Kevin O'Brien

The Arizona Fall League enters its final full week of play for the 2026 season. On Saturday, November 7th, and Sunday, November 8th, the AFL hosts the Home Run Derby and Fall Stars Game, respectively. The playoffs then begin November 12th and run through November 14th. Right now, the Surprise Saguaros are in the thick of the race. They are 12-9, good for second in the AFL (behind only the Peoria Javelinas). It was an interesting week for Royals prospects playing for Surprise in week four. The bats didn't stand out as they did in weeks 2 and 3, though a couple had respectable weeks. On the mound, some Royals arms stood out, especially Justin Lamkin, the 71st overall selection in the 2025 MLB Draft. Let's break down the Royals hitters and pitchers in the AFL from this past week and what fans can expect as we reach the conclusion of the 2026 AFL campaign. Hitters: Bryan Sticks Out During Down Week for Royals Bats Hitting stats from October 25 to October 31st Zion Rose, OF: 13 AB, .231/.353/.231, 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K, 3 SB. Brooks Bryan, C: 11 AB, .273/.385/.636, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K. Austin Charles, SS/3B: 8 AB, .000/.000/.000, 0 BB, 3 K. Angeibel Gomez, OF: 8 AB, .250/.250/.375, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 SB. Bryan had a solid week, collecting a home run and a pair of runs, RBI, and walks. The former Troy Trojan leads the Saguaros with four home runs and ranks third in OPS, behind only Welbyn Francisca and Aidan Miller, heralded prospects in the Guardians and Phillies organizations, respectively. Furthermore, Bryan's .430 wOBA is impressive, as are many of his other Statcast percentiles this fall. Based on this profile, it would not be surprising to see Bryan earn a spot in the Fall Stars game next weekend. He is definitely showing that he is ready for a spot in High-A Quad Cities in 2027. Rose and Gomez didn't collect many hits this week, but they didn't look overwhelmed, and they swiped some bags with four combined. There is no question that Rose and Gomez are showing they have the contact skills to reach the Major League level. However, the power and ability to barrel balls is still a question mark. Rose has less time than Gomez, as the Royals hope Rose can reach the Majors by midseason in 2028 at the latest. When looking at his Statcast percentiles in the AFL, Rose improving his LA Sweet-Spot%, Barrel%, and Pull Air% will be key. As for Gomez, he's hitting .306 with a .834 OPS in 36 at-bats this fall. This performance has turned some heads in the AFL, especially among coaches in rival organizations, as profiled in this piece below from MLB Pipeline. Here's a quote from Daniel Robertson, a former Major Leaguer now a coach in the Cleveland Guardians organization who's currently coaching in Arizona this fall. It will be interesting to see whether the Royals start Gomez in Low-A Columbia to begin 2027 or push him to High-A Quad Cities. Regardless, expect him to move up to High-A ball at some point next year, whether it's at the beginning or middle of the year. Charles has really struggled this fall, disappointing after his solid, albeit shortened, 2026 campaign in Quad Cities. The former 20th-round pick went hitless this week, and he's hitting just .143 with a .450 OPS in 42 at-bats. He's pulling the ball in the air well, but that's all he's really doing this fall, per his Statcast profile. I still see some upside with Charles, but he may be more of a long-term project, which isn't great news for a guy who's already 22 and currently Rule 5 eligible. Pitchers: Lamkin Carries the Surprise Staff (And Royals Pitching Prospects) Pitching Stats from October 25th to 31st. Lamkin, LHP: 1 G, 4 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1 BB, 5 K. Hiro Wyatt, RHP: 1 G, 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 2 BB, 2 K. Frank Mozzicato, LHP: 2 G, 1.1 IP, 20.25 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 2 BB, 2K. Felix Arronde, RHP: 1 G, 1.0 IP, 18.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1 BB, 3 K. Josh Hansell, RHP: 1 G, 1.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1 BB, 1 K. Lamkin continues to impress in Surprise and should be representing the Saguaros and the Royals in the Fall Stars game next Saturday. After a one-run performance in four innings of work on October 29th, he now has a 3.52 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 14 K and just 4 BB in 15.1 IP. When looking at his season TJ Stuff+ summary this fall in Arizona, Lamkin is a conundrum of sorts. On one hand, all the results have been encouraging. He's been above average in zone rate, chase rate, whiff rate, and xwOBACON, which is what one wants to see from a pitching prospect in the AFL. On the other hand, his stuff has rated poorly, with his four-seamer (85 TJ Stuff+ and 30 grade) standing out the most. Even if the TJ Stuff+ metrics trend down this fall, his TJ Stuff+ still ranks in the 10th percentile, which isn't encouraging. It feels like something has to give with Lamkin soon: is his impeccable command and efficiency just dominating raw hitting prospects? Or does Lamkin have some secret sauce with his delivery that helps him overcome poor TJ Stuff+ metrics? The answer will likely come in Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he will start this season. Wyatt had an encouraging outing last week, allowing no runs in 2.2 innings against Mesa on October 29th. In addition to shutting the Solar Sox out in his relief appearance, he also generated a strong number of whiffs, something we really haven't seen from him this fall. In addition to a 29.4% whiff%, he also had a 0.089 xwOBACON, which shows that Mesa hitters struggled to square him up. He didn't generate much chase (18.5%), and his control was inconsistent (43.8% zone rate), but his 98 overall TJ Stuff+ was solid, with his cutter (107 TJ Stuff+) and slider (112 TJ Stuff+) standing out. Wyatt hasn't advanced beyond Low-A ball, but something about his six-pitch profile makes him an intriguing reliever who could thrive at the Major League level with more seasoning and experience. He definitely is a sleeper worth watching in High-A Quad Cities next year. If Lamkin has been the "good results, poor stuff" arm in Surprise, then Mozzicato may be the "good stuff, poor results" counterpart. In 6 outings and 4.1 IP, the former first-round pick has an 8.31 ERA and 2.31 WHIP with six walks and six strikeouts. Meanwhile, his TJ Stuff+ profile has arguably been the best of any Royals pitcher this fall in Surprise. Mozzicato has a 101 TJ Stuff+, which ranks in the 87th percentile this fall. He also has three pitches with grades over 50, including his four-seamer (56), cutter (56), and changeup (53). That has helped him generate a 36.1% whiff rate and .331 xwOBACON, both respectable marks. It's just that his control has been so bad this fall, as illustrated by his 34.7% zone rate. The control needs to improve quickly if Mozzicato wants any shot at making the Majors in 2027. That said, Mozzicato's profile reminds me a lot of Beck Way. Way struggled with control in the past, but he always had the stuff, and his control finally came together enough in 2026, leading to his MLB debut and a 3.86 ERA in 23.1 IP with the Royals last year. The stuff isn't as high-octane as Way yet, but I think