Kevin O'Brien

Image courtesy of © Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Kansas City Royals' farm system has made tremendous strides in the past couple of seasons under new scouting director Brian Bridges, who took over in September of 2023. While rankings of the farm system remain a bit mixed among experts, it has come a long way in two seasons under Bridges, who has done an excellent job of drafting and signing international talent. The Royals tend to be more aggressive in promoting prospects. According to Roster Resource, 20 of the Royals' players on the 40-man roster are homegrown. That includes Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Salvador Perez, and Kris Bubic, who all have made the All-Star team in the past couple of years. They have also moved aggressively with prospects such as Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, and Noah Cameron, who all contributed to the Royals in 2025 as rookies. The approach has resulted in prospects moving on and off prospect lists more quickly than in some teams that tend to keep prospects longer. That has affected their overall team rankings, probably deflating them a bit since prospects are graduating so rapidly. Even though this isn't an elite system, it's better than average and definitely deserves more respect among baseball fans and prospect experts. In this series, I am going to look at the Top 20 prospects in the Royals system, starting with the 20th to 16th-best prospects. The prospects in this group include a couple of prep arms whose prospect stocks have deflated a bit, a promising teenage international signing, a recently drafted college arm, and an outfielder who's coming off a solid Arizona Fall League campaign in Surprise. 20th: Frank Mozzicato, LHP (Highest Level: Double-A) The former seventh overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Mozzicato has struggled to meet the expectations of being a former Top-10 pick. On the one hand, Mozzicato showed some promise in 2025. He made the Futures Game roster (with Jensen) and posted a 1.24 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 25.3% K rate in seven starts and 36.1 IP with High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. His curveball remains his premier offering, with many scouts remarking that it is "MLB-ready". However, his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas was much more underwhelming. In 24 appearances (20 starts) and 93 IP with the Naturals, the 22-year-old lefty posted a 7.46 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, and 17.6% K rate. He walked more batters than he struck out (-1.8% K-BB%) and also saw a significant uptick in home runs allowed (0.50 HR/9 in High-A to 1.59 in Double-A). Thus, even though Mozzicato is Rule 5 eligible, it seems likely that the Royals will not add him to the 40-man roster this offseason. The reason Mozzicato is No. 20 is that a move to the bullpen could perhaps do wonders for his stuff and development. At this point, it's evident that Mozzicato is not going to be a starter at the MLB level. However, with a plus pitch in his arsenal and less mileage on his arm, it's possible that the Connecticut native could thrive and contribute to an MLB bullpen at the end of 2026 or on Opening Day in 2027. 19th: Warren Calcaño, SS (Highest Level: DSL) Calcaño was one of the Royals' top signings of a heralded international class last season. The Dominican-born infielder signed for $2.5 million and was ranked as a Top-50 player in his class by Baseball America. He only played in nine games in the DSL due to injury, but Calcaño certainly made his mark in his limited sample. In 35 plate appearances, the 17-year-old shortstop slashed .346/.514/.538 with a 1.053 OPS. He also hit a home run, collected two RBI, scored seven runs, and stole seven bases on eight attempts. Despite a diminutive frame, Calcaño showcases surprising power. There is still a long way to go in his prospect development, and Royals fans have seen prospects do well in the DSL only to burn out once they reach the Complex League or Low-A ball. That said, Calcaño is a talented infielder who could be a future leadoff hitter if he develops properly, especially at the plate. 18th: Michael Lombardi, RHP/OF (Highest Level: College) The Royals drafted the two-way player out of Tulane in the second round of last year's draft, and he's an intriguing prospect who likely will be a pitcher at the professional level. The Green Wave primarily utilized him as a reliever last season, and in 23 outings and 42 IP, he posted a 2.14 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 43.5% K rate. The Royals moved slowly with Lombardi after he was drafted, as he did not pitch or play at all in affiliated ball. However, the upside is certainly there, and he could be a guy who could move quickly in the Royals' farm system, mainly if he sticks as a reliever. Here's what MLB Pipeline said about Lombardi in their latest scouting report. Lombardi is definitely one to watch in High-A, where he is likely to debut in 2026. If he thrives there, he could be in Double-A or even Triple-A by the end of the season. 