Kevin O'Brien

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The Quad Cities River Bandits were the jewel of the Royals' farm system in 2026. They finished the regular season 70-57 and were the only affiliate to qualify for the postseason and post a winning record (though the Fireflies were close at 64-65). In the playoffs, they faced the South Bend Cubs and Dayton Dragons, the affiliates of the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, respectively. Despite having to play games 2 and possibly 3 on the road in each series, the River Bandits swept both series in two games. As a result, the River Bandits captured the Midwest League pennant, even though they finished second in the West Division during the regular season. While many prospect experts still see the Royals' farm system as lower-tier, the River Bandits were a loaded squad that showed the potential of the top prospects in the Royals' system. Over this two-game series against the Dragons, many of the Royals' key Minor Leaguers stepped up and not only achieved the ultimate team success (a Midwest League championship), but also gave hope to Royals fans who are looking for signs of optimism in 2027 and beyond. Here are three stories that stuck out from the River Bandits' championship run over the past two weeks. Quad Cities Aces Step Up Kendry Chourio and David Shields pitched in the clinching games of the South Bend and Dayton series, respectively. Quad Cities not only won those deciding games on the road, but Chourio and Shields set the tone with excellent outings in high-pressure starts in hostile opposing parks. On September 10th at Four Winds Field against the Cubs, Chourio was electric in 4.1 innings. He allowed no runs, two hits, two walks, and struck out six. In addition to striking out a plethora of batters, the 18-year-old came through in big spots, limiting the Cubs with runners in scoring position. Chourio didn't start against the Dragons, but he likely would've started Game 3 if the River Bandits had lost Game 2. That shows how much confidence manager Jesus Azuaje had in Chourio, as he was ready to throw the teenager in a do-or-die Midwest League championship game. The metrics would've backed up Azuaje's decision. In 10 starts and 42.2 IP, Chourio posted a 3.16 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 3.19 FIP, and 23.5% K-BB% (amplified by a 28.3% K%, up from 23.4% in Low-A Columbia earlier this year). He also posted eye-popping Statcast percentiles in Quad Cities, with his O-Swing%, BB%, and SwStr% ranking in the upper percentiles. Chourio's SwStr% ranked in the 85th percentile, his O-Swing% ranked in the 82nd percentile, and his BB% ranked in the 99th percentile. He also ranked in the 93rd percentile in Strike%, the 66th percentile in CSW%, and the 66th percentile in K%. Even though he was one of the youngest pitchers in the Midwest League, he was still one of the most dominant. However, Shields was the River Bandits' main pitching star in the postseason, clinching the Midwest League Championship with a quality start. In six innings against the Dragons, Shields allowed no runs, three hits, two walks, and struck out seven. It was a much better start than his first playoff outing against the Cubs on September 8th, when he gave up two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings. That said, he still showed his strikeout stuff against the Cubs with five strikeouts, and the River Bandits' offense provided much-needed help in an 8-5 win (fueled primarily by Austin Charles, who drove in five runs on three hits). Shields' numbers weren't as impressive as the Venezuelan righty, especially in terms of ERA. However, the 20-year-old lefty proved a durable, dependable starter for the River Bandits all season. In 25 starts and 116.2 IP, he posted a 4.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 2.78 FIP, and 23.7% K-BB%. He was hurt a bit by the home run ball, giving up an HR/FB% of 11.6%. That said, his strikeout numbers (29.7% K%) and strong FIP suggest his season was better than his ERA indicated. Furthermore, his Statcast percentiles were arguably as impressive as Chourio's, as he rated better than the 18-year-old in CSW% and K% this season. The Royals have struggled with pitching at the Major League level this year. However, Chourio and Shields give the Royals hope that reinforcements could arrive quickly, perhaps as soon as mid-season next year if they keep dominating like this in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Blake Mitchell Comes Up Clutch Mitchell, our No. 4 prospect at Royals Keep, has been a polarizing prospect among Royals fans this year. In 115 games and 511 PA with Quad Cities this year, the 21-year-old catcher slashed .234/.414/.459 with an .873 OPS. He also had 23 home runs, 95 runs scored, 75 RBI, and 27 stolen bases, the latter impressive for a catcher. However, he struck out 34.1% of the time this year, which dampened his strong walk rate (22.1%). Furthermore, his whiff and contact numbers didn't look good either, based on his Statcast percentiles. However, the 2023 1st-round pick came through when the River Bandits needed him. He had a clutch double in game one against Dayton in their 4-0 win. His biggest hit came in game two. Down 1-0, Mitchell hit a two-run bomb in the top of the 8th that gave Quad Cities the lead, which they wouldn't relinquish. Even though many felt Mitchell should've matriculated to Double-A at some point this year (myself included), his presence on this River Bandits roster paid off, especially in the championship rounds. He carried this offense when they needed it the most, and that performance in a pressure-packed environment (especially in game two against Dayton) will have more long-term benefits on his career than playing for a Naturals team that was uncompetitive for most of the season. Mitchell will be tested in Double-A Northwest Arkansas next year. It will be interesting to see how his K% fares, especially since it's been so high not just in High-A ball, but in Low-A