Mozzicato could get there with a larger sample and a clearer bullpen role, which just began last year. The chips are still stacked against Mozzicato, but the stuff is good enough to keep believing in the polarizing pitching prospect. One last arm to talk about is Hansell, who's been good but hasn't been eye-popping in Arizona. He had another "good but not great" week, allowing no runs in his one outing with one strikeout and one walk in one inning of work. Even though his outings aren't "wowing" Royals fans, his body of work this fall looks more impressive. In 5.1 IP, he has a 1.69 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 2.96 FIP, 16% K-BB%, and 71.4% GB%. His TJ Stuff+ profile has also been solid, with his sinker and cutter as plus pitches this fall. Hansell posted a 4.87 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 4.50 FIP in 40.2 IP last year with the River Bandits. While those numbers aren't great, one has to wonder if a full-time move to the bullpen could help his stuff play up, which in turn could lead to better results. The former 16th-round pick was a groundball-heavy pitcher with the River Bandits (48.6% GB%), so Hansell could become a solid middle-innings reliever at the MLB level who gets out of jams by inducing groundball double plays. I'm not sure Hansell has a ton of upside, but his stuff and approach have been solid this fall, and he deserves more consideration from Royals fans in 2027, especially as he moves up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Image courtesy of Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports View full article

After the Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series in franchise history on October 28th, the MLB "quiet period" began the next day, October 29th. During these five days, eligible players become free agents, and teams can begin negotiating with their own players (especially with player, club, or mutual options). However, the free agency period doesn't begin until five days after the World Series ends. This year, the "quiet period" will end at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2nd. After a 69-93 season, the Royals will likely be aggressive this offseason, most likely in free agency and through the trade market. Kansas City seemed to be making progress as an organization, going 86-76 in 2024 and 82-80 in 2025 after a 56-106 season in 2023, JJ Picollo and Matt Quatraro's first season together as President and Manager. While the Royals saw the emergence of young stars like Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone, they will need to do some serious rebuilding on the pitching end, especially in the bullpen. For a team making lots of moves, the 40-man roster matters. Kansas City already did some purging over the past few days. They non-tendered five pitchers (Alex Lange, Connor Seabold, Alec Marsh, Easton McGee, and Mason Black), allowed four players to walk in free agency (Josh Rojas, Craig Kimbrel, Jonathan India, and Luke Maile), and declined the club option on Carlos Estevez. That leaves the roster currently at 38 players. However, by Monday, all players on the IL need to be added back to the 40-man roster. The Royals have six players currently on the IL (Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Cole Ragans, Ben Kudrna, and Nick Mears). If they all are returned, that will put the Royals' roster at 44. (Though Mears could be a non-tender candidate, as we talked about here on Royals Keep in our Arbitrary Thoughts series). Thus, the Royals will need to make some cuts to get to or under that 40-man roster limit by Monday. Let's look at three stories about players who could be on the chopping block, and why Kansas City may part ways with them, regardless of their performance this past season. The Expendable Relievers In cases like this, relievers are typically the first to be removed from the 40-man roster. While relievers are important, they are volatile assets, and teams typically purge relievers who lack upside, even if they had a productive season last year. Anthony Gose, Jose Cuas, Connor Thomas, and Mitch Spence all fit that "expendable" profile. Gose and Cuas, both former position players, are easy cuts, even though they are coming off solid 2026 campaigns in Kansas City after not pitching for MLB teams in 2025. In 14 games and 13.2 IP, Gose posted a 0.66 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. His FIP was a little higher at 3.47, mostly due to a paltry K% (13.7%), but he limited walks (3.9% BB%) and limited contact, as evidenced by his Statcast profile via TJ Stats. Gose's stuff profile was also impressive, with an 110 overall TJ Stuff+ that ranked in the 94th percentile. He had two solid pitches, with his four-seamer at 114 TJ Stuff+ and his slider at 105 TJ Stuff+. The stuff on those pitches generates hard hits (99th percentile hard-hit rate) and generates swinging strikes (70th percentile SwStr%). However, the K% didn't necessarily correlate with those other impressive metrics, and his small sample size makes one wonder if Gose would've gotten more exposure with more innings. Another issue with Gose right now is that he lacks Minor League options, and it's unlikely that he would be guaranteed an MLB roster spot. He feels like an easy cut and someone who could command a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training, whether it is with the Royals or not. Cuas is in a similar boat as Gose. After not playing in the Majors in 2025, the 32-year-old returned to the Royals organization in Spring Training and rose to the MLB bullpen due to injuries and lackluster performance by the Kansas City relievers. In 24 games and 23.1 IP, Cuas posted a 2.31 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and 2.89 FIP. He was a better strikeout pitcher than Gose (23.1% K%), but he struggled more with control and didn't have Gose's stuff profile either. Even if Cuas gets released from the 40-man roster, he's seen most of his success as a Major Leaguer with the Royals. So he could return to Kansas City on a Minor-League deal with a Spring Training invite. After a disastrous stint with the Braves early in the 2026 season (21.32 ERA in 6.1 IP), Thomas turned himself around in Kansas City. In 17 appearances and 19.1 IP, he posted a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 2.43 FIP. He also sported a 14.1% K-BB%, highlighted by a 3.8% BB%. Thomas doesn't have the most electric stuff profile, but he threw strikes, induced a high number of groundballs, and was efficient on the mound, even if he typically was in low-leverage situations. Thomas is a tougher dilemma because he has two Minor League options remaining. Thus, he may be worth keeping around for depth. However, Thomas also feels like the kind of pitcher the Royals could easily replace via a trade or a cheap minor-league free agent. He may simply be the victim of a crowded roster. The last expendable reliever to talk about is Spence, who barely pitched with Kansas City this year and spent most of the season in Omaha. The 28-year-old righty was lit up in his three appearances with the Royals this year. In 9.1 IP, he posted a 21.21 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 8.89 FIP, and -5.4% K-BB%. He not only struggled to throw strikes, but he got hit hard in his extremely small sample. Spence provided some nice pitching depth in