17th: Blake Wolters, RHP (Highest Level: Low-A) Wolters was drafted in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft as an overslot second-rounder (he signed for $2.8 million out of high school). However, he has only shown incremental progress in two seasons in Low-A Columbia. After posting a 4.20 ERA in 14 starts and 55.2 IP, the 21-year-old righty posted a 3.99 ERA in 12 starts and 47.1 IP. His K rate improved from 18.6% to 19.3% between 2024 and 2025. However, his walk rate also increased from 10.1% to 19.3% over that time span. Wolters missed considerable time due to injury, as he didn't pitch from May 31st until August 29th, according to Fangraphs' game logs. When he returned, he particularly struggled with walks, as he walked nine batters and only struck out six in 6.2 IP over those two outings. Even though the results haven't quite been there for Wolters, the stuff is intriguing, and the upside remains pretty high. That said, improving the shape and command of his pitch repertoire will be crucial going forward. He struggles to put away batters, which explains his average K rates and mediocre walk rates. If the Royals' pitching development can help him refine his pitch mix and quality, then it's possible that Wolters could be a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the future. 16th: Carson Roccaforte, OF (Highest Level: Double-A) Roccaforte was disappointing in his first full Minor League season in 2024. A compensation round pick (66th overall) in 2023, he slashed .208/.293/.342 with a .635 OPS in 471 plate appearances. Granted, he showed some pop (10 home runs), excellent speed on the basepaths (34 stolen bases), and strong defense in the outfield. That said, it was hard to take him seriously as a prospect due to his contact issues at the time. The former Louisiana-Lafayette prospect showed progress in 2025 in High-A and Double-A ball. In 551 plate appearances at those two levels combined, he slashed .258/.373/.470 with an .842 OPS. He also hit 18 home runs, stole 43 bases, and was named the Minor League defensive player of the year by the Royals. It was also a solid Arizona Fall League campaign for Roccaforte. Not only did he lead the Saguaros to an AFL title, but he also hit two home runs and slashed .269/.386/.463 with an .848 OPS in 83 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the issue with Roccaforte in the AFL was similar to his problem in High-A and Double-A: strikeouts. He struck out nearly 30% of the time last season and 33.7% in the AFL. He also showcased some contact issues, as seen in his Statcast data from the AFL via TJ Stats. Based on his results, Roccaforte should be a higher-ranked prospect in the Royals system. He should be able to matriculate to the MLB level in 2026 or 2027, as long as he stays healthy. Unfortunately, it's hard to think too loftily about his Major League outlook with such evident contact and strikeout concerns. View full article

I like Bubic a lot too. That makeup and ability to modify and adapt quickly isn't easy to do. I think if he's healthy, he could be a key part of a playoff rotation in 2026. I guess the big thing is whether or not the Royals can sign him beyond this year. That's why I think the Royals acquired Black, to give them some depth both in the short and long term, especially if Bubic is traded or leaves.

On Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Royals were one of the interested teams in utility player Brendan Donovan. Donovan has proven to be a solid player for the Cardinals in his four seasons in the Majors. In 492 games, he has a career slash of .282/.361/.411 with a .772 OPS. In 2025, he slashed .283/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS. Donovan also hit 10 home runs, scored 64 runs, and collected 50 RBI. Even though he produced a -1 OAA and -1 FRV last year in terms of defensive metrics, according to Savant, the 28-year-old primarily played left field and second base, two positions that need improvement in 2026. Donovan doesn't flash big-time home run power, but he squares up the ball well and demonstrates strong plate discipline, according to Statcast data via TJ Stats. The Cardinals likely would be interested in acquiring starting pitching from Kansas City in exchange for Donovan. Last year, St. Louis ranked 25th in starting pitcher ERA, 22nd in SP WHIP, and 29th in SP K/9. They also don't have much proven pitching in the rotation beyond Sonny Gray, though Matthew Liberatore showed some improvement in 2025 (4.21 ERA in 151.2 IP). It's been reported that multiple teams are interested in Kris Bubic, who missed most of the second half due to a rotator cuff injury but should be ready for Opening Day in 2026. The Cardinals could be one of those teams, and they may be interested in signing Bubic long-term if acquired. It's unlikely Bubic alone would net Donovan. However, the Royals could also throw in prospects from positions of depth, which include pitching and catching. Ben Kudrna pitched in Triple-A and has a better chance to break into the Cardinals' rotation this spring than the Royals'. Blake Mitchell is coming off a strong finish in the Arizona Fall League and could be expendable after a breakout season by Carter Jensen, who was called up when rosters expanded in September. If the Royals aren't willing to move Mitchell, they could offer Ramon Ramirez, a slugging catching prospect who primarily played in Low-A Columbia in 2025. Photo Credit: © Eakin Howard-Imagn Images View full rumor