competition as well. That said, his finish in Quad Cities should help him build positive momentum for next spring in Arizona. Langevin and Quad Cities Bullpen Lock Down The unsung heroes of this River Bandits championship team may be the bullpen, led by closer L.P. Langevin, who was absolutely dominant in the two-game series against Dayton. In two IP, Langevin struck out six batters and allowed no hits, runs, or walks. The Louisiana-Lafayette was predictable in his pitch repertoire, relying heavily on his 97-98 MPH fastball. That said, even though Dragons hitters knew it was coming, they couldn't do much about it, as shown by his six strikeouts over the two-game span. The River Bandits got a lot of help in the postseason bullpen beyond Langevin. Emmanuel Reyes, Dash Albus, Ethan McElvain, Kamden Edge, Jordan Woods, and Yimi Presinal all contributed during this Quad Cities playoff run. However, Langevin was the star, capping an impressive full season in High-A. In 40 outings and 55.1 IP, Langevin posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 3.45 FIP, and 28.4% K-BB%. He struggled a bit with walks (16.5% BB%) and homers (25% HR/FB%), but when he was locked in, he was the most dominant strikeout pitcher in the Royals organization this season (106 strikeouts and 44.9% K%). His Statcast percentiles confirmed his dominant swing-and-miss stuff. Langevin needs some polish, especially with his control. However, he made a ton of progress this year and had 19 strikeouts and no walks in his last nine innings. Something clicked for Langevin at the end of the year, and the postseason pressure seemed to help his performance. This isn't surprising, as Langevin seemed to value competition, as Jared Perkins and I learned in an interview with him on the Royals Pipeline podcast on KC Sports Network in early June. Langevin will be a special arm if he stays healthy. It wouldn't be surprising to see him not only make a move to Double-A in 2027, but also appear in the Royals bullpen in late summer next year. His stuff and mentality are a strong fit for a bullpen role in Kansas City, and they need cheap, internal options that could boost a bullpen that was pretty poor this season. View full article

Tanner Jones and Jordan Woods combined for 7 2/3 scoreless innings as Quad Cities shut out Dayton, with Blake Mitchell driving in a run. Sam Kulasingam singled home Connor Rasmussen in the ninth to give Northwest Arkansas a walk-off win, and Shane Panzini and Caden Monke combined for six strikeouts. Omaha scored four runs in the first inning at Indianapolis behind Drew Waters and Carson Roccaforte, but the Storm Chasers lost by a run. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Four-Run First Is Not Enough As Omaha Falls In Indianapolis Omaha scored four runs in the first inning, did not score after the third, and lost 6-5 in Indianapolis. Maikel Garcia opened the game with a single, and Waters followed with a run-scoring single. Brett Squires hit a ground-rule double, Roccaforte singled in two runs, and Peyton Wilson doubled home Roccaforte for a 4-0 lead. Roccaforte, the Royals' No. 9 prospect, also stole a base, giving him a 30 HR-30 SB season between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He is the first Royals Minor League player to accomplish this feat. Indianapolis answered with four runs in the second inning. Waters led off the third with his 14th home run, and that was the last run the Storm Chasers scored. Omaha collected 12 hits and four walks, struck out 11 times, went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and left seven runners on base. Squires went 3-for-4 with a double. Waters was 2-for-4 with the home run, two RBI, and a walk. Roccaforte was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk, and Garcia added two hits. Ryan Ramsey started and worked four innings, giving up seven hits and five runs, walking four, and striking out two. Ben Sears and Connor Seabold followed with an inning apiece and did not allow a run. Luke Little struck out three in a scoreless inning. In the next inning, Carlos Duran struck out three without allowing a run. Scott Alexander retired one batter, allowed two hits and a run, and took the loss to fall to 0-2. Indianapolis won it with a walk-off single by former Padres and Nationals top prospect Robert Hassell III in the ninth inning. The Storm Chasers are now 64-77. Player AB R H RBI BB K Maikel Garcia 4 1 2 0 0 1 Colton Becker 1 0 0 0 0 1 Gavin Cross 5 0 1 0 0 3 Drew Waters 4 2 2 2 1 1 Brett Squires 4 1 3 0 0 0 Carson Roccaforte 3 1 2 2 1 1 Peyton Wilson 3 0 1 1 1 1 Jacob Berry 4 0 1 0 0 2 Omar Hernandez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Alejo Lopez 3 0 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ryan Ramsey 4 7 5 5 4 2 1 Ben Sears 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Connor Seabold 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Luke Little 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Carlos Duran 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Scott Alexander 1/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 Kulasingam Walks It Off As Naturals Edge Tulsa Northwest Arkansas beat Tulsa 5-4 on a walk-off single by Sam Kulasingam. Angel Acosta opened the ninth inning with a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Rasmussen. Ricson Gonzalez moved him to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Leadoff man Luke Pelzer was intentionally walked, and Kulasingam lined a single to center field to score Rasmussen. The Naturals had built their lead in the fourth inning. Daniel Vazquez singled, moved to third base on a fly out, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Johnson. Alberto Rodriguez then tripled, and Acosta singled him in for a 3-2 lead. Johnson added to the Naturals' scoring by doubling home Spencer Nivens in the eighth inning. Tulsa scored twice in the ninth inning to tie the game, which set up Northwest Arkansas' comeback efforts in the bottom of the ninth to close out the 2026 season. Northwest Arkansas finished with 11 hits, three doubles, and a triple, went 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and left eight runners on base. Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a double and scored twice. Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with the triple and an RBI. Johnson was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. On the pitching end, Ethan Bosacker started and allowed three hits and one run over three innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. Augusto Mendieta gave up a home run and one run over two innings, with one walk and two strikeouts. Panzini worked two scoreless innings with one hit, two walks, and three strikeouts. Monke struck out three and walked one in a scoreless inning. Dennis Colleran Jr. allowed a home run and two runs in one inning, blowing the save, but picked up the win to improve to 3-1. The Naturals finish the 2026 campaign with a 57-79 record. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer 4 0 1 0 1 2 Sam Kulasingam 5 0 1 1 0 0 Spencer Nivens 4 1 1 0 0 0 Daniel Vazquez 4 2 2 0 0 0 Connor Scott 4 0 1 0 0 0 Justin Johnson 3 0 1 2 0 2 Alberto Rodriguez 4 1 2 1 0 1 Angel Acosta 3 0 1 1 1 0 Connor Rasmussen 0 1 0 0 0 0 Ricson Gonzalez 3 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ethan Bosacker 3 3 1 1 0 3 0 Augusto Mendieta 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 Shane Panzini 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 Caden Monke 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 Dennis Colleran Jr. 1 1 2 2 2 0 1 Four Quad Cities Pitchers Combine To Shut Out Dayton Four Quad Cities pitchers held Dayton without a run in a 4-0 win in Game One of the Midwest League Championship at Modern Woodsman Park in Davenport, Iowa. They are one win away from taking the series and the title. The River Bandits scored twice in the first inning to set the tone. Asbel Gonzalez singled, Zion Rose walked, and Mitchell reached on a fielder's choice that was followed by a fielding error, which let Gonzalez score. Ramon Ramirez then hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Rose. In the third inning, Derlin Figueroa and Jose Cerice singled, and Nolan Sailors laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Figueroa. Gonzalez walked in the fourth inning and came home on a double by Mitchell. Quad Cities managed only five hits, but the River Bandits drew eight walks, struck out 11 times, went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 runners on base. The River Bandits didn't have a ton of offensive standouts in this one, but they did take advantage of the Dragons' questionable control on the mound. Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with three walks and scored twice. Mitchell was 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Jones started Game One for the River Bandits and allowed two hits over 4 2/3 innings without giving up a run, walking three and striking out three. Kamden Edge retired the only batter he faced. Woods worked three innings, gave up four hits and one walk, struck out four, did not allow a run, and earned the win. L.P. Langevin struck out three in a hitless, walkless inning to close it out. Dayton was held to six hits and committed the game's only error. The River Bandits are up 1-0 and are one win away from winning the best-of-three series. Game Two will be Tuesday, September 15th in Dayton. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez 2 2 1 0 3 1 Zion Rose 4 1 1 0 1 0 Blake Mitchell 5 0 1 1 0 2 Ramon Ramirez 3 0 0 1 0 3 Derlin Figueroa 2 1 1 0 2 1 Jose Cerice 4 0 1 0 0 2 Nolan Sailors 2 0 0 1 1 2 Austin Charles 4 0 0 0 0 0 Tyriq Kemp 3 0 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tanner Jones 4 2/3 2 0 0 3 3 0 Kamden Edge 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jordan Woods 3 4 0 0 1 4 0 L.P. Langevin 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: 1-for-5, 2B, 2 K Sean Gamble: DNP Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-3, 3 K Zion Rose: 1-for-4 Asbel Gonzalez: 1-for-2, K Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-3, K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

On Saturday, the Royals claimed former San Francisco Giants reliever Spencer Bivens off waivers. Kansas City promptly optioned him to Omaha, according to the team's social media. Bivens was a productive reliever for the Giants in 2024 and 2025 before being designated for assignment on September 9th. In 2024, his rookie year, he posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 27 appearances and 48.2 IP. Last year, he posted a 4.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 54 appearances and 81.2 IP. While his ERA was higher, his 3.72 FIP last year was better than his 4.72 FIP in 2024. When looking at his Statcast percentiles, Bivens showed a strong ability to generate weak contact and chase as a reliever. Nivens ranked in the 88th percentile in GB%, 80th percentile in average EV allowed, 67th percentile in hard-hit%, and 66th percentile in O-Swing% last year. This year, in limited action, he posted a 14.40 ERA and 3.00 WHIP. However, he generated a 4.90 FIP, 26.7% K%, and 13.3% K-BB%. While he saw decreases in his O-Swing%, GB%, and average EV, he showed much stronger CSW% and whiff%. He also has three above-average pitches TJ Stuff+ wise: the sinker (102), sweeper (107), and cutter (102). Bivens has two Minor League options remaining and is still in pre-arbitration. He likely will compete for a Royals bullpen spot in 2027. View full rumor

