Eli Nitz

Cross went unclaimed last year. He has definitely had a better year in 2026. It's just tough for a position player to make it a full season.

Cross would also need to be added to the 40 man roster like Roccaforte. I know Cross had a recent IL stint but is now back on the field. Cross had an incredible hot stretch hitting home runs in multiple consecutive games. I could see the Royals wanting to get a look at Cross in MLB action. I do not think Cross gets selected in the Rule 5 draft so that may be the edge Roccaforte holds over Cross for a September call up.

Image courtesy of Denny Medley-Imagn Images The last two weeks of Royals baseball have been a lot of fun. The team has won 13 of 15 games since August 13. The starting lineup has been mostly restored to what was expected for Opening Day (Maikel Garcia notwithstanding). A starting pitching staff decimated by injuries has been really good of late. The MASH unit starting lineup has put together a solid if unspectacular five quality starts in 15 attempts. Although that number is actually 5 QS in 12 attempts, given Daniel Lynch IV is still getting stretched out as he acclimates from the bullpen to starting pitching. The bullpen is currently doing a casting call for 2027, rotating through a bevy of candidates, but seems to be more steady in an addition-by-subtraction roster turnover. Lucas Erceg (6.63 ERA) never got things figured out and was sent to Triple-A Omaha on August 18. Matt Strahm and his 7.33 ERA were designated for assignment on August 4. Lately, the boys have been playing some ball. On September 1, the rosters expand from 26 to 28 players. A maximum of 14 pitchers are allowed. All players must be on the 40-man roster. Currently, the 40-man roster is full. That said, there is at least one spot that could be opened by adding Maikel Garcia to the 60-day IL, as it appears his hamstring injury may keep him out for the remainder of the season. (While writing this article, John Schreiber was released, and that opened up another 40-man roster spot. We are still waiting on the corresponding move.) Let’s look at who may join the team for the nine-game homestand starting September 1. Tony Gonsolin - RHP The former Los Angeles Dodger signed with Kansas City on August 13 and was immediately placed on the 15-day IL. Gonsolin signed a prorated $1 million contract for 2026 with a club option of $2.5 million for 2027. He currently holds a 40-man roster spot and can be called up when his injured list designation ends. In one appearance, Gonsolin threw three innings on 40 pitches, giving up no hits and one walk while striking out three batters. The big question with Gonsolin: is one appearance, albeit a good one, enough progress that the Royals trust him in MLB games, or do they want to see him keep working in Omaha? Beck Way - RHP Another member of the 15-day IL, Way was reinstated to Northwest Arkansas on August 18 and moved to Omaha on August 21. The hard-throwing right-handed rookie has had his ups and downs in 2026, but before the injury he seemed to be settling in. Way gives the Royals a power arm that the bullpen was clearly lacking to start the season. Way will definitely be a part of the 2027 bullpen, so getting him back to continue his development will be key to ending 2026 on a high note. Carlos Duran - RHP Is Carlos Duran Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? On August 18, we got to see Dr. Jekyll. Duran delivered 1 inning pitched with one hit, no runs, no walks, one strikeout, and picked up his first major league win. Then on August 20, Mr. Hyde appeared. Duran gave us a line of .1IP, 1H, 2ER, 3BB, 0K. Duran remains an interesting arm. Many Royals experts have compared Duran to when the Royals acquired Steven Cruz. There are definitely similarities: big frame, big arm, trouble with the strike zone. His minor league statistics for 2026 back that up. When deciding if Duran should come back to the Royals in September, it is a little like the argument for Gonsolin. Have the pitching coaches made enough progress in his delivery that the strike throwing improves, or does he need more work before coming back to Kansas City? Lucas Braun - RHP Braun was acquired with Carter Holton from Atlanta in the trade deadline deal for Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter. Braun is Rule 5 draft eligible for the first time after the 2026 season concludes. I can’t imagine the Royals wanted Braun in a trade only to leave him unprotected and lose him this winter. It makes sense that if the Royals are going to have to add him to the 40-man roster this winter, they might as well add him to the roster now. In 2025, Braun threw 149 2/3 innings, and in 2026 he sits at 116 innings pitched. It makes sense that he will not be shut down and has room to throw more innings this season. If the Royals want to take some stress off of their starting pitchers or piggyback a long reliever with Daniel Lynch IV as they had with Mason Black over several starts, Braun could be the man for the job. Michael Massey - 2B This move isn’t sexy, but Massey has been having a bounce-back year in 2026. Massey landed on the 7-day IL on August 27 when making an off-balance throw to first that ended awkwardly with him falling on his back and head hitting the Rogers Center turf. Massey has been worth 2.3 WAR and played Gold Glove-level defense at second base. There is no reason that player profile shouldn’t be back as soon as they are healthy. Carson Roccaforte - OF On July 17, I wrote a blog post about Royals Rule 5 draft protection candidates. At that time, Roccaforte was striking out at 35.2% and also had a respectable 17 home runs. Since then, Roccaforte has been promoted to Omaha and has been on a power surge at the plate, raising his season total to 32 homers. In his last 30 games between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, that strikeout percentage has dropped to 25.2%. Still high but manageable. He has also hit 17 home runs in that span, leaving the yard at an impressive 8.9% clip. All while playing Gold Glove-level defense. So who should get promoted? I think Michael Massey will be a straight replacement for Josh Rojas, and Rojas will be back in Omaha waiting for an injury call-up. Michel Massey recalled to KC and Josh Rojas sent to Omaha. On June 17, my thoughts were that Roccaforte struck out too much for a team to take a chance on him in the Rule 5 draft. Roccaforte has changed my mind. The Gold Glove defense was evident, and some teams may have taken a risk on using him as a late-inning defensive replacement. Now that the strikeout rate is down and his power is surging, I don’t believe the Royals can risk losing Roccaforte. Not when there is a shortage of good centerfield candidates league-wide, and Kyle Isbel is only under team control through 2027. Garcia to the 60-day IL and Roccaforte added to the 40-man roster and recalled to KC. The two pitchers are very similar to the hitters for similar reasons. Beck Way recalled to KC from the 7 Day IL. Lucas Braun added to the 40-man roster and recalled to KC. I believe Roccaforte and Brun could benefit from a taste of MLB action in September 2026, the same way it helped prepare Carter Jensen for the 20206 season with his September 2025 call-up. Several players were covered. Is there someone you would like to see that wasn’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments so we can discuss. View full article