Omaha. He posted a 5.35 ERA in 16 starts and 74 IP with the Storm Chasers. That said, being Triple-A depth isn't worth a spot on the 40-man roster. The "Other" Lugo Likely Gone The Royals claimed outfielder Matthew Lugo off waivers after the Angels designated him for assignment in June. Lugo was a former top prospect who gave the Royals a right-handed bench bat who could play multiple outfield positions. That said, he failed to realize his potential in Anaheim, hitting .232 with a .707 OPS in 70 plate appearances in his MLB debut with the Angels in 2025. With the Storm Chasers, Lugo put up gaudy numbers. In 245 plate appearances, he hit .263 with an .838 OPS. That also included 12 home runs, 39 runs scored, and 39 RBI. Unfortunately, that performance didn't carry over to Kansas City in limited action. In 15 plate appearances, the 2019 second-round pick hit .143 with a .343 OPS. He didn't make much hard contact with the Royals, and he also struggled to make consistent contact, as evidenced by his Statcast percentiles. Again, it was such a small sample size, so it's hard to take too much away. Nonetheless, the Royals had ample opportunities to play Lugo more down the stretch, and they opted not to. That suggests they don't have much long-term confidence in Lugo. Therefore, based on his struggles and limited playing time, the Royals will likely part ways with Lugo, which should open an outfield spot they can fill through free agency or a trade. Is Zobac on the Chopping Block? The Royals had high hopes for Steven Zobac going into last year, adding him to the 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. However, it's been tough sledding for Zobac since being added to the 40-man. After posting a 7.68 ERA in 36.1 IP with the Naturals in 2025, the former Cal product posted a 4.85 ERA in 42.2 IP with the Naturals in 2026. On the one hand, Zobac improved after his disastrous 2025 Texas League campaign. On the other hand, he was a 26-year-old repeating Double-A, and he should've dominated that competition. On a positive note, his Statcast percentiles were more impressive than his surface-level metrics, which suggests Zobac may be better as a reliever than a starter going forward. Zobac ranked in the 79th percentile in O-Swing%, 74th percentile in SwStr%, and 62nd percentile in BB%. Those are all impressive percentiles, and he could be better with more concentrated work in relief. While Arizona Fall League numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, Zobac's fall campaign wasn't exactly memorable. In 4.1 IP, he posted a 12.46 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, and 6.15 FIP. He struggled with walks, as shown by a 17.4% BB% and a meager 8.7% K-BB%. That said, like his Double-A campaign in 2026, his AFL Statcast metrics were a little more encouraging. With a three-pitch mix, starting just may not be in Zobac's future, whether it's in Kansas City or elsewhere. It also doesn't help that his stuff profile isn't great overall either (98 TJ Stuff+ in AFL, though it did rank in the 68th percentile). That is why I think there's a possible chance the Royals part ways, even though he still has some upside ahead of him. If I had to choose, Zobac is more likely to stay in Kansas City than leave. After all, he hasn't started his Major League clock yet, and he has shown that he can stay healthy this year, which was a goal after dealing with so much injury in 2025. The Royals need a young controllable pitcher who can provide future value, and Zobac still can fit that mold, even if it seems riskier than before. Still, if the Royals cut Zobac by Monday, fans shouldn't be surprised, given how the past year has gone and the club's need to solidify the bullpen with proven pitching talent. Image courtesy of William Purnell-Imagn Images View full article

James McArthur – Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Age on 2027 Opening Day: 30 Service Time: 2.150 2024 Salary: $745,750 2025 Salary: $773,750 2026 Salary: $810,000 (First Year of Arbitration) 2027 MLB Trade Rumors Projection: $800,000 McArthur's Background The Phillies drafted McArthur in the 12th round out of Ole Miss in the 2018 MLB Draft. He gained notoriety as a tall pitcher (6'7) with a big arm who could, at the very least, find a spot in a Major League bullpen. With the Phillies, McArthur got on prospect experts' radars with a solid 2021 Double-A campaign. In 19 games (15 starts) and 74.1 IP, he posted a 4.48 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, and 17.2% K-BB%. While he wasn't a big strikeout guy (24.4% in 2021), he limited walks (7.2% BB%) and induced ground balls (48.3% GB%). As a result, MLB Pipeline ranked him the Phillies' 20th-best prospect in 2022, ahead of Christopher Sanchez (ranked No. 22 at the time). Here's what Pipeline said about the former Ole Miss product in their 2022 scouting report: McArthur struggled in a repeat in Double-A Reading in 2022, posting a 5.05 ERA and 4.99 FIP in 13 starts and 57 IP. After making four more starts in 2023 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the Phillies traded McArthur to the Royals for outfield prospect Junior Marin and cash considerations. The Royals quickly moved McArthur to the bullpen, and he found success at both the Minor-League and major-league levels. In 23 appearances and 40.2 IP with the Storm Chasers in 2023, he posted a 3.98 ERA, 3.57 FIP, a 1.28 WHIP, and 19.9% K-BB%. His K% rose to 31.5% in Omaha, and he maintained a solid 48.4% GB%. As a result, the Royals promoted McArthur to the Majors, and despite a rough debut (he gave up seven runs on six hits and one walk in an inning of work against the Guardians), he ended up being the Royals' closer by the end of the 2023 campaign. In 23.1 IP, McArthur posted a 4.63 ERA. However, his FIP was 2.78, with a 0.94 WHIP, 25.6% K%, and 23.3% K-BB%. Furthermore, many of his Statcast percentiles were eye-popping for a rookie, as shown below via TJ Stats. After a stellar 2023 stint, the Royals put him in high-leverage early in 2024, and he started the year well. He posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.63 FIP through April 30th, which included seven saves and a 23.2% K-BB% over 13.2 IP. Unfortunately, he struggled with consistency for the remainder of the season. In 56.2 IP, he posted a 4.92 ERA, 4.17 FIP, and saved 18 games. He was particularly hurt by a high BABIP (.347), low strand rate (66.7% LOB%), and high HR/FB% (16.7%). On a positive note, he still generated a lot of groundballs (53.3% GB%), his FIP was lower than his ERA, and while his batted-ball percentiles weren't great, his strike-based ones were much more encouraging. McArthur's season ended after his September 16th outing when he hit the IL with a grade 1 right UCL sprain and missed the rest of the season (and the postseason). He then ended up getting right elbow olecranon surgery to repair a fractured elbow, which would sideline him for most, if not all, of the 2025 season. While the Royals didn't expect much, if any, time from McArthur in 2025, recovery complications ultimately cost him the 2026 season. During his recovery, doctors discovered that McArthur suffered an allergic reaction to the metal screws inserted during his elbow surgery. This required a second procedure to remove the hardware. As a result, he missed nearly all of last season to recover from the surgery and cleanup procedure. On a positive note, he returned at the end of 2026 for a rehab assignment in Triple-A Omaha. He made four appearances and pitched 3.2 innings with the Storm Chasers. The stats weren't good (7.36 ERA and 7.68 FIP), but he showed solid stuff, a groundball rate, and the ability to extend in his first appearance on the mound in nearly two years. The Royals called him up to the active roster for the final game of the year, but he didn't appear in the season finale. McArthur is expected to be fully healthy and ready for Spring Training. 