Omaha dropped a 5-1 decision at Indianapolis despite four scoreless relief innings from Hunter Owen, Lucas Erceg, and Matt Moore, who combined for seven strikeouts and no walks. Lucas Braun struck out seven in four innings. Northwest Arkansas lost 8-4 to Tulsa after Felix Arronde allowed seven runs, though Frank Mozzicato followed with two hitless innings. Alberto Rodriguez homered and drove in two, and Angel Acosta added a solo home run in the ninth. Kansas City Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals claimed RHP Spencer Bivens off waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Spencer Bivens to Omaha Storm Chasers. Omaha Bullpen Holds The Line In A 5-1 Loss At Indianapolis Braun struck out seven over four innings and did not walk a batter, but Indianapolis reached him for eight hits and five runs, four of them earned. Two of those hits left the ballpark. Braun also got some help from his outfield defense, especially in the first inning. The Indians pulled away in the fourth. A fielding error by Jacob Berry put the first runner of the inning aboard, an RBI double followed, and a two-run home run came next. Those three runs turned a one-run game into a 5-0 game. Omaha answered in the sixth. Gavin Cross singled with one out, Abraham Toro singled him to second base, and Brett Squires lined a single to left field to bring Cross home. However, Carson Roccaforte struck out to end the inning, and Omaha did not score again. The bullpen gave up nothing over the last four innings. The recently called-up Owen worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Erceg followed with 1 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings and two strikeouts. Lastly, Moore finished with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts. None of the three walked a batter. Alejo Lopez led the offense with two hits in three at-bats. Luca Tresh doubled, and Cross, Toro, Squires, Roccaforte, and Peyton Wilson each had one hit. Squires drove in the only run. Omaha drew no walks, struck out 13 times, went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and left six runners on base. The Storm Chasers are now 64-76. Player AB R H RBI BB K Javier Vaz 2 0 0 0 0 2 Colton Becker 2 0 0 0 0 1 Gavin Cross 4 1 1 0 0 0 Abraham Toro 4 0 1 0 0 2 Brett Squires 4 0 1 1 0 3 Carson Roccaforte 4 0 1 0 0 1 Luca Tresh 4 0 1 0 0 2 Peyton Wilson 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jacob Berry 3 0 0 0 0 1 Alejo Lopez 3 0 2 0 0 0 Totals 34 1 8 1 0 13 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Lucas Braun 4 8 5 4 0 7 2 Hunter Owen 1 2/3 2 0 0 0 3 0 Lucas Erceg 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Matt Moore 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals 8 10 5 4 0 14 2 Northwest Arkansas Homers Twice In The Ninth In An 8-4 Loss To Tulsa Arronde allowed nine hits and seven runs over four innings, walking three and striking out five. Two of the hits he allowed were home runs. He was helped by some defense in the first inning by outfielder Luke Pelzer. Tulsa did its damage against Arronde, the Royals' No. 16 prospect, in the third and the fourth. In the third, a single, another single, and a walk loaded the bases with one out, and then an RBI single, a sacrifice fly, and a two-run double brought in four runs. The fourth opened with a home run, and after a single, a second home run made it a seven-run game. Northwest Arkansas got on the board in the eighth. Connor Rasmussen doubled with one out, Alberto Rodriguez singled him in, and Sam Kulasingam followed with a single. After a pop-out, Connor Scott singled to right field to score Rodriguez. Justin Johnson walked to load the bases, and a strikeout ended the inning. The Naturals added two more in the ninth to make things interesting. First, Acosta homered with one out for his second homer in as many nights. Rodriguez, who had entered the game in the leadoff spot for Pelzer, homered two batters later. Kulasingam walked, but a fly ball by Spencer Nivens to center field ended the game. The rest of the pitching staff beyond Arronde gave the offense a chance. Anthony Simonelli allowed a run on one hit and a walk in one inning. James McArthur, on a rehab assignment, worked a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout. Former 1st-round pick Mozzicato struck out three over two hitless and scoreless innings. Finally, Tommy Molsky finished with a scoreless inning. Rodriguez finished 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. Johnson had two hits and a walk, Acosta homered, and Rasmussen doubled. Northwest Arkansas drew four walks, went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and left eight runners on base. The Naturals fell to 56-79 for the season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer 3 0 0 0 0 1 Alberto Rodriguez 2 2 2 2 0 0 Sam Kulasingam 4 0 1 0 1 1 Spencer Nivens 4 0 1 0 1 0 Connor Scott 4 0 1 1 0 2 Justin Johnson 3 0 2 0 1 0 Canyon Brown 3 0 0 0 1 1 Hyungchan Um 4 0 0 0 0 1 Angel Acosta 4 1 1 1 0 1 Connor Rasmussen 4 1 1 0 0 1 Totals 35 4 9 4 4 8 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Felix Arronde 4 9 7 7 3 5 2 Anthony Simonelli 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 James McArthur 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Frank Mozzicato 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 Tommy Molsky 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals 9 10 8 8 6 10 2 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: DNP Sean Gamble: DNP Ramon Ramirez: DNP Zion Rose: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-4, 1 K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: 4 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 5 K Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Jensen leads the trio of catchers with a 3.0 fWAR, which is 0.2 wins better than Baldwin and 2.1 wins better than Basallo. What's most interesting is that Jensen has been a far better defensive catcher than the other two. His Def is three runs above average compared to Basallo's -1 mark and Baldwin's -5 mark. Additionally, while Baldwin and Basallo are known more for their power, Jensen's .216 ISO is considerably better than Basallo's (.186) and Baldwin's (.174). Another plus for Jensen is that he's just 23, younger than Baldwin (25) and only two years older than Basallo. Thus, there's still a lot of long-term value for Jensen, especially since he has handled the increased catching load in 2026 well for a rookie. One catcher