The Royals Keep Minor League Awards: Omaha Storm Chasers

 The 2026 season was a trying one for the Omaha Storm Chasers. 

They finished 65-81, which was enough to place them third-to-last in the International League West division. Omaha finished higher in the division than the Louisville Bats (Reds) and Iowa Cubs (Cubs). 

It was not surprising that the Storm Chasers finished so poorly. They lacked high-end prospect talent for most of the season, and relied heavily on former MLB veterans to carry the roster.

On the hitting end, that included Abraham Toro, Josh Rojas, Brandon Drury, and Kevin Newman, all of whom have seen considerable time in the Majors. On the pitching end, Mitch Spence, Eli Morgan, Aaron Sanchez, Vince Velasquez, and Anthony Gose were veterans who carried the Storm Chasers' rotation and/or bullpen. 

However, some key standouts on the Storm Chasers this year could have an impact in 2027 and beyond. Here's a look at four "award winners" from Royals Keep who fans should pay attention to next season after solid campaigns in Triple-A. 

Hitter of the Year: Brett Squires, 1B/LF

Squires won the George Brett Hitter of the Year Award, which goes to the top-hitting performer in the Minor Leagues, and also won the official Storm Chasers Hitter of the Year Award. So it's no surprise that Squires takes "Hitter of the Year" honors at Royals Keep, especially since no one matched him over a full season.

In 369 at-bats with Omaha, the former Oklahoma product slashed .271/.339/.553 with an .892 OPS. He hit 25 home runs, scored 56 runs, drove in 74 runs, and stole 15 bases on 15 attempts. His Statcast numbers were also impressive: a barrel rate of 12.4%, a 90th EV of 106 MPH, and a pull air% of 17.2%. While Werner Park is hitter-friendly, Squires' batted-ball data shows he can translate his skills to the Major League level. 

Two questions remain with Squires this offseason: 1.) Will he be selected in the December Rule 5 MLB Draft? And 2.) Will the Royals add him to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from that Draft?

Unfortunately, the answer isn't clear. First, the upcoming labor stoppage could cancel the MLB Winter Meetings and, in turn, the Rule 5 Draft. Second, Squires' natural position is first base, and the Royals are flush with options there next year, including Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, and Salvador Perez, who all spent considerable time there in 2026 (and are expected to again in 2027). 

The key to adding Squires could rest on whether he can play left field at the Major League level. In his end-of-year press conference, President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo said that they needed to upgrade in left and center field. Obviously, the latter is out, but could Squires slide into left field in 2027? 

He can't be a complete drain defensively, but if Squires can showcase that 20-25 HR potential in Arizona this spring, then it's possible he could be an internal option who could at least platoon in left field next season. 

Pitcher of the Year: Ben Sears, RHP

The 26-year-old righty had a solid year in the Storm Chasers bullpen. A former 2022 14th-round pick out of Houston, Sears posted a 3.91 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 4.61 FIP in 69 IP. He's not a high-strikeout guy (19% K%), but he limited walks (9.5% BB%) and generated a ton of ground balls (50.7%). That made him a useful option for the Storm Chasers in the middle innings, especially with runners on base.

Stuff-wise, Sears wasn't anything special, as evidenced by his overall TJ Stuff+ of 96. However, he had a seven-pitch mix, and his two primary pitches (sinker and sweeper) posted above-average whiff rates of 15.7% and 35.9%, respectively. That gives him a Seth Lugo-esque arsenal, and Sears also showed Lugo-esque athleticism on the mound this year. 

I am not sure if Sears will be a high-end or high-leverage reliever anytime soon. That said, his diverse arsenal and ability to generate groundballs make me wonder whether he could build a long-term career as a low-leverage middle reliever or a long reliever who could eventually transition to starting, especially if he can tweak his pitches to improve their quality. 

Given the Storm Chasers' pitching shortage this year, Sears helped keep Omaha competitive on the mound and shouldn't be overlooked. He's the kind of pitcher who may not make his debut until 28 or 29, but could surprise once he finally matriculates to the Majors.

Most Intriguing Prospect: Gavin Cross, OF

The ninth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Virginia Tech, Cross's minor league career has been polarizing. 

He's been a rollercoaster at each level in the Royals system since being drafted over four years ago, with a mix of lackluster play and injuries (including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) that have limited his ceiling and impact. Things didn't look good for Cross early this year, as he posted a .243 OPS in March and a .370 OPS in April. He improved to .695 in May, but that still didn't look great for a guy repeating at the Triple-A level. 

However, Cross came absolutely alive once the weather turned. After a decent .754 OPS in June, he posted a 1.057 OPS in July and 1.049 OPS in August. An injury in August limited him to just 11 games that month and 14 in September, and he cooled off in the last month of the season, posting only a .603 OPS. However, when healthy, Cross demonstrated that he could be an option in the corner outfield for Kansas City in 2027.

For the season, Cross slashed .245/.305/.432 with a .737 OPS in 467 plate appearances. He also hit 17 home runs and stole 25 bases, leading the Storm Chasers in stolen bases this season. If he can cut down his strikeouts (31.5% K%), Cross could be at least a 15 HR-15 SB guy at the Major League level, which would help him stick as a platoon outfielder in 2027, at the very least. 

Biggest Riser: Beck Way, RHP

Acquired from the Yankees in the 2022 trade involving Andrew Benintendi, Way finally limited walks and put it all together in 2026 in Omaha. That helped him make his MLB debut with the Royals and find a spot in the bullpen until a shoulder injury on July 24th shut him down for the remainder of the season.

In his MLB rookie season, Way posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 23.1 IP. He struck out 20% of batters, posted a 10.5% K-BB%, and generated a 56.5% GB%. While not a high-leverage guy, Way produced good stuff and strong chase and whiff rates for a rookie, as shown below via TJ Stats. 

However, Way got to the Majors on his solid performance in Omaha this season. 

In 20 outings and 31 IP, he posted a 4.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. While those aren't great numbers on the surface, his FIP was better at 2.80, and he also generated a 32.6% K% and 25% K-BB%. He also posted a 64.6% GB%, a 104 TJ Stuff+, a 29.7% whiff rate, and an xwOBACON of .337. TJ Stats rated all those marks as above average. His 50.9% zone rate also rated above average, a nice development given that he struggled to throw strikes at various levels in the past. 

Way is expected to be ready to go by Spring Training, and he could (and should) be part of the Royals' bullpen in 2027, along with Nate Pearson and Steven Cruz. Like Pearson and Cruz, Way probably should be limited to middle relief. That said, he has the stuff and ability to induce ground balls to thrive in that role both next year and beyond.

Pitchers like Way (cost-controlled), if healthy and successful, could help change the bullpen culture that's plagued the Royals in the past, especially in 2026.   

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