2026 Stats 4 G, 3.2 IP, 7.36 ERA, 7.68 FIP, 1.36 WHIP, 0.0% K-BB% (Triple-A Omaha). Royals Relief Pitcher Depth 40-man roster: Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas, Connor Thomas, Carlos Duran, Beck Way, Nolan Hoffman, Spencer Bivens Arbitration Eligible: Nick Mears, Daniel Lynch IV, Lucas Erceg, Anthony Gose 2027 Club Option: Carlos Estévez Triple-A: Tyson Guerrero, Augusto Mendieta, Shane Panzini, Luke Little, Ben Sears, Chazz Martinez, Brandon Johnson, Oscar Rayo Why the Royals Should Offer Him Arbitration Because McArthur missed two full years at the Major League level, he will come cheap in arbitration. According to MLB Trade Rumors, his projected arbitration amount is $800,000, $10,000 less than a year ago. For context, Mears ($2.2 million), Alex Lange ($1.7 million), and Alec Marsh ($1.1 million) were expected to command higher amounts this offseason. McArthur is not only cheaper than those three, but he's also more likely to be healthier and/or more effective. While McArthur posted high ERAs in 2023 and 2024 with the Royals, his FIP numbers suggested he's a much better pitcher. The now-30-year-old righty probably isn't a fit for closing situations anymore, but his stuff, ability to generate CSW (31.9% career CSW%), and groundball-inducing style make him an ideal low- to medium-leverage arm who can eat the middle innings. Even in a small sample, McArthur showed decent stuff last year, with his curveball rated as a pretty plus pitch based on TJ Stuff+ and grade numbers. Obviously, McArthur's chase, zone, and whiff rates were all below average in 31 pitches of cup-of-coffee in Omaha. However, this rehab stint was more about process than results. The velocity was fine, the movement was better-than-expected, and he actually did a decent job of limiting hard contact based on xwOBACON (.297). Last year in Omaha, his curveball and slider posted TJ Stuff+ marks of 104 and 100, respectively. His breaking balls have a history of success at the Major League level. In 2024 with the Royals, he posted TJ Stuff+ marks of 110 and 101 on his curve and slider, respectively, and his chase and whiff rates were impressive on those pitches as well, as illustrated below. The Royals need cheap relievers with good stuff to add depth. They also need relievers with Minor League options. Thankfully, McArthur checks off both those boxes. Why the Royals Should Non-Tender Him McArthur has been hurt for two years, and guys who miss that much time can be unpredictable. Kansas City has already decided not to risk Marsh, who has also missed the past two seasons with various shoulder injuries. Considering the number of Royals pitchers on the 40-man roster already expected to miss significant time in 2027 (Cole Ragans, Luinder Avila, and Stephen Kolek), the Royals may feel that McArthur is too much of a risk to bring back, even if there's some upside there. Another issue with McArthur is that he seemed to hit a wall from May through the end of 2024. He went from a promising long-term closer (who can forget McArthur's 9th Infantry Raygun shirt) to a guy only pitchable in mop-up situations. At 30, the Royals may feel more comfortable giving a younger arm with more long-term upside a roster spot than McArthur. Prediction: The Royals Tender McArthur A Contract With Marsh and Lange already gone, McArthur will likely return to Kansas City for at least one more year. There are too many reasons to keep him: his $800,000 projected salary barely dents the payroll, he still has a Minor League option, and he's shown enough to succeed at the MLB level. Now, just because the Royals tender McArthur a deal doesn't mean he'll stay on the Royals roster all of 2027 or even stay on the 40-man roster after Spring Training. If McArthur struggles in Spring Training, he could be a roster casualty, especially if a non-roster invitee shows he could earn a roster spot. With 2027 being a crucial year for this organization, they need pitchers they can depend on, and I'm not sure the Royals feel 100 percent confident in McArthur just yet after his long layoff. Still, the former closer deserves a spot in Spring Training to show what he can do. He has the profile to be a key part of this Kansas City bullpen in 2027, and he could slide into higher-leverage situations if he stays healthy and productive early in the season. His breaking balls (curveball and slider) have always rated well, and there's no reason to think they won't still be effective in 2027. It's totally plausible to experience a similar turnaround to Taylor Clarke in 2025. Clarke was a much-maligned Royals reliever in 2023 who returned in 2025 and produced a productive campaign in Kansas City. A similar success story could be due for "The General" in the upcoming season. Image courtesy of Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports View full article

The Arizona Fall League just completed its third week of play, which means we're nearing the end of the season. The Saguaros are 10-8, good for third in the AFL behind Scottsdale (11-7) and Peoria (11-8). For a third straight week, the Kansas City Royals prospects have done pretty well in the AFL, capturing the attention of both prospect experts and Royals fans. While this was not a great past season for Kansas City, the strong play of Royals prospects in Arizona should give hope that the future is bright for the Royals long term. For those who missed the previous editions, you can find previous coverage at Royals Keep from week one here and week two here. Hitters: Bryan Stands Out for the Saguaros Royals hitting stats from October 20th to October 27th Zion Rose, OF: 13 AB, .308/.400/.308, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB. Brooks Bryan, C: 11 AB, .273/.429/.549, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI. Angeibel Gomez, OF: 8 AB, .375/.444/.625, 1 R, 1 RB, 2 2B, 2 SB. Austin Charles, 3B/SS: 10 AB, .100/.100/.100, 1 H, 4 K. The catching prospect out of Troy University had a solid week at the plate in week three after a down week in week two. The former 2025 draft pick hit a home run, drove in four runs, and posted a .974 OPS. Bryan has shown a patient approach at the plate with three walks to four strikeouts. He also uses his plate discipline well, pouncing on hittable balls for power when he gets the chance. Jared Perkins and I talked about this on the latest episode of Royals Pipeline, but Bryan is doing his best to make No. 4 prospect Blake Mitchell expendable this offseason. In 33 games and 138 plate appearances with the Fireflies last year, Bryan hit .319 with three homers, 24 RBI, a .902 OPS, and a 0.59 BB/K ratio. Injuries limited his plate appearances in 2026, but this fall he's showing he's healthy and ready to break out in 2027. Gomez has captured prospect experts' attention this fall in all