I also wanted to include in the mix but didn't in the statistical one above is Chicago's Kyle Teel. I didn't include Teel because he's been heavily affected by injury this year, with only 88 plate appearances in 26 games. Over that small sample, he's hitting .213 with an 88 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR. That said, comparing his Statcast percentiles not just to Jensen, but to Baldwin and Basallo, is a worthwhile exercise. That can show how much of an improvement Teel would have if he stays healthy next year, based on his Statcast percentiles. Here's how the four players compare, based on the Statcast comparison tool via Baseball Savant. Overall, Baldwin has the best offensive profile by a considerable margin. However, he and Jensen are pretty close defensively, with Baldwin doing better in terms of blocking, but Jensen outdoing him in terms of throwing out baserunners. Basallo also ranks pretty well in blocks and throwing, while Teel does well in the former, but not the latter. Jensen and Baldwin are also much better framing catchers than Basallo and Teel. In terms of baserunning, Jensen is by far the best runner in terms of sprint speed and overall baserunning (51st percentile). That shows that Jensen can handle the leadoff spot for Kansas City for at least a couple more seasons. Offensively, he's produced a 128 wRC+ as the Royals' leadoff hitter this season, giving them stability at this spot in the batting order for the first time in a while. There are positives and negatives with all four catchers in this comparison. However, this graphic shows Jensen deserves more respect among the game's young catchers, both now and in the long term. Do the Royals Need to Lock Up Jensen to an Extension Soon? After a tremendous season from Jensen, the big question among Royals fans is this: Do the Royals need to sign the talented catcher to a long-term extension? Now, the impulse is to say, "yes", especially considering Jensen is just 23 and is only going to get more expensive as he gets older. However, the Royals have extensions to Witt and Garcia on the books, and they also face another tough long-term decision with Jac Caglianone, who's injured now but has also had a tremendous year, as shown in the Statcast profile below. With a .285 average, 126 TJ Bat+, 23 home runs, and a 2.4 fWAR this year, Cags is every bit as deserving as Jensen to get a long-term deal. Like Jensen, Cags also becomes arbitration-eligible in 2029. However, while Cags certainly has a case for an extension, Jensen should get priority over the former Florida product. First, Jensen has shown he can stick at catcher at the Major League level, and while the blocking has been bad, it's been better than earlier in the season. He has the chance to be an average player in this category in 2027, which would only increase his value even more. Conversely, Cags has struggled defensively at both outfield and first base, as illustrated by his -11.8 Def this season. There's no doubt about Cags' arm strength, but his instincts and range in right field and first base have been underwhelming, to put it frankly. Second, Cags has struggled with injuries this year. His latest elbow issue has kept him out for about a week, even though he hasn't been placed on the IL. He also spent time on the IL last year due to a hamstring strain. As for Jensen, he has not missed any time on the IL or due to injury this year or last. For a team that has struggled with injuries, they need to invest in players who can stay on the field. Now, if the Royals can extend both within the next two years, that would be the best solution. Extend Jensen in 2027 and Cags in 2028, especially if Cags can stay healthy and demonstrate progress at one position defensively. That said, Jensen should be the Royals' financial priority, especially after the progress he's shown offensively and defensively over the past two seasons. View full article

Vince Velasquez led the Royals system with six scoreless innings for Omaha, allowing three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. In Northwest Arkansas, Brandon Johnson and Tyson Guerrero combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings and seven strikeouts behind starter Steven Zobac. Drew Waters had three hits, including a double, for the Storm Chasers, and Angel Acosta homered for the Naturals. Omaha lost 1-3 in Indianapolis, and the Naturals fell 2-3 at home. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Velasquez Turns In Six Scoreless Innings, But Storm Chasers Fall 1-3 Velasquez was outstanding for Omaha, working six scoreless innings against Indianapolis. He allowed three hits, walked nobody, and struck out six, meeting the quality start threshold and keeping the Storm Chasers in front into the late innings of a 1-3 loss. Omaha scored its only run in the fifth. Colton Becker drew a walk, moved to third on Omar Hernandez's fly ball to center, and scored on leadoff man Maikel Garcia's ground-ball single to left. This is Garcia's second game of his rehab assignment. Carson Roccaforte followed with a walk, but a flyout and a strikeout stranded both runners. Waters led the offense with three hits in three at-bats, including his 24th double, and he added a walk. Hernandez had two hits, and Jorge Alfaro doubled. Omaha finished with eight hits, three walks, and one run, striking out 11 times, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and leaving 10 runners on base. Indianapolis tied the game in the seventh, when a walk and a single put runners at the corners and a run came home on a double play. The Indians took the lead in the eighth, starting with a single, moving the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then hitting a two-run home run to center field. Mason Black took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings. Omaha had one last chance in the eighth, but Waters was picked off after his single, and Alfaro's two-out double went to waste. The Storm Chasers are now 64-75 