On Thursday afternoon, Will Sammon, a senior MLB writer at The Athletic, reported that Kris Bubic is generating trade interest from multiple teams, according to sources. He broke the report on social media. Bubic made his MLB debut in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, despite not pitching above High-A ball. After posting a 4.32 ERA in 50 IP in 2020 and a 4.43 ERA in 130 IP in 2021, he struggled in 2022. In manager Mike Matheny's final season in Kansas City, he went 3-13 and posted a 5.58 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 129 IP, all career-worsts. The former Stanford product only pitched three games in 2023 due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. However, he returned to the mound in 2024 as a reliever and absolutely thrived as a late-inning reliever for a Royals team that went 86-76 and made it to the ALDS. In 30.1 IP, he posted a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a K rate of 32.2%. The Royals moved Bubic back to the rotation in 2025, and he looked phenomenal at first. In 18 games before the All-Star Break, he posted a 2.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and struck out 113 batters and only walked 34 in 108.2 IP. That performance helped him earn his first All-Star appearance. However, Bubic didn't look the same after the All-Star Break, as he posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in two starts and 7.2 IP. He actually had more walks (five) than strikeouts (three). The Royals had him checked out, and it was revealed that he had a left rotator cuff strain. As a result, Kansas City shut him down for the remainder of the season. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Bubic has been cleared to resume throwing, a good sign that he will be ready for Spring Training. Thus, it makes sense why many teams would be interested in Bubic, as he seemed to be an AL Cy Young candidate last year before being shut down for the remainder of the season due to injury. The Royals have Bubic under team control for one more year, but his projected arbitration salary will be high at $6 million, and he will be a free agent after next season. In an interview with John Bonnes of Diamondcentric yesterday at the MLB GM meetings, JJ Picollo mentioned Bubic as an extension candidate. Still, he didn't share any details on that progress (or if it was on the horizon). Kansas City may be able to trade Bubic to a team that is more willing to sign him to an extension after acquiring him, despite his injury history. Jon Morosi of MLB Network recently reported that the Royals are interested in acquiring an outfielder via trade this offseason. Thus, trading Bubic could help them achieve that goal. Jarren Duran has been floated as a trade target for the Royals, but it's hard to tell what kind of return he would require. If the Royals pursue that path, it likely will include Bubic as a starting point, at a minimum. Photo Credit: © Denny Medley-Imagn Images View full rumor

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images John Bonnes, covering for Diamondcentric, was at the MLB GM meetings today and spoke with Kansas City Royals general manager JJ Picollo for a few minutes. Picollo, in his fourth season as head front office honcho in Kansas City, had some interesting things to say about their latest coaching and roster additions, as well as what they may be looking to do this offseason. Thus, let's take a look at four takeaways from Picollo's comments at the GM meetings with John. Thames and Dawson Should Fit With Zumwalt's Philosophy The Royals have filled out their hitting staff by hiring Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames, who come over from the Brewers and White Sox, respectively. That said, while they will bring fresh perspectives to the Royals coaching staff, they seem to align with the philosophy and approach of lead hitting coach Alec Zumwalt, who was retained for another season. Here's what Picollo said about their two new coaching additions. Picollo's comments about building the coaching staff like a team were interesting and give credence to the Royals' decision to acquire two different kinds of coaches: Dawson, a younger, analytical type, and Thames, a more seasoned hitting coach with Major League experience. The Royals took a step forward in 2024 by creating a roster with the right mix of youth and veterans. It seems like Picollo was keen on doing that with his hitting team this offseason. Regardless, the Royals seem to have confidence in Zumwalt and believe in his philosophy and his ability as hitting coach. However, it looks like Picollo feels that Zumwalt has better people around him in Dawson and Thames who can help the Royals produce results on the hitting side in 2026 and hopefully, beyond. Black Likely Pitching in the Bullpen Picollo talked a bit about Mason Black, who was acquired by the Royals yesterday from San Francisco in exchange for pitching prospect Logan Martin, who pitched primarily in High-A Quad Cities last season. The former third-round pick rotated between the rotation and bullpen during his brief time in San Francisco. However, it seems like Picollo and the Royals are