the right ways. Over the past seven days, Gomez hit .375, posted a 1.069 OPS, and hit two doubles. He also stole two bases. This fall, Gomez is hitting .333 with a .906 OPS in the AFL at 17, which is wild to think about. On Tuesday, he hit another key run-scoring hit with runners in scoring position early against Peoria. He continues to show Royals fans he isn't overwhelmed by the competition in Arizona. Rose saw his power dip a bit this week. He didn't hit any extra-base hits and posted a .308 slugging percentage. However, the Royals' 2026 first-round pick continues to hit for average (.308), post strong OBP numbers (.400), and terrorize the basepaths (two stolen bases). With a .306 average, .912 OPS, and five stolen bases this fall, Rose is showing that he's a candidate for an early promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2027. Charles had another rough week for the Saguaros, disappointing after showing some power progress in week two. The former 20th-round pick collected just one base hit in 10 at-bats and struck out four times, with zero walks. This season in the AFL, he is hitting .154 with a .483 OPS in 39 at-bats, tied for second-most among Surprise hitters this fall. He also has 13 strikeouts and hasn't drawn a single walk. The Royals still have time to be patient with Charles, but the talented infield prospect has had a disappointing fall (though the at-bats are nice considering all the time he missed due to injury over the past two years). Pitchers: Arronde Makes His 2026 AFL Debut Royals pitching stats from October 20th to 27th Justin Lamkin, LHP: 1 G, 4.1 IP, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA, and 0.00 WHIP. Felix Arronde, RHP: 1 G, 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 K, 18.00 ERA, and 3.00 WHIP. Hiro Wyatt, RHP: 1 G, 2.1 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 3.86 ERA, and 1.29 WHIP. Josh Hansell, RHP: 1 G, 0.2 IP, 0 BB, 0 K, 13.50 ERA, and 3.00 WHIP. Frank Mozzicato, LHP: 1 G, 0.1 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA, and 0.00 WHIP. Lamkin, our No. 12 prospect, had a phenomenal outing in week three and earned AFL Pitcher of the Week honors. The former Texas A&M product retired all 13 batters he faced and struck out four. While his stuff wasn't overwhelming, Lamkin showed excellent command and control against the Solar Sox, with 40 of his 52 pitches being strikes. Lamkin has looked stronger with each outing this fall. After reaching Double-A last year, Lamkin will likely start the 2027 season with the Naturals. His stuff will be worth watching (his four-seamer rates as below average on most Stuff metrics). However, his command and efficiency may be good enough to help him reach the Majors at some point next season. Arronde, the No. 16 prospect at Royals Keep, made his AFL debut on Tuesday, October 27th. He replaced Steven Zobac on the Surprise roster, who appears done for the rest of the fall. Zobac posted a 12.46 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 4.1 IP. In his debut, the 23-year-old righty gave up two runs on two hits and one walk. However, he struck out three and generated a 50% whiff rate. Arronde's cutter was a positive pitch stuff-wise (101 TJ Stuff+), but the rest of his profile was unimpressive (94 TJ Stuff+ overall). He did produce a strong whiff rate and a .321 xwOBACON, but he struggled to throw consistent strikes (48.4% zone rate) and didn't generate much chase (12.5%). Arronde is coming off a brutal 2026 season in Northwest Arkansas, posting a 6.49 ERA and 6.85 FIP in 105.1 IP with the Naturals. If the Royals want to move Arronde quicker, they may be better off moving him to the bullpen full time. Tuesday's outing showed that shorter stints may suit him better anyways. Wyatt had a stronger outing on October 21st, allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out one (he did hit two batters). Wyatt's stuff looked much better in his latest outing, with three pitches earning TJ Stuff+ marks of 100 or higher. Wyatt isn't a whiff-or-chase machine, and he struggled to find the zone in his last outing (40.5% zone rate). But he throws a bunch of pitches (six) and minimizes hard contact (.307 xwOBACON). Wyatt could be a Seth Lugo-esque reliever, though he needs more time to mature in the Minors (he hasn't advanced beyond Low-A). Hansell had another mediocre week, allowing a run on two hits in 0.2 IP. Mozzicato made only one appearance this week and recorded just one out. However, he struck out a batter and got some whiffs in his one outing against Salt River, in which he relied heavily on his four-seamer (six of his seven pitchers were four-seamers). This fall, Mozzicato has a 2.70 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, and 31.3% K% in 3.1 IP. He's struggling with control (25% BB% and 6.3% K-BB%), and he's not generating many ground balls (essential for a reliever), but his stuff has been pretty solid in Arizona, as his AFL Season Summary via TJ Stats shows. Even though he has a paltry zone (34.8%) and low chase (18.6%), he has made up for it with strong whiff (34.8%) and xwOBACON (.229) metrics. Add that to a 100 TJ Stuff+ (three pitches graded over 50), and you can see Mozzicato due for a sneaky 2027 campaign out of the bullpen (as long as he can improve his control somewhat). Image courtesy of USA Baseball View full article

On Friday, the Royals outrighted five pitchers off the 40-man roster: Easton McGee, Connor Seabold, Alex Lange, Mason Black, and Alec Marsh. McGee and Seabold immediately opted for free agency, which isn't surprising since they got little opportunity in Kansas City and were both acquired mid-season. Lange opted to stay in Kansas City and was outrighted to Omaha. Black was also sent to Omaha, but that was more because he didn't have enough MLB service time to opt for free agency. The only question mark in that group initially was Marsh, who hadn't pitched since 2024 because of injuries and surgery on his right shoulder. On Saturday, KC Star Royals beat writer Jaylon Thompson reported that Marsh would opt for free agency. Marsh's decision ends his tenure with the Royals, whom the righty has played his entire professional career with. Marsh showed flashes of brilliance and upside, and in 2024 he seemed on track to become a dependable arm in the Kansas City rotation for years to come. Unfortunately, like many talented pitchers, injuries decimated Marsh, and his professional future in general looks questionable after two lost seasons. So let's look at how Marsh's career started promising, how things changed when Matt Quatraro and Brian Sweeney came to Kansas City, and whether Marsh still has anything left in the tank to impress an interested MLB team this offseason. Marsh Showed Promise and Potential As A Prospect Out of College The Royals selected Marsh in the 2019 MLB Draft with the 70th overall pick in the competitive round. Marsh succeeded in his final season at Arizona State, a baseball powerhouse. In 17 games (16 starts) and 101.1 IP, Marsh posted a 3.46 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 2.75 K/BB ratio, striking out 99. Many scouts liked Marsh's four-pitch mix, fastball cut, and competitiveness on the mound. Marsh dominated rookie ball in 2019 with Idaho Falls in the short-season Pioneer League. He posted a 4.