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Maikel Garcia 5 0 1 1 0 1 Carson Roccaforte 4 0 1 0 1 1 Abraham Toro 4 0 0 0 0 0 Brett Squires 4 0 0 0 0 3 Drew Waters 3 0 3 0 1 0 Peyton Wilson 3 0 0 0 0 1 Jorge Alfaro 4 0 1 0 0 2 Colton Becker 3 1 0 0 1 2 Omar Hernandez 4 0 2 0 0 1 Totals 34 1 8 1 3 11 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Vince Velasquez 6 3 0 0 0 6 0 Mason Black 2 3 3 3 1 2 1 Totals 8 6 3 3 1 8 1 Acosta Homers, But Naturals Drop A 2-3 Decision To Tulsa Zobac, the Royals' No. 18 prospect, gave Northwest Arkansas three strong innings against Tulsa, allowing one run on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts. The only damage against him was a solo home run, and he handed off a lead that the Naturals could not hold in a 3-2 loss. Northwest Arkansas got on the board in the first. Leadoff man Sam Kulasingam doubled for his 24th two-bagger of the season, Spencer Nivens singled him to third, Daniel Vazquez grounded out to move Nivens up, and Connor Scott drove Kulasingam in with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Naturals added a run in the second. Hyungchan Um singled, but he was caught stealing at second base. However, Acosta followed with his first home run of the season, a line drive to right field. Tulsa answered with two runs in the fourth, and both came without a swing. A hit by pitch and a single put two runners on, and after two strikeouts, three straight walks forced in the tying and go-ahead runs. Chase Jessee was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks with two strikeouts in 2/3 of an inning. Brandon Johnson followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings on two hits with three strikeouts, Guerrero struck out four over two scoreless innings on one hit, and Zachary Cawyer worked a scoreless inning, allowing two hits with one strikeout. Um finished with two hits, and Nivens had a hit and two walks. Northwest Arkansas managed six hits, two walks, and two runs, striking out 10 times and leaving five runners on base while going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Naturals are now 56-78 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Sam Kulasingam 4 1 1 0 0 2 Spencer Nivens 2 0 1 0 2 0 Daniel Vazquez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Connor Scott 3 0 1 1 0 1 Justin Johnson 4 0 0 0 0 2 Alberto Rodriguez 4 0 0 0 0 0 Hyungchan Um 4 0 2 0 0 1 Angel Acosta 3 1 1 1 0 1 Connor Rasmussen 3 0 0 0 0 2 Totals 31 2 6 2 2 10 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Steven Zobac 3 1 1 1 0 2 1 Chase Jessee 2/3 1 2 2 3 2 0 Brandon Johnson 2 1/3 2 0 0 0 3 0 Tyson Guerrero 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Zachary Cawyer 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 9 7 3 3 3 12 1 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: DNP Sean Gamble: DNP Ramon Ramirez: DNP Zion Rose: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-4, BB, K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Omaha shut out Indianapolis 8-0, with John Means and Hunter Patteson combining for seven scoreless innings and Carson Roccaforte doubling twice and Luca Tresh driving in two. Quad Cities beat South Bend 3-1 as Kendry Chourio struck out six over 4 1/3 innings and Emmanuel Reyes earned a ticket to the Midwest League Championship Series. Northwest Arkansas lost 3-2 to Tulsa despite four hits from Angel Acosta, a Spencer Nivens home run, and four hitless innings of relief from Coleman Picard. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Storm Chasers Pile Up Eleven Hits, Shut Out Indianapolis 8-0 Omaha scored in five separate innings, and its pitching staff kept Indianapolis off the board in an 8-0 win. The Storm Chasers broke through in the second for three runs. Roccaforte doubled to left, Peyton Wilson walked, and both runners moved up on steals during a Drew Waters strikeout. Tresh brought Roccaforte home with a sacrifice fly to center, Alejo Lopez singled to left to score Wilson, and Maikel Garcia doubled to left to score Lopez. Javier Vaz and Brett Squires drew walks before the inning ended. Roccaforte doubled again in the third, and Tresh singled him in, and a wild pitch scored Vaz in the fourth. Omaha added two more in the sixth. Vaz and Squires singled, and Roccaforte reached on a fielding error by the first baseman that allowed both runners to score. Tresh walked in the seventh, and Colton Becker singled him home for the final margin. Means gave Omaha four innings, allowing two hits and no runs, walking none and striking out four. Patteson followed with three scoreless innings on four hits, one walk, and two strikeouts, and he earned the win. Connor Seabold worked a scoreless inning with a hit, a walk, and a strikeout. Scott Alexander finished with a scoreless inning, no hits, and two walks. Omaha had 11 hits, drew six walks, went 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 runners on base. Roccaforte went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs. Tresh was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk. Lopez had two hits and an RBI, and Becker had two hits in two at-bats. The Storm Chasers are now 64-74. Player AB R H RBI BB K Maikel Garcia 4 0 1 1 0 2 Colton Becker 2 0 2 1 0 0 Javier Vaz 3 2 1 0 2 0 Brett Squires 2 1 1 0 2 0 Gavin Cross 5 0 0 0 0 4 Carson Roccaforte 5 2 2 0 0 1 Peyton Wilson 4 1 0 0 1 0 Drew Waters 5 0 0 0 0 2 Luca Tresh 3 1 2 2 1 0 Alejo Lopez 5 1 2 1 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR John Means 4 2 0 0 0 4 0 Hunter Patteson 3 4 0 0 1 2 0 Connor Seabold 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Scott Alexander 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Acosta Collects Four Hits, But Naturals Drop 3-2 Decision To Tulsa Acosta had four hits and Northwest Arkansas loaded the bases in the seventh, but the Naturals lost 3-2 to Tulsa. Northwest Arkansas tied it up in the fourth. Nivens led off the inning with a home run to right field, his ninth of the season, tying the game at 1-1. Tulsa moved back in front with two runs in