more focused on him starting in relief for now, heading into Spring Training. It doesn't seem like Picollo is ruling out the rotation completely for Black. That said, their newest pitcher will likely have a better shot of making the Opening Day roster as a reliever. Thus, how his stuff plays up in relief this spring could determine if he can find a role in the Royals' bullpen. A velocity increase or repertoire modification could help him find a place in a Royals bullpen that is looking for help in terms of strikeouts (they ranked 29th in K/9 as a bullpen last year). Don't Expect Any Extensions Soon After Bobby Witt Jr. earned an extension after the 2023 season, many Royals fans have wondered if another young Royals player may be getting an extension this offseason. After all, Maikel Garcia made the All-Star team and posted a 5.6 fWAR. Vinnie Pasquantino led the team with 32 home runs. Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone both made the Major Leagues and showed flashes of promise in their rookie debuts. However, Picollo mentioned that an extension doesn't seem to be a priority just yet, based on Picollo's comments at the GM meetings. It was interesting that he mentioned Bubic as a higher priority because the lefty is in his last year of team control. Still, he didn't quite mention an extension specifically for him. Does that mean he's a trade candidate? Or is Picollo holding his cards close to the chest with a possible Bubic deal? There's still some time to go, but any Royals fan expecting a Garcia or Pasquantino extension this offseason may be in for a rude awakening this winter. Royals Look to Be Active in the Trade and Free Agent Markets Picollo was asked about the large number of arbitration-eligible candidates, and he didn't necessarily dismiss it as a bad thing. Thus, while some players like Jonathan India and Bailey Falter may command high salaries this offseason, Picollo didn't hint that they would be non-tender candidates (or not just yet, anyways). Furthermore, Picollo also mentioned that the Royals would need to pursue multiple bats this offseason to improve the offense. Hence, he seemed more in favor of utilizing the trade market this offseason (though he's not completely abandoning free agents who could be a good fit). Picollo will likely add to the offense through free agency and trades, as he has in each of his previous offseasons as GM. However, his comments suggest that if the Royals make a significant player acquisition this offseason, it will be via trade rather than free agency. Thus, those Royals fans hoping for a big signing like Alex Bregman or Cody Bellinger this offseason may be sorely disappointed. View full article

Yeah, I think there's some potential there. He's got the intelligence and work ethic like Bubic, it seems, and I think he will mesh with this coaching staff. I'm not sure if he will be a starter or reliever, but I could see him take a step forward in development in Kansas City.

Image courtesy of © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images On Tuesday afternoon, the Royals announced on Bluesky that they would be acquiring right-handed pitcher Mason Black from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-handed pitcher Logan Martin. The move comes in the wake of the Giants designating Black for assignment on November 6th to make room for outfielder Justin Dean (formerly of the Dodgers) and left-handed pitcher Reiver Sanmartin (formerly of the Reds). Before Black could be a free agent, the Royals were able to pull off a trade for the talented but inconsistent righty. The move now puts the Royals' 40-man roster at 37, according to Roster Resource as of November 11th. They have three open roster spots, but more should open up this offseason. Kansas City GM JJ Picollo will likely non-tender more players before the November 21st Non-Tender deadline, with some candidates being Jonathan India and Bailey Falter, who are estimated to command $7.4 million and $3.3 million this offseason, respectively. The acquisition of Black gives the Royals some flexible pitching depth, especially with Black still holding a Minor League option for 2026. In return, the Giants receive Logan Martin, who posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 11.1% K-BB% in 22 starts and 91.1 IP for the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. Martin has pitched in the Arizona Fall League with Surprise, but has struggled with the Saguaros, posting a 9.82 ERA and 2.18 WHIP. Based on his pitching summary data from TJ Stats (utilizing his October 25th outing as an example), the former Kentucky Wildcat has shown good stuff, but struggled to generate chases and whiffs in Arizona. Even though it's not an "earth-shattering" move, Black is an intriguing arm with long-term potential who was once a top prospect in the San Francisco Giants system. Thus, can Brian Sweeney and the Royals' pitching coaches (sans Zach Bove, who is now with the White Sox) help tap into Black's full potential in Kansas City in 2026? A Look at Black's Time in San Francisco Hopes were certainly high among Giants fans for Black, a third-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Lehigh University, a Patriot League school. Black had an excellent Minor League season