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 25.8% K-BB% in 13 games and 33.1 IP for the Chukars. Unfortunately, he didn't pitch in the minor leagues in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, but he got some work at the Alternate Site that season. MLB Pipeline ranked Marsh as the No. 12 prospect in the Royals' system in 2021, but he struggled to adjust to Double-A pitching in 2022. After posting a 4.97 ERA, 3.87 FIP, and 27.4% K-BB% in 25.1 IP with the Naturals in 2021, his ERA jumped to 7.32 in 114.1 IP. While he still struck out guys in bunches (27.4% K%), he struggled with the long ball, as shown by a 20.6% HR/FB% allowed. As a result, many experts and Royals fans wondered whether he had the "stamina" to start at the MLB level. Marsh showed progress in Northwest Arkansas and the Minors in general in 2023. In 47.1 IP with the Naturals, he posted a 5.32 ERA and 1.58 WHIP, which aren't great on the surface. However, his 4.08 FIP was more impressive, and he lowered his HR/FB% to 10%. He also did much better in a promotion to Omaha, posting a 2.40 ERA, 3.51 FIP, and 18.2% K-BB% in 15 IP. Because of this strong Triple-A showing, Marsh earned a promotion to Kansas City on June 30th. Rough Rookie Debut With Royals, But Solid Sophomore Season As the Royals went through a rebuilding season under first-year manager Quatraro, Marsh got time in the Kansas City rotation and bullpen. He made 17 appearances (8 starts) and pitched 74.1 innings in 2023. Unfortunately, his first exposure to Major League hitters yielded mixed results. The former Sun Devil posted a 5.69 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 5.70 FIP, and 13.5% K-BB%. Home runs plagued him, as he gave up an HR/FB% of 18.4%. Only Josh Taylor, Jonathan Heasley, and Tucker Davidson posted higher marks in that category that season. However, despite the mediocre surface-level numbers, Marsh showed promise in many of his Stacast categories, especially K%, Swinging Strike%, and CSW%. With a six-pitch mix that included three above-average offerings, the Royals kept him in the rotation in 2024 as long as he made adjustments. Under Sweeney and assistant pitching coach Zach Bove, Marsh made the right adjustments and thrived during the Royals' 86-76 season, especially early in the year. In his first nine starts and 50 IP, Marsh posted a 3.24 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, and 14.4% K-BB%. He regressed over the rest of the season, with his ERA rising to 4.53 in 26 games (25 starts) and 129 IP. That said, he showed positive progress over a larger sample of innings, with his strikeout, whiff, and CSW numbers remaining solid despite the issues with barrel and hard-hit rates allowed. The Royals had Marsh throw a little more horizontally in 2024, which explained the improvement. His average arm angle went from 37 degrees in 2023 to 32 degrees in 2024. While his whiff and chase rates fell, his TJ Stuff+, xwOBACON, and zone rate improved, as shown in the TJ Stuff+ comparison below. Marsh became less of a strikeout artist in 2024 and more of a complete pitcher, which is what the Royals needed at the bottom of the rotation during their playoff season. Shoulder Injuries Decimate Marsh's 2025 and 2026 Seasons Marsh was durable in 2023 and 2024, aside from a short IL stint for a minor elbow contusion from a comebacker against the Blue Jays on April 24th. Unfortunately, the injuries piled up in 2025, starting as early as Spring Training. He experienced shoulder tightness early in Spring Workouts, which delayed his start. When he returned, he developed right shoulder impingement, and the Royals placed him on the 60-Day IL on March 24th, further delaying his season start. After being put on the IL, Marsh went through a merry-go-round of rehab that proved unsuccessful. He suffered multiple setbacks in extended Spring Training and was eventually shut down from throwing in early July. Marsh received cortisone shots in late July, but it seemed to make no difference, and he ended up being shut down for the remainder of the year. In early November, Marsh ended up getting labrum repair surgery after it was deemed that conservative treatment was not enough. That decision also effectively ended his 2026 season due to the long rehab process associated with such surgeries. While he recovered from shoulder surgery, Marsh made little progress in 2026. Rehabs from such surgeries are grueling, and the Royals were pretty silent about Marsh's progress throughout the season. That contrasted with other pitchers who missed considerable time, such as James McArthur, who also missed all of 2025 and 2026 due to surgery. McArthur ended up pitching in Double-A and suited up for the Royals in the series finale. Why the Royals Let Marsh Go and What He Could Offer After two missed seasons and radio silence about his rehab, the Royals likely felt Marsh was too big a risk to bring back for 2027. Expectations are higher in 2027 after a disappointing 2026 campaign, and injuries to Cole Ragans, Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, and Stephen Kolek last season already gutted the pitching depth. They can't afford to have a questionable Marsh sit on the 40-man roster when they need a pitcher who can contribute at the MLB level immediately. Even though Marsh has Minor League options and wouldn't be expensive (he likely would've commanded under $1 million in arbitration), Kansas City decided to let him go and find other options in his place, internally or externally via free agency or trade. If healthy, the former Arizona State product could be a decent reliever. That's why the Royals held onto him for so long, even though he didn't pitch at all in the past two seasons. Before his injury, Marsh's pitch quality was great, with five pitches earning TJ Stuff+ marks of 100 or higher in 2024. His curveball was a nasty offering that generated a 32.7% chase rate and could be a put-away pitch in more limited innings. Below is an example of his curve not only inducing Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson to chase, but also to strike out. ZFpidzZfWGw0TUFRPT1fVkFkWlZ3QURYbEVBQUFBRlZ3QUFBVmRXQUZsWEJ3QUFBbEZUQUZkVVZRQUdBZ1pR.mp4 To be honest, if healthy, Marsh was worth bringing back, despite the layoff. His stuff and profile are intriguing, especially in a relief role. Given the Royals' bullpen struggles last year (29th in bullpen ERA and 30th in bullpen WHIP), Marsh could've been a cheap internal option who could've developed into a higher-leverage option with more experience. That said, I don't think Marsh has been healthy for a while, and his outlook for 2027 probably wasn't optimistic either. With a new training staff coming to Kansas City and a questionable rehab history, Marsh would probably be better off starting anew with a different organization, should he get that opportunity. Will he get the opportunity, however? That remains to be seen, and his progress this winter could determine whether he lands a spot on a Spring Training roster in February (if we start on time, of course). For now, Marsh will simply be an intriguing former Royals story who had the potential to be something special in the long term, but injuries robbed him of that opportunity. Image courtesy of Peter Aiken-Imagn Images View full article