the fifth. Northwest Arkansas couldn't come back from that deficit. The Naturals put together their best inning in the seventh. Justin Johnson singled to right and was picked off trying to take second. Canyon Brown was hit by a pitch and stole second. After a strikeout, Acosta doubled to right to score Brown and cut the deficit to 3-2. Acosta took third on a passed ball, Connor Rasmussen walked, and Sam Kulasingam walked to load the bases, but Nivens flied out to right to end the inning. Connor Scott walked in the eighth before a double play closed the inning, and Acosta singled with two outs in the ninth, but Northwest Arkansas did not score again. Grant Gambrell took the loss after five innings, giving up five hits and three runs, with three walks and five strikeouts. Coleman Picard followed with four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out five. Acosta finished 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Nivens went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and an RBI. Johnson had a single, Rasmussen and Kulasingam each drew a walk, and Brown was hit by a pitch. The Naturals totaled seven hits, three walks, and eight strikeouts, and they left seven runners on base while going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position Northwest Arkansas is now 56-77. Player AB R H RBI BB K Sam Kulasingam 3 0 0 0 1 0 Spencer Nivens 4 1 2 1 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Connor Scott 3 0 0 0 1 0 Justin Johnson 4 0 1 0 0 0 Canyon Brown 3 1 0 0 0 0 Alberto Rodriguez 4 0 0 0 0 3 Angel Acosta 4 0 4 1 0 0 Connor Rasmussen 3 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Gambrell 5 5 3 3 3 5 1 Coleman Picard 4 0 0 0 0 5 0 River Bandits Strike Out Fourteen, Add Late Run To Beat South Bend 3-1 Quad Cities pitchers struck out 14, and the River Bandits built enough offense to win 3-1 at South Bend, clinching a West Division title and their spot in the Midwest League Championship Series Quad Cities took the lead in the second. Derlin Figueroa walked to open the inning and moved to second on a groundout, and Austin Charles doubled to left to score him. Ramon Ramirez singled to left in the sixth, and Jose Cerice doubled to score him for a 2-0 lead. South Bend cut the lead to 2-1 in the seventh, and Quad Cities answered with a run in the eighth. Cerice singled to center, and Nolan Sailors doubled to right, moving Cerice to third. Charles then grounded to shortstop on a fielder's choice that retired Cerice at home, and Sailors advanced to third. Tyriq Kemp walked to load the bases, and Asbel Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to force in Sailors. Chourio, the Royals' No. 1 prospect, started Game 2 of this playoff series and threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. Ethan McElvain followed with 2/3 of a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one. Emmanuel Reyes earned the win with three innings, three hits, one run, no walks, and five strikeouts. L.P. Langevin finished with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts for the save. Quad Cities had seven hits, drew eight walks, went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, and left 13 runners on base. Cerice went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Charles was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Sailors had a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Blake Mitchell drew three walks. Leadoff hitter Gonzalez had a hit, an RBI, and two hit-by-pitches. Dayton beat Great Lakes on Thursday 6-0 to tie up the East Division playoffs at one game apiece. Game 3 will be on September 11th in Dayton. The River Bandits will play the winner on September 13th at Modern Woodsman Park in Davenport. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez 3 0 1 1 0 2 Zion Rose 5 0 1 0 0 1 Blake Mitchell 2 0 0 0 3 1 Ramon Ramirez 5 1 1 0 0 2 Derlin Figueroa 3 1 0 0 2 2 Jose Cerice 5 0 2 1 0 0 Nolan Sailors 3 1 1 0 1 0 Austin Charles 4 0 1 1 0 1 Tyriq Kemp 2 0 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kendry Chourio 4 1/3 2 0 0 2 6 0 Ethan McElvain 2/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 Emmanuel Reyes 3 3 1 1 0 5 0 L.P. Langevin 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: 4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: 0-for-2, 3 BB, 1 K Sean Gamble: DNP Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-5, 2 K Zion Rose: 1-for-5, 1 K Asbel Gonzalez: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-5, 2 2B, 1 K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Image courtesy of MLB.com/Royals The Quad Cities River Bandits won game one of their Midwest League playoff game against the South Bend Cubs 8-3. While David Shields and the River Bandits bullpen provided a stellar performance on the mound, the real star of the game was shortstop Austin Charles. The 22-year-old went three-for-five in Tuesday's win, which included five RBI, three coming on a three-run home run hit in the bottom of the seventh. It's been an interesting season for Charles, who got off to a hot start in Quad Cities before suffering a brutal injury that sidelined him for most of the season. However, since returning, Charles hasn't missed a beat and may be one of the most intriguing prospects in the Royals system, especially given his tools and size (he's 6'5, 215 pounds). Thus, let's take a look at Charles, what he's done this year, and what Royals fans can expect from the former 20th-round pick, who will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December. Charles Was Putting Up a Career Year Until Unfortunate Injury At the start of the 2026 season, it seemed like Charles was on track for a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. From April 7 to May 19, Charles slashed .306/.377/.491 with an .868 OPS and 124 wRC+ in 108 plate appearances. Not only did he hit three home runs, but he also scored 20 runs, collected 19 RBI, and stole eight bases on nine attempts. Charles also demonstrated strong contact skills at the