in 2023, posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 20.1% K-BB% in 29 starts and 123.2 IP between Double-A and Triple-A. As a result, MLB Pipeline ranked Black the Giants' No. 8 prospect entering the 2024 season. Here's what Pipeline said in their scouting report. The combination of Black's diverse repertoire, solid command, and atypical delivery made him one of the Giants' better pitching prospects in the upper Minors, as seen below in this highlight film of him pitching with the Sacramento Rivercats, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate, in 2024. Black finally made his MLB debut in May of that season, but the results weren't great in his initial exposure to Major League hitters. In nine outings (eight starts) and 36.1 IP with the Giants that season, the right-hander posted a 6.44 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and 9.5% K-BB%. His FIP was only nominally better at 5.45, and his -0.2 fWAR illustrated how mediocre his San Francisco debut was a couple of seasons ago. While Black did flash some strikeout stuff, he didn't generate enough whiffs and chases, and he also struggled with giving up a lot of hard hits and barrels. When looking at his TJ Stats season pitching summary profile, Black showcased slightly below-average stuff, with a 97 overall TJ Stuff+. As a result, he struggled to generate consistent chases (27.4%) and whiffs (16.4%), and he also gave up a lot of hard and productive contact, as illustrated by his .428 xwOBACON. His four-seamer was perhaps his most intriguing pitch in 2024, which he threw 31.5% of the time (his most used offering). Even though it sported a 95 Tj Stuff+ and 46 grade, he did produce a 30.6% chase rate and 23.1% whiff rate on the pitch, both above-average marks. The only problem was that he gave up a xwOBACON of .601 on the fastball, the worst mark in his six-pitch repertoire. Things didn't seem to get better for Black in 2025. His ERA in Sacramento ballooned to 5.81 in 119.1 IP, and his 21.5% K rate was 2.2% lower than his Triple-A mark in 2024 and 6.4% lower than his mark with the Rivercats in 2023. His TJ Stats pitcher summary profile from Sacramento last year didn't look hot either, on both the stuff and results ends. With the Rivercats last season, his overall TJ Stuff+ was 96, and he only posted a chase rate of 25.4%, a whiff rate of 24.8%, and an xwOBACON of .365. The latter two marks are around average to slightly below, but considering it was his third stint in Triple-A, he was expected to produce more dominant results. Black only made one appearance in 2025 with the Giants, a four-inning relief appearance on the Fourth of July against the Athletics. He gave up five runs on five hits, including two home runs. However, he struck out five, walked zero, flooded the strike zone (71.6% strike rate; 55.4% zone rate), and showcased some intriguing development with his pitches from 2024, especially with the sweeper. Against the A's, Black's sweeper sported a 103 TJ Stuff+ and produced a 47.8% zone rate and 41.7% chase rate. The 30.8% whiff rate and .373 xwOBACON weren't impressive, but were still serviceable, especially for a pitch that he threw 31.1% of the time. In addition, he showed growth with his sweeper in nearly every category from the previous season with the Giants. He saw a `13.5% increase in chase, 14.8% increase in whiff, and a 59-point decrease in xwOBACON. It's a small sample (one game after all). However, it showed that Black made the necessary adjustments to his pitch mix and quality, leading to improvement from his rookie season. Why the Royals Would Want Black The one thing that sticks out about Black's history is that he is not just a student of the game, but an intelligent individual in general. Not only did he attend college at Lehigh, a pretty intense academic university, but he was also on the verge of entering medical school before getting drafted. Black's story and scientific approach to pitching were profiled in a short video segment from the San Francisco Giants back in 2023, when he was still a prospect in the Giants' farm system. The Royals have seemed to thrive with pitchers who not only study their craft but are willing to make the necessary adjustments to their pitch grips and repertoires. Seth Lugo finished second in the AL Cy Young race in 2024 thanks to the changes he made with the Royals. Cole Ragans went from questionable arm in Texas to Opening Day ace for the Royals. Lastly, Kris Bubic has thrived the most under Sweeney and the Royals' pitching development team, going from a mediocre starter to an AL All-Star last season. Black certainly has the mindset to rebound in Kansas City, and his tools aren't bad, if they can be adequately developed. Last year, his 6'8 average extension ranked in the 80th percentile. It was 6'7 this year (yes, get your laughs in, Gen Z folks), but that still ranked above average. That extension can make up for the lackluster velocity, which Black sported last year (92.7 MPH fastball velocity). An example? Bubic, who utilized his 85th percentile (6'9) extension to produce a 76th percentile whiff rate (28.8%), despite an 18th percentile fastball velocity (92.1 MPH). Bubic also had an average arm angle of 38 degrees, not tremendously different from the 