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Kansas City Royals selected Blake Mitchell with the 8th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft. Mitchell was a high school catcher out of Sinton, Texas. As the first prep catcher off the board, the Royals had incredibly high hopes for Mitchell’s long-term success. The draft prospect grades for Mitchell were outstanding. Hit 55, Power 55, Arm 70, Field 50, Run 35 for an overall grade of 55. Very deserving numbers to be taken that high in the draft. Mitchell spent the 2023 season at the Complex League, appearing in 13 games in his first taste of professional baseball. In 2024, he was assigned to Low-A Columbia and, in 106 games, had an exceptional season, posting a .238 batting average, .376 OBP, .439 slugging percentage, an .815 OPS, and slugging 18 home runs. He also posted a 35.0% strikeout rate. That earned Mitchell a brief five-game promotion to High-A Quad Cities to end the season. The 2025 season was derailed before it ever got started. On February 23, 2025, it was announced that Mitchell would undergo surgery on his right hamate bone, leading to 4-6 weeks of downtime plus a rehab assignment. A hamate bone injury is notorious for sapping power, and that's what happened. Mitchell returned to High-A and in 49 games produced a .207 batting average, .372 OBP, .296 slugging percentage, and a .668 OPS while being reduced to just 2 home runs. He also continued to post another high strikeout rate of 32.9%. Fast forward to the end of Mitchell’s fourth professional campaign, and he is putting up another really good season, batting .233, with a .414 OBP, .469 slugging percentage, and a .883 OPS while bashing 17 home runs. Unfortunately, his strikeout rate has continued to climb to an unsustainable 34.5%. Mitchell has become the epitome of a true three-outcome hitter: walk, strike out, or hit a home run. What do you do with a player with this truly interesting batting profile? Option 1: Promote Mitchell To Double-A There are definite arguments for a promotion. Mitchell is having a good season, save for his strikeout rate. He would definitely see better pitching at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. It is clear Mitchell has an excellent grasp of the strike zone. He has walked at an incredible 23% rate in 2026. With better pitches to hit, does his contact rate increase? We won’t know until Mitchell is promoted, but there are signs that contact rate has been getting better right before our eyes. Since July 1st, Mitchell is hitting .321/.433/.643/1.076 with 4 home runs, 11 walks, and just 12 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances. That is a 16.4% walk rate with a 17.9% strikeout rate. It is a small sample size, but is it sustainable? Has Mitchell figured some things out and deserves a promotion? Or is the sample too small and it is just a hot streak? Option 2: Keep Mitchell At High-A For Remainder Of 2026 The High-A season ends September 6. With 38 games remaining and hopefully a playoff appearance in their future, there are benefits to remaining with the River Bandits. If Mitchell has figured some things out to improve his contact rate while dropping his strikeout rate, this would allow him to continue to build on the 67 plate appearances currently trending in a positive direction. The Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals did not win the first-half split and are currently tied for fourth place and 2.5 games behind the division leader in the North Division. A playoff spot and extending the season is unlikely at Double-A. A promotion potentially denies Mitchell exposure to high-pressure playoff baseball. Additionally, if this was just a hot streak, Mitchell could get exposed and further diminish his already declining prospect status. Option 3: Trade Mitchell, Either At Trade Deadline Or In Offseason Internally, if the Royals do not believe the player will ever hit for average, you could look to move them in a trade. Mitchell happens to have a running mate at High-A in Ramon Ramirez that is also a catcher. Ramirez is still learning the position, as he was converted to catcher from the outfield four years ago when he was a Royals international signing. By all accounts, Mitchell is the superior defender, but Ramirez is the more well-rounded hitter. Until recently, Mitchell has been the more highly touted prospect, which makes sense given his first-round draft status. In 2024, MLB Pipeline had Mitchell ranked as the 94th overall prospect and climbed to 52 by season's end. In 2025, Mitchell ranked 48th overall even with an injury-marred season. In 2026, Mitchell started the season as the 50th-ranked prospect but has fallen out of the top 100 in MLB.com rankings and to 105th in the FanGraphs pre-trade-deadline rankings. Do you look to move a once top 100 prospect before the shine wears completely off of them? You do have 23-year-old rookie Carter Jensen already ranking in the top 10 as an offensive catcher in the major leagues and an up-and-coming catcher in Ramón Ramírez that recently surpassed Mitchell in those same 2026 FanGraphs top 100 rankings at 81st overall. This would be a great time to trade from a clear position of organizational depth to address an area of weakness. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Angels are looking to acquire a young catcher and are clear sellers at the trade deadline. Could the Angels be a potential trade partner for a Royals franchise that hopes to rebound in 2027? The Royals have an interesting dilemma on their hands. They have a former first-round pick with great defense, a good eye, and immense power, who strikes out too much but has recently been making better contact. They have young organizational depth with Carter Jensen and Ramon Ramirez in the organization. They also have a clear need in both the high minors and with the MLB club lacking talent in the outfield, starting pitching, and relief pitching. Arguments can be made for all three scenarios. It will be interesting to see what decision the Royals front office will make with Blake Mitchell. Which path would you pick? Maybe you have other ideas on how to handle the situation. Please leave your comments. I would love to hear your thoughts. View full article