plate, posting a 0.44 BB/K ratio in his 30-game sample. Unfortunately, Charles suffered a core injury that required stomach and hip surgery during his game on May 19th. The injury not only placed him on the 60-Day IL but also required surgery that would keep him out for most of the season. It was a disappointing break for Charles, who only played 59 games in High-A in 2025 due to missed time on the IL from a similar injury. The former UC-Santa Barbara commit recovered quickly enough to return by the end of the 2026 season. In 15 games and 63 plate appearances, Charles slashed .246/.306/.491 with a .798 OPS and 99 wRC+. He did cut the strikeout rate down a bit (14.3%), though the BB/K ratio remained identical to his pre-injury mark. The power numbers were also better after he came back from injury. Charles hit four home runs and posted a .246 ISO, the latter being better than his .185 ISO before he went on the 60-Day IL. Not only did the numbers look impressive for Charles in his 45-game sample this season with the River Bandits, but the Statcast percentiles also demonstrated that he was making progress as a hitter against Midwest League pitching, especially regarding pulling the ball in the air. Charles' 16.7% pull-air% ranked in the 71st percentile, which is a solid mark. He also ranked in the 68th percentile in wOBA (.357) and the 67th percentile in TJ Bat+ (111). His only lackluster Statcast category was BB%, which ranked in the 18th percentile. Conversely, his K% ranked in the 76th percentile, which made up for his low BB%. What's intriguing about Charles is that he hasn't just shown polish as a hitter, but he has also been a strong defender at shortstop. Even though he may look out of place as a 6'5 shortstop, he is athletic for his size and moves well side-to-side. He's also shown excellent arm strength, which suggests he could at least move to third base if shortstop doesn't work out long-term. Even though Charles did make eight errors in 40 games played at shortstop, it's those spectacular plays that give him upside as an infielder, though it's unlikely that he will ever reach the levels of Bobby Witt Jr. or Maikel Garcia, system-developed infielders who have won Gold Gloves at the Major League level. What Is Charles' Outlook in 2027 and Beyond? Charles initially cracked our Top-20 at Royals Keep midway through this year, but he dropped out after missing time due to his injury and the arrival of a few prospects from the 2026 MLB Draft class (as well as Angeibel Gomez from the DSL). However, I don't think it's out of the question to think that Charles could return to the Top 20 by Spring Training next year. MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 15 in the Royals system in 2025, but he's currently unranked in their most recent rankings. Here's what Pipeline had to say about Charles in their 2025 scouting report: The 2024 season with the Fireflies is a glimpse of what Charles can do when fully healthy. In 117 games and 481 plate appearances that season, he slashed .257/.353/.386 with a .739 OPS and 117 wRC+. He also hit 10 home runs, scored 62 runs, collected 64 RBI, and stole 36 bases on 43 attempts. The power wasn't quite there yet, but the speed was, and he showed that he could make decent contact, as evidenced by his 0.40 BB/K ratio. Some of the highlights from his 2024 season with the Fireflies showed his tantalizing potential as a 21-year-old, and why he was seen as a "dark-horse" prospect in the Royals system at the time, even though he wasn't selected highly in the 2022 MLB Draft (though Kansas City did give him an overslot $429,500 signing bonus). When it comes to what to expect from Charles in 2027, it's a little hazy, though I think Royals fans should be optimistic about his outlook overall as a prospect. It wouldn't be surprising for the Royals to have him debut in Double-A ball in 2027, especially after his strong performance in limited action. While he has just 104 games in High-A ball, a .241/.304/.384 slash and .687 OPS in 418 High-A plate appearances is more than respectable. Furthermore, High-A ball would just be a tune-up for him in 2027, and considering Charles will be Rule 5-eligible this December, the Royals cannot afford to waste time with him. On a positive note, Charles' injury probably prevents him from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft (if one happens at all this year due to the pending lockout). While Charles is talented, he hasn't played above High-A ball, and it's unlikely any team could keep him on the active roster for an entire season. So while it's a setback for Charles, the injury buys the Royals another year to add him to the 40-man roster. It will be interesting to see how Charles adjusts to Double-A ball and what the opportunity could look like for him with the Naturals. He should have ample opportunity to play, at least at third base, especially with Justin Johnson and Sam Kulasingam likely graduating to Triple-A Omaha next year. Daniel Vazquez, another former Top-20 prospect, will probably repeat Double-A, which makes it tough for Charles to matriculate to shortstop next season. However, Vazquez may be on a fast track next year, though his bat seems limited in terms of upside based on his performance in Northwest Arkansas this year. It hasn't been an easy two seasons for Charles in Quad Cities. Injuries have robbed him of a lot of playing time, especially this year. That said, Charles has come back strong after returning from the IL, and I think that will merit him a promotion to Double-A in 2027, especially if he continues to do well in the Midwest League playoffs. It also wouldn't be surprising to see Charles get a stint in the Arizona Fall League in order to get him more at-bats. At 22 years old, he's not that far off age-wise from much of the competition. The River Bandits play again on Thursday in South Bend in game two of the series. Hopefully, Charles can lead the River Bandits to another victory and boost his prospect stock for 2027 even more. View full article