29-degree arm angle that Black showcased last season with the Giants. Thus, it's in the realm of possibility that a few minor tweaks from Sweeney and the Royals' pitching coaches could help Black solidify the bottom of the Royals' rotation. If he doesn't have the length to be a starter, Black could thrive in the bullpen, especially with a four-seamer and sweeper combo that can be effective when utilized properly. That was on display in this strikeout of A's catcher Shea Langeliers in Black's lone outing last season. Now, is Black going to be the next Bubic? That may be a little rash, especially since Black has proven far less at the MLB level than the former Stanford product. At the same time, Royals fans shouldn't sleep on or completely dismiss Black and his potential. He has the intelligence, the tools, and the repertoire to become a serviceable starter or reliever for the Royals as soon as next season. Furthermore, there is some long-term upside with Black if everything clicks in Kansas City, especially since he will be only 26 when pitchers and catchers report in February. View full article

For sure. I think Frazier coming back is a foregone conclusion too which would make the non tender decision even easier with India

Image courtesy of © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images After filling out the hitting coaching staff with the hirings of Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames and non-tendering pitchers Sam Long and Kyle Wright, the Royals have been active in adding to the depth of their roster this offseason, especially on the offensive end. Royals GM JJ Picollo hasn't added any big names just yet. It's a bit too early for that, and significant transaction "talk" doesn't typically happen until the Winter Meetings in December. That said, Kansas City has added two athletic depth pieces over the past week who will likely be with the Royals in Spring Training in Surprise for camp and will battle for spots on the Opening Day roster. Let's take a look at the Royals' newest acquisitions, who also hold local ties to the Kansas City area. Royals Acquire Outfielder From Rays On Monday afternoon, the Royals announced that they traded for outfielder Kameon Misner from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later and/or cash considerations. The 28-year-old outfielder is a graduate of the University of Missouri and was selected 35th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. Misner mashed in Triple-A in 2023 and 2024, as he hit 38 combined home runs with the Durham Bulls over those two seasons. He also posted a 105 wRC+ in 2023 and a 109 wRC+ in 2024. He also stole 21 bases in 2023 and 30 bases in 2024, making him a dual power and speed threat. He had only a small MLB sample in 2024, playing in eight games. However, the Rays gave him a more substantial opportunity at the MLB level last season. Unfortunately, it didn't go well, which explains why Tampa Bay was willing to trade him to Kansas City. In 71 games and 217 plate appearances, Misner slashed .213/.273/.345 with five home runs, 27 runs scored, 22 RBI, and eight stolen bases. He also posted a .618 OPS and 71 wRC+ with the Rays. A big issue for Misner, even in Triple-A, has been the strikeouts. He sported a 29.3% K rate with Durham in 2024, and that followed him to the Majors last year, as he struck out 31.7% of the time. He also walked only 7.4% and had mediocre contact and whiff rates, according to his Statcast percentages via TJ Stats. His whiff rate ranked in the 3rd percentile, and his Z-Contact% ranked in the 6th percentile. He also posted a 7th percentile hard-hit rate and 2nd percentile LA Sweet-Spot%, which is not what one wants to see from a hitter with such low contact numbers. He did sport a Pull% in the 63rd percentile, and his 90th Percentile EV ranked in the 40th percentile, which aren't terrible marks. On a positive note, he was three outs above average defensively, according to Savant, and ranked in the 79th percentile in arm value and 85th percentile in arm strength. Thus, at the very least, Misner could be a defensive option off the bench who could fill in all three outfield spots for the Royals. Royals Sign Former Diamondbacks Infielder to Minor League Deal On Friday, the Royals signed former Arizona shortstop Connor Kaiser to a Minor League contract. Kaiser is a local product, as he attended high school in the Blue Valley School District in Kansas. Kaiser has a more humble professional pedigree than Misner. The 28-year-old infielder out of Vanderbilt was a third-round pick by the Pirates in 2018 and has only had 14 career games and 23 plate appearances at the Major League level. In the sample, he has a career slash of .091/.130/.136 with a .267 OPS. The Diamondbacks primarily kept him in Reno in 2025, and he posted average numbers in Triple-A. In 71 games and 229 plate appearances, he slashed .236/.345/.406 with a .751 OPS. He also hit six home runs, scored 32 runs, collected 31 RBI, and stole two bases. When looking at his TJ Stats profile from Triple-A, no particular tool of Kaiser sticks out. On a positive note, Kaiser didn't chase a whole lot; he swung at a lot of pitches in the strike zone, and he walked a lot. Other than that, however, he doesn't seem to offer much