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft concluded July 12 with the Royals making 21 selections. The most notable is the 6th overall selection, Zion Rose from Louisville. Zion Rose was recently at Kauffman Stadium signing his major league contract. Soon, Rose will make the trip to Arizona to begin his ascent to the major league club. Rose is well on his way, and the front office should be thrilled to see their hard work come to fruition. But it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for everyone in the Royals organization. As one door opens, another closes. Major League Baseball limits organizations to 165 domestic minor league players under contract. This limit excludes players participating in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) and players on the team’s 40-man roster. Rose is in, but now someone must go. The top minor league affiliate is virtually devoid of young talent. The Royals have signed 11 veterans to help round out the roster at Omaha. I believe a number of the players jettisoned to make room for the draft picks will be of the veteran variety, allowing the team more time to evaluate its young talent. That younger talent will make their debuts at the Complex League, Low-A affiliate Columbia, SC, and maybe (Rose perhaps?) at High-A Quad Cities in Davenport, IA. It is only logical that some players will be promoted to provide room for the draft pieces while squeezing out those players at the top of the minor league food chain. Let’s see who could be on the proverbial chopping block. Kevin Newman: 3B, age 32 Year AB R H HR RBI SB AVG OBP OPS 2026 MiLB Stats 187 18 42 0 10 1 .225 .298 .587 The light-hitting utility infielder has been behind Nick Loftin, Tyler Tolbert, and recently 40-man roster additions of Josh Rojas and Andrew Velazquez. Dan Altavilla: RHP, age 33 Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP 2