On Saturday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the New York Yankees could be interested in acquiring Kansas City second baseman Michael Massey. MLB Trade Rumors highlighted his report in their Yankees Note roundup. Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees' regular second baseman in 2026, will be a free agent this offseason, and New York likely won't bring him back. They have internal options like Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero, but it seems they want to upgrade beyond those two. The Yankees could pursue a trade for Xavier Edwards or Ketel Marte, both of whom have been rumored as Yankees targets in the past. That said, Massey could be a better option because of his cost, stellar defense, and lefty swing, which fits Yankee Stadium's lefty-friendly right-field porch. Here's what Anthony Franco of MLBTR said about the Massey rumor: Massey had a career year for the Royals in 2026 after being plagued by injuries in 2025. In 131 games (a career-high) and 452 plate appearances, Massey hit .274 with a .735 OPS. He also hit 13 home runs, scored 49 runs, drove in 50 RBI, and stole 3 bases. The former Illinois product also earned his first Gold Glove nomination for his second base defense. Massey doesn't walk much (4.7% BB%), but he doesn't strike out and puts the ball in play. His barrel and hard-hit rates are slightly below average, but his profile could fit in New York, especially considering the home ballpark and lineup around him. If the Royals trade Massey to the Yankees, they'll likely ask for pitching help in return. Under GM Brian Cashman, the Yankees have been a pitching factory, so they can afford to part with some arms this offseason. Two options that could make sense for Kansas City are Will Warren and Clarke Schmidt. Warren accumulated a 2.2 fWAR last year and sported a 3.92 ERA with 158 strikeouts in 156 IP. However, he's projected to be the Yankees' No. 5 starter next year, and the Yankees have talented arms on the 40-man roster, Elmer Rodriguez and Brendan Beck, who could replace him. As for Schmidt, he missed most of 2026 due to injury. However, he posted a 2.85 ERA in 85.1 IP in 2024 and a 3.32 ERA in 78.2 IP in 2025. Although he made only one appearance in 2026, Schmidt's stuff profiled very similarly to Warren's, based on TJ Stuff+ metrics. More players would likely be involved in a trade involving Massey and Warren or Schmidt. However, this kind of trade could be a win-win for both organizations, especially if Maikel Garcia or Nick Loftin could slide over to the keystone to replace Massey in 2027. View full rumor

On Friday afternoon, MLB Trade Rumors reported that the team outrighted pitchers Mason Black, Alec Marsh, Alex Lange, Connor Seabold, and Easton McGee from the 40-man roster. As expected, no one claimed any of the five players. According to Trade Rumors, McGee and Seabold have elected free agency. Marsh and Lange are eligible, but haven't officially done so yet. Black isn't eligible for free agency yet due to service-time requirements. The Royals could keep him in the Minor Leagues for the upcoming season, even though he will not be on the 40-man roster. Seabold and McGee didn't get much time in Kansas City in 2026 after the Royals acquired them midseason from Toronto and Milwaukee, respectively. Seabold posted a 9.00 ERA in five outings and five innings, and McGee posted an 8.68 ERA in seven outings and 9.1 innings. Marsh had a promising 2024 season, posting a 4.53 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) and 129 IP. He also posted a 15.3% K-BB% and a 4.34 FIP in 2024. However, he's dealt with shoulder issues (including surgery) over the past two seasons and hasn't thrown a pitch in the Majors or Minors since the end of the 2024 season. Little has been shared about his rehab, which explains why the Royals were willing to outright him off the 40-man roster. Lange is a local product from Lee's Summit who struggled in his first season with the Royals after spending time in the Tigers and Cubs organizations previously. In 59 games and 60 IP, he posted a 6.75 ERA and 5.87 FIP. He did save 10 games, tying for the second-most among Royals relievers last season. That said, he also had three blown saves and a -1.1 fWAR, the second-lowest fWAR among Royals pitchers (only Matt Strahm was worse). Lange was out of Minor League options, and he likely won't be guaranteed a bullpen spot in Spring Training. The last pitcher outrighted was Black, who came over to the Royals from San Francisco in a trade last offseason (Kansas City traded pitcher Logan Martin to the Giants). In 17 outings and 31.1 IP, the 26-year-old posted a 4.31 ERA, but his FIP was much worse at 6.48. This was mainly due to a paltry 13.4% K% and -0.7% K-BB%. Many of his Statcast percentiles weren't impressive last year either, as TJ Stats shows below. Black will likely return to the Royals organization because of his lack of service time, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Kansas City use him in a trade for cash assets. While Black has a diverse pitch repertoire (seven pitches), he has struggled to produce an effective mix at the Major League level, both with the Royals and the Giants. The Royals' 40-man roster is now at 37 players. View full rumor

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The Columbia Fireflies had a peculiar season, leaning heavily on 2025 Draft picks and recently signed International talent. While they didn't make the Carolina League postseason, they had the second-best record of the Royals' full-season affiliates at 64-65. The Fireflies roster looked much more impressive at the start of the year, with Kendry Chourio as the ace of the Columbia rotation. As expected, however, he was promoted to Quad Cities, and the rotation simply didn't have the juice it did earlier in the season when he anchored it. Offensively, catcher Brooks Bryan, a 2025 8th-round draft pick out of Troy, showed promise, hitting .319 with a .902 OPS. That said, injury limited him to just 33 games and 119 plate appearances. Thankfully, Bryan is getting more at-bats in the Arizona Fall League, and he's looked impressive, as shown by his first AFL home run on Tuesday. One has to wonder what the Fireflies' playoff chances would've looked like if those two stayed in Columbia all season (like Blake Mitchell and David Shields in Quad Cities). Even though roster turnover was more common in Columbia than Quad Cities, the Fireflies were one of the more intriguing teams to follow in the Royals system. The talent is still raw, but some high-upside players from this group could impact the Royals' 40-man roster in 3-4 years. Three players who earned Royals Keep awards come from the 2025 MLB Draft, and another was a highly touted 2024 International signing out of the Dominican Republic. Royals fans shouldn't be surprised if these four make noise in the Midwest League in 2027, perhaps pushing for call-ups to the Northwest League by season's end. For those who are just discovering this Royals Keep Minor League Awards series, you can find previous posts below: Omaha Storm Chasers Northwest Arkansas Naturals Quad Cities River Bandits Hitter of the Year: Josh Hammond, SS Hammond, the 28th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, had a solid professional debut in Columbia as a 19-year-old regular infielder. In 110 games and 487 plate appearances, he slashed .286/.354/.389 with a .743 OPS. The power waned a bit, especially in the second half of the season. His