to this Royals team at the MLB level, especially with the glut of infielders they already have with Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Jonathan India, and Michael Massey. The Kaiser move is likely to add to their depth in Omaha, especially after the Royals released 20 players in their system last week, including former top prospect Nick Pratto. Even though Kaiser will likely not do much at the Major League level in 2025, he is expected to compete for playing time in Surprise during Spring Training. Can Misner and Kaiser Benefit From the New Hitting Staff? The Royals have filled out their hitting coach staff this offseason with Connor Dawson from the Brewers and Marcus Thames from the White Sox. It definitely seems like the Royals want to increase their hitters' aggressiveness while minimizing the chasing that plagued them at times in 2025. According to Fangraphs, the Royals had the 11th-highest O-Swing% in baseball while ranking 17th in Swing%. That doesn't seem like a recipe for success, and their meager hitting rankings from a year ago (26th in runs scored) seem to illustrate that. However, it seems like Dawson and Thames will bring a refreshing perspective to the Royals coaching staff, especially Thames, who was known for preaching disciplined aggressiveness at the plate with hitters at his multiple stops (as I pointed out on Bluesky from a CHGO article that came out after he took over as hitting coach). One has to wonder if the Misner and Kaiser moves, while minuscule in scale, are players that could benefit from the new coaching regime in 2026. While the Royals had chase problems at the plate, the Rays were technically worse. Their 29.4% O-Swing% was the fifth-highest in baseball last season. Furthermore, their 63.7% F-Strike% was the third-highest (for comparison, the Royals had the seventh-highest rate at 62.6%). Conversely, the Brewers (where Dawson comes from) ranked 23rd in F-Strike% and 29th in O-Swing%. Thus, while the acquisitions of Misner and Kaiser will likely impact the Omaha club more than the Royals one in 2026, it will be interesting to see if either player can see a bump in plate discipline and production under this revamped Royals hitting staff. If one or both can see some progression, the Royals could be on their way not only to having an elite pitching coach staff (though the loss of Zach Bove hurts), but perhaps a hitting one as well, long term. 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I go back and forth. I could also see a situation where they sign India but trade him to a team that's maybe more desperate for middle infield help. I think if Massey were healthier, they would definitely non-tender India. I agree that Pham and Refsnyder are low-hanging fruit. At the same time, I think that big-time outfield help would have to come through trade rather than free agency (unless they want to have a platoon of Yaz/Pham or Refsnyder which isn't eye-popping but could be productive).

Mitchell was rated No. 1, and yes, a broken hamate bone kinda put him behind, especially in the power department. I think Mitchell, as long as he stays healthy, can bounce back a bit in 2026 and he's shown some good progress in the AFL this year (though he's still striking out a bunch).

On Monday, MLB.com Royals writer Anne Rogers reported via her sources that the Royals would be filling out their hitting coaching staff by hiring Marcus Thames, who recently was the hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox. As Rogers pointed out on Bluesky, Thames has coaching experience with multiple MLB teams and has held the title of hitting coach with the Yankees, Marlins, Angels, and White Sox. Thames is a former MLB player who played in 640 games with the Tigers, Yankees, Rangers, and Dodgers from 2002 to 2011. He has hit 115 career home runs and has a career batting average of .246. Last season, Chicago struggled offensively under Thames, ranking 27th in OBP and runs scored, and 28th in OPS. However, the White Sox saw the growth of some young hitters under Thames' tutelage, including top prospect Colson Montgomery, who hit 21 home runs and posted an .840 OPS, Kyle Teel, who hit eight home runs and posted a .786 OPS, and Miguel Vargas, who hit 16 home runs and posted a .717 OPS. Thames will join Connor Dawson on the staff, who comes over from the Brewers organization. Dawson is a KC native who attended Olathe North High School and coached at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before matriculating to the Mariners organization and then the Brewers in 2021. Alec Zumwalt remains the Royals' lead hitting coach for 2026. Photo Credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images View full rumor

Really interesting piece by Jake. The tax avoidance part was intriguing, and as he mentioned, it's going to be hard to convince big teams like the Yankees and Dodgers to walk away and/or modify such big loopholes. The meritocracy part is intriguing from a Royals perspective, as Sherman is trying to build his teams like the Brewers and Guardians rather than the White Sox and Rockies. I think giving revenue based on merit will help keep push the Royals to continue to invest in their team, which wasn't always the case under previous Royals owner David Glass.

