rate, and 31.3% K-BB%. In the Arizona Complex League, his dominance continued. In three starts and 11 IP, he posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 35.4% K and K-BB%. As a result of those solid, complex performances, he earned a promotion to Low-A Columbia, despite being younger than most high school seniors. 

Low-A ball was a bit more of a reality check for Chourio. In six starts and 22.2 IP, he posted a 5.16 ERA. However, his WHIP remained solid at 1.06, and his 25% K rate and 20.8% K-BB% were also solid marks, especially for a pitcher of his age. His 3.66 FIP and 3.26 xFIP demonstrated that he was better in Columbia than his high ERA suggested. 

Chourio showcases a plus four-seamer that can touch 97 MPH and an equally plus changeup that plays well off his fastball. His breaking offering needs work, but he still has plenty of time to develop it as he gets more Minor League innings.

Some scouts and insiders have remarked that Chourio shares many comps with Yordano Ventura, the most decorated and successful international pitching prospect developed by the Royals. Granted, that's high praise, and a bit unfair to Chourio, who just turned 18 in October. 

However, the tools, pitch command, and the physical projection (he's six-foot, 160 pounds) are impressive so far with the young Venezuelan. If he continues to develop, he could be the Royals' top pitching prospect by midseason, and perhaps their top prospect by the conclusion of 2026, if everything falls into place. 

3rd: David Shields, LHP (Highest Level: Low-A)

In addition to Chourio, the Fireflies had another teenage phenom in Shields, a second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

After a warm-up start in the Complex League, the Pittsburgh prep prospect made 18 starts in Columbia. In 71.2 IP with the Fireflies, he was flat-out dominant. He posted a 2.01 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, a 28.3% K rate, a 23.1% K-BB%, and 2.57 FIP. These stellar numbers helped him earn Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors. 

Shields showcased an easy delivery, strong stuff, and excellent command in his tenure with the Fireflies. Here's what MLB Pipeline said about Shields and his pitch repertoire in their latest scouting report:

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Shields was around 93-94 mph with his fastball at instructs in late ‘24, and the Royals expect some more power as he physically matures. The pitch has some deception to it, helped along by Shields’ good extension. His fringe-average breaking ball blends between a slider or curveball depending on who is assessing the pitch, but it typically sits in the low 80s and has the potential to be above average with consistency. Shields has flashed a circle changeup with good armside fade, but that will be a focus for him in his first full year.

The Pennsylvania native doesn't have as electric a velocity as Chourio, but the extension and command have helped him produce more polished results in his Low-A debut. There's also a mature approach by Shields on the mound that may remind some Royals fans of Kris Bubic. However, Shields has more velocity and overall upside than the Royals lefty who made the All-Star Game this past season (primarily because Shields was drafted out of high school, unlike Bubic, who was drafted out of college).

He will likely matriculate to High-A Quad Cities in 2026. He could make a move to Northwest Arkansas by midseason if he dominates Midwest League hitters like he did Carolina League hitters. The swing-and-miss stuff (31.8% CSW) and the strong ability to keep the ball on the ground (46.7% GB%) demonstrate that he can find multiple ways to get batters out, which should help him as he progresses up the Royals farm system.

2nd: Blake Mitchell, C (Highest Level: High-A)

Mitchell has bounced back and forth between the top and second spot in Royals prospect rankings the past couple of seasons. In 2024, he held the title of top Royals prospect, especially after hitting 18 home runs, stealing 25 bases, and posting a 137 wRC+ in 466 plate appearances with the Fireflies. 

However, the Royals drafted Jac Caglianone sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, and the Florida slugger immediately ascended to the top spot in the Royals system. 

It was also a tough season for Mitchell in 2025, in myriad ways.

First off, in Spring Training, he broke a hamate bone in his hand, which forced him to start the year on the IL. When Mitchell returned to action, he struggled to get in rhythm in High-A Quad Cities, especially at the plate. In 49 games and 216 plate appearances, he only hit .207 and had two home runs. Furthermore, his ISO was only .089, a far cry from the .201 mark he posted in Low-A Columbia in 2024.

Mitchell did show some positive signs offensively. His eye at the plate has been lauded, and he did post a 20.8% BB% and 0.63 BB/K ratio with the River Bandits last year. That said, his approach was sometimes a bit too passive, as evidenced by his 41.2% swing rate and 49.5% first-strike percentage last season.

On a positive note, it seemed like Mitchell finally was fully healthy in Arizona this fall. As a result, he produced a solid AFL campaign in terms of results and underlying batted-ball metrics with the Surprise Saguaros, who won the AFL Championship.

In 82 plate appearances, Mitchell slashed .233/.439/.317 with a .756 OPS. While he only hit one home run, he showed excellent exit velocity metrics. His 90th EV ranked in the 71st percentile, his barrel rate ranked in the 72nd percentile, his average EV ranked in the 82nd percentile, and his max EV ranked in the 98th percentile. Furthermore, Mitchell was much more aggressive, ranking in the 86th percentile in Z-Swing%. However, he still showed his highly touted plate discipline, as evidenced by his 89th percentile O-Swing% and 95th percentile BB%.

In addition to solid metrics, the AFL was good for Mitchell to build some confidence, especially in big moments. The 21-year-old catcher had a walk-off single in the AFL semifinals that helped punch the Saguaros' ticket in the AFL Championship.

Even though there's a lot of catching depth in the Royals system, Mitchell is impressive defensively, showing excellent athleticism and arm strength behind the plate. He threw out 31% of baserunners last year, a 16% improvement from his mark in 2024. He also stole nine bags the previous year and 25 in 2024. Thus, he has the athleticism to be a multi-tool threat at the MLB level, even as a catcher. 

While 2025 wasn't a season to remember for Mitchell, he's still 21 years old, and he is trending in the right direction after a productive AFL stint. He should be one to watch in 2026 as an impact prospect in this system, as long as he stays healthy. While he may start in High-A, he could move quickly and be in Northwest Arkansas before Royals fans know it. 

1st: Carter Jensen, C (Highest Level: MLB)

Jensen won't be a prospect for much longer, especially after accumulating 69 plate appearances with the Royals as a September call-up. That said, he had an incredible season in 2025, helping him shoot up the board on most Top-100 lists. 

In 111 games and 492 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, Jensen hit .290 with 20 home runs, 72 runs scored, 76 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He also posted a 0.49 BB/K ratio, an .878 OPS, and 136 wRC+ with the Naturals and Storm Chasers, combined. Those stellar numbers helped him earn the George Brett Hitter of the Year Award, which goes to the top Royals position prospect in the system.

While his Minor League numbers were incredible, they paled in comparison to what he did in his 20-game sample with the Royals as a 21-year-old.

In his MLB debut, he slashed .300/.391/.550 with three home runs, 12 runs scored, and 13 RBI. Jensen also posted a .941 OPS, a 159 wRC+, and hit one of the longest home runs in Kansas City Royals history in Sacramento. 

Now, Royals fans have seen solid September call-ups only to be fooled the following season. That said, Jensen's Statcast percentiles show a player who's mature beyond his years, not just in plate discipline but also in power and batted-ball ability.

Those levels of red, even in a small sample, aren't prevalent at the MLB level. In fact, Jensen's underlying metrics with the Royals in September caught the attention not only of Royals fans but also of national prospect experts. 

Here's what Thomas Nestico of TJ Stats said about Jensen, his No. 7 overall prospect in baseball, in Jensen's latest scouting report. 

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Carter Jensen looked to be having a repeat of his 2024 season after he had a good, but not great, stint in AA. His contact rates improved, however there was no indication that his power was manifesting how the Royals hoped. That all changed following his promotion to AAA where he started to sell out for power and the home runs came in bunches. He posted an incredible 1.051 OPS in 43 AAA games supported by a 61.8% HardHit rate and 107.3 MPH 90th% EV. Although his strikeouts spiked, he consistently barrelled up the ball while laying off outside pitches. He quickly became one of the premier slugging prospects in baseball all while showing flashes of improvements behind the dish, particularly with his framing. Jensen didn't miss a beat in his cup of coffee in September and looks lined up to be the Royals long-term catcher entering 2026.

There's a lot to like about Jensen and what he can bring to this organization in 2026. Not just as a prospect, either, but as a regular contributor to the Royals lineup.

The emergence of Jensen is a big reason Kansas City was able to deal backup catcher Freddy Fermin at the Deadline, even though he was productive in that role over the past two seasons.  Even when Jensen isn't behind the plate, he should be getting regular time at designated hitter, especially against right-handed starting pitchers.

While Salvador Perez signed a two-year extension, manager Matt Quatraro will likely help preserve Perez's bat and stamina by giving Jensen more innings behind the plate. That catching playing-time split should not just help the Royals in the short term (maximizing Perez's offensive production), but also help ease Jensen into being Kansas City's catcher of the future after Perez finally retires. 

Interested in learning more about the Kansas City Royals' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!