ISO was just .103, and he hit only five home runs. That said, he showed solid contact skills, a decent plate approach (0.49 BB/K ratio), and excellent baserunning (25 stolen bases) and defense. As a result, the Royals organization awarded him the Alex Gordon Heart and Hustle Award. Power is a concern, but Hammond showed all the other skills you would want to see from a top prospect in his first MLB experience. Hammond didn't whiff (91st percentile Whiff%) and didn't strike out much either (77th percentile K%) in Columbia. For a young player in their first full-season professional experience, that contact ability is encouraging, as it should follow him as he moves up the Royals' system. He'll likely get bigger and stronger this offseason, which will help him handle a full Minor League season better in 2027 (most likely in High-A Quad Cities). Power matures as a player gets older, so Hammond has plenty of time to develop it. Now, will Hammond be a 30+ HR hitter? Most likely not. However, with his speed, defense, and contact, he could develop into a 20+ HR hitter, which would be incredibly valuable for an infielder who can play third, shortstop, and second base at the Major League level (maybe the outfield as well, if necessary). The numbers aren't gaudy, but the scouting reports, combined with decent numbers, were encouraging signs for Hammond as he enters this offseason. Many experts view Hammond as a Top-5 prospect in the Royals system and a Top-100 guy. So Royals fans should look forward to what the 20-year-old does in Quad Cities, as he could jump up the prospect rankings next year if his power matures in the Midwest League. Pitcher of the Year: Michael Lombardi, RHP A second-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Tulane, Lombardi made the transition to full-time pitching for the first time in his baseball career. The 22-year-old Green Wave product was a two-way player in college and only pitched 42 innings in his final season at Tulane in 2024. Lombardi thrived after moving to full-time pitching. He led all Fireflies pitchers with 124 strikeouts despite pitching only 88 innings. For context, Darwin Rodriguez, Jose Gutierrez, and Shane Van Dam all threw more innings than Lombardi, but they didn't come close to the Tulane product's strikeout total. In swing-and-miss, Lombardi was Columbia's best pitcher. His 68th-percentile O-Swing%, 93rd-percentile K%, and 59th-percentile whiff% only confirmed that. In addition to leading the Fireflies, Lombardi led all the Carolina League in strikeouts, despite not hitting the 100-inning mark this season. Lombardi broke down late in the year, which is why we didn't see a late-season call-up to Quad Cities. In 55.1 IP from April to June, he posted a 2.44 ERA, posted a 36.3% K%, and a 21.5%% K-BB%. However, from July to the end of the season, his ERA inflated to 5.79, his K% fell to 25.5%, and his K-BB% also regressed to 14.1%. He just wasn't efficient after June, which led to shorter outings and fewer strikeouts. Lombardi's no question a thrower who can rack up strikeouts. That should guarantee him a bullpen role in the near future, at the very least. That said, can Lombardi clean up the command and become more efficient in 2027? If he wants to stay a starter in Quad Cities and beyond, he will need to improve that command, or he'll be relegated to the bullpen sooner rather than later. Biggest Riser: Yandel Ricardo, SS/2B Ricard is our No. 11 prospect at Royals Keep, and fellow infielder Hammond seemed to overshadow Ricardo for most of last year. However, the Dominican product demonstrated that he needs to be taken more seriously as a prospect. In 109 games and 458 plate appearances, the 2024 international signing slashed .266/.351/.398 with a .750 OPS. He also hit seven home runs, stole 27 bases, and posted a 0.53 BB/K ratio. In many ways, Ricardo was just as good as Hammond, if not better, in many areas (and he was just as old as Hammond). Even though he didn't hit for tremendous power (.132 ISO), Ricardo has a ton of natural power in his frame. When he locked in and connected, he could put serious exit velocity behind balls, as this one below shows. Now, Ricardo's defense isn't as elite as Hammond's, and Ricardo's base stealing could be more efficient (caught 16 times last year). However, the Dominican product has five-tool talent and could be a utility player who can play not just every infield position, but outfield as well. The tools are legitimate, and you could argue Ricardo is a Top-10 prospect in the Royals system today. Ricardo has shown a strong ability to bounce back in the Minors, which speaks to his makeup and attitude. He had a tough first month in 2026 and struggled in a limited 2025 stint with Columbia (.547 OPS in 200 PA). However, he locked in, adopted an "all-fields" hitting approach, and delivered in bunches in 2026 with the Fireflies. If he can carry this approach and mindset to High-A Quad Cities in 2027, he could be on track to join the Royals' 40-man roster by December 2028, when he is Rule-5 eligible. However, a strong 2027 could prompt the Royals to add him to the roster by Spring Training in 2028, putting him ahead of schedule for his MLB debut. Most Intriguing Prospect: Sean Gamble, OF The Royals' first selection in the 2025 MLB Draft had a brutal start in Columbia. In 46 games in April and May, he hit .149 with a .474 OPS, a 0.36 BB/K ratio, and a .074 ISO. He struggled to make consistent contact and didn't hit for much power either. At one point, the rookie outfielder seemed destined for a demotion to the Complex League. However, the Fireflies showed patience with Gamble, and it paid off in June and July. In 190 plate appearances in June and July, Gamble hit .268 with a .788 OPS, a 0.52 BB/K ratio, and a .134 ISO. He seemed like a much different hitter during those two months and, at times, arguably looked better than Hammond, especially in power. In addition to hitting seven home runs in 2026, he also scored 62 runs and stole 38 bases on 45 attempts. Gamble also played strong outfield defense and could be a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder, a major asset for the Royals, especially with Kyle Isbel's future murky after this season. Gamble did fade in August and September. In 96 plate appearances, he hit .198 with a .629 OPS and .123 ISO. The BB/K ratio was still strong at 0.52, and the BABIP was low at .263 over those last two months. Thus, it may have been an issue of Gamble running out of gas down the stretch, much like his draft classmate Hammond. The former IMG Academy product adds intrigue to this Royals system, even as our No. 5 Royals prospect. His overall numbers from last season aren't great (6th-percentile wOBA and 25th-percentile TJ Bat+). However, he looked like a much different player from June to the end of the year, and he showed confidence in August and September, even though the numbers weren't impressive. Gamble was a key part of a Fireflies team that fought for playoff position until the very end. The big question for Gamble in 2027 is whether he can avoid a slow start in Quad Cities. If he can, Gamble may prove to be a Top-3 prospect because of his strong defensive and baserunning tools. If he can't? Then Gamble may just be another example of a failed first-round Royals Draft Pick, which has been far too common since 2015. View full article