According to the Royals' official transaction sheet, left-handed reliever Sam Long was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on November 6th. It is unclear whether Long will remain in the Royals' organization with this latest move. However, to pitch for the Royals again in 2026, he would need to be added to the 40-man roster again at some point. Signed as a Minor League free agent in the spring of 2024, Long made the Royals roster and ended up being a key piece of the Royals bullpen during their 86-76 season. In his first season in Kansas City, he posted a 3.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.89 FIP, and 2.59 K/BB ratio in 43 appearances and 42.2 IP. The Sacramento State product was a key left-handed reliever for manager Matt Quatraro, especially in high-leverage situations. Unfortunately, Long battled injuries and ineffectiveness in 2025. Over 39 appearances and 40.1 IP, the 30-year-old lefty posted a 5.36 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 5.54 WHIP, and 1.50 K/BB ratio. Long struck out fewer batters (7.5% decrease in K rate), walked more (1.9% increase in BB rate), gave up more hard-hits (9.1% increase in hard-hit rate), and saw his called strikes plus whiff rate (CSW) go from 28% in 2024 to 23.5% in 2025. As a result, Long lost his setup position in the bullpen to other left-hander relievers like Angel Zerpa and Daniel Lynch IV last season. Long went on the IL on April 13th due to left elbow inflammation and didn't return to the Royals until June 20th. He struggled in the first half of the season with a 9.82 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 14.2 IP before the All-Star Break. However, he was more effective in the second half, as he posted a 2.81 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 25.2 IP. The Royals were in a tough dilemma with Long this offseason. Not only was he arbitration-eligible (MLBTR predicted his salary amount to be around $950K), but he was also out of Minor League options. With Lynch, Zerpa, and Bailey Falter, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Trade Deadline, also on the 40-man roster, Long appeared to be the odd man out. Kyle Wright was also listed as an outright to Omaha after clearing waivers on the transactions sheet. On Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the NY Post reported that Wright was being put on waivers. Update (9:55 a.m., November 7th): The Royals announced via social media that they have outrighted Long and Wright officially, and they both have elected free agency. Photo Credit: © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images View full rumor

On Wednesday, rumors circulated that the Royals were adding a new hitting coach to their staff for the 2026 season. At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Kansas City parted ways with assistant hitting coaches Keoni DeRenne and Joe Dillon. Hitting coach Alec Zumwalt remains in his current role. Royals insider David Lesky of Inside the Crown and the Kauffman Corner podcast first reported that Brewers assistant hitting coach Connor Dawson would be joining as part of the hitting coaching staff under manager Matt Quatraro. Later this evening, Robert Murray of Fansided confirmed the rumor via his sources. Dawson has been part of the Milwaukee coaching staff since 2021. Over the past two seasons, the Brewers rank ninth in wRC+ and fourth in runs scored, according to FanGraphs. Conversely, over the past two years, the Royals rank 21st in wRC+ and 19th in runs scored. Dawson is a local product who attended Olathe North High School in Kansas and played college baseball at Neosho Community College, which is 2 hours from Kansas City. He coached high school baseball at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kansas, from 2015 to 2018 and at Marshalltown Community College in Iowa in 2019. He made the jump to professional ball with the Mariners in 2019, where he served as a Minor League Hitting Coach until the Brewers hired him. No official announcement has been made about Dawson by the Royals or about anyone else joining the coaching staff. In addition to parting ways with DeRenne and Dillon, the Royals let go of Minor League Hitting Coordinator Drew Saylor and lost assistant pitching coach Zach Bove to the White Sox, where he will be the pitching coach. View full rumor