Omaha Storm Chasers 2026 Roster Preview

A prospect getting to Triple-A means they are just one step away from the major leagues. The call-up to the majors could happen for a variety of reasons, including the prospect playing their way into the major league club’s plans, an injury to a current major leaguer, or even a player needing to step away for a few days for personal reasons.

Players at Triple-A are typically a combination of guys who have a good amount of experience, either at the major league level or some years in the minor leagues, and prospects who are still working their way up and looking for that first call.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are no different and have a few intriguing names, including former first-round pick Gavin Cross, and fellow top 30 prospects via MLB Pipeline RHPs Shane Panzini (#21) and Ben Kudrna (#10). While many of the Royals' top prospects are in the lower minors, these players are intriguing enough, and they may even get a shot at Kaufmann Stadium as early as the 2026 season.  

The Storm Chasers roster is also full of players who have some experience in the major leagues as well, which are good guys to call on when a roster spot opens up in Kansas City.

Here is a preview of the coaching staff, the roster, and what to expect from certain players this season and beyond. 

Storm Chasers Coaching Staff

The coaching staff in the minor leagues is key to developing future major leaguers in any organization. The Storm Chasers have many familiar faces from past years. Pat Osborn will be in his second year as the manager of the Storm Chasers. This year will be his 15th in pro ball and seventh as a minor league manager. He was the bench coach for the Storm Chasers before his current appointment.

Dane Johnson will be in his seventh season in Omaha and the sixth in the pitching coach role. He’s been in the Royals organization since 2020, and this year is his 27th season as a coach. He has experience as a major league bullpen coach and as a pitching coach at various levels of the minor leagues. 

David Lundquist will serve as the Assistant Pitching Coach, his third season with Omaha and 22nd in pro ball. He joined the Royals organization in 2024 and also has previous experience as a major league bullpen coach with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bijan Rademacher will be serving as the hitting coach in Omaha and will be in his fourth season in Omaha and sixth season coaching overall. He joined the Royals organization in 2023 after two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Tripp Keister is listed as an Assistant Coach and will likely help with a variety of things across the coaching staff. He is in his second season with the Storm Chasers and his third year with the Royals organization. He’s entering his 15th season as a coach in minor league baseball and his previous experience is in the Washington Nationals organization, along with 12 seasons coaching in college and five years a pro scout. 

James Stone and Amanda Gallone will serve as Athletic Trainers and are in their eighth and second seasons with Omaha, respectively.

Others listed on the coaching staff are Mike Brown, who is in his eighth year as the Clubhouse Manager, and his 20th season in Omaha, and Ben Nicholas, who will serve as the Assistant coordinator for Minor League Video. Brown is a mainstay with the Storm Chasers and has worked in various roles both at Werner Park and at Rosenblatt Stadium. Nicholas is in his third season with Omaha, and second in his current role.

Storm Chasers Pitchers

RHP Ryan Bergert, RHP Mason Black, RHP Ethan Bosacker, RHP Eric Cerantola, RHP Jose Cuas, LHP Tyson Guerrero, RHP Brandon Johnson, RHP Ben Kudrna, LHP Chazz Martinez, LHP John Means, RHP Eli Morgan, LHP Helcris Olivarez, RHP Shane Panzini, LHP Andrew Perez, LHP Ryan Ramsey, RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Anthony Simonelli, RHP Mitch Spence, RHP Beck Way

A few of these names likely look familiar, either because they have major league experience or because they have appeared on top prospects lists over the past few years. Both Kudrna and Panzini are listed in the top prospects and may get a call very soon.

Others will likely serve as organizational depth and have previous major league experience, so they are likely on a short list of guys to call up. Morgan, Guerrero, and Sanchez all have different levels of success at the major league level, and if the organization can get them back to what made them successful, they could be great options and be called up to the majors if they show they are useful out of the bullpen.

Means is listed on the roster but will likely be out the entire season with a torn Achilles. He signed a two-year deal and will likely be available in 2027 for the Royals.

Storm Chasers Catchers

Jorge Alfaro, Elias Diaz, Elih Marrero, Luca Tresh

Alfaro and Diaz will serve as depth options beyond major league catchers Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. Diaz is a former All-Star Game MVP back in 2023, so the upside is there.

Tresh is in his second year with Triple-A Omaha, after playing 72 games and hitting 10 home runs in 2025. 

Both Alfaro and Marrero are listed on the Development List, so they are not taking up active roster spots. 

Storm Chasers Infielders

Brandon Drury, Connor Kaiser, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas, Abraham Toro, Peyton Wilson

A few of these names may also look familiar, as Drury, Newman, Toro, Kaiser, and Rojas all have some major league experience. Wilson will be in his second season in Triple-A. Most of this list are players on minor-league deals but could receive a call-up if they either play their way into a call-up, or an injury on the major league roster leads to needing another infielder. 

Storm Chasers Outfielders

Gavin Cross, Nick Loftin, Kameron Misner, John Rave, Drew Waters

Loftin, Waters, and Rave are likely familiar names as they have played some at the major league level with the Royals in recent years.

Cross is a former first-round pick and is ranked 27th in the Royals system via MLB Pipeline. He will be playing his first season in Triple-A, after playing the past two seasons with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit for a .703 OPS this past season and showed some power, hitting 17 home runs over 114 games played.

Misner was acquired in an off-season trade for a player to be named later from the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 71 games at the major league level and hit .213/.273/.345 in 2025.

While the Omaha roster may not be filled with high-end prospects, there are still plenty of names that should be fun to follow and it is filled with plenty of players who could be called up this year.

Whether the players are serving as organizational depth, playing at Triple-A for the first time, the Storm Chasers should be intriguing to watch to see if any players push their way into playing time at the major league level or show why they should be seen as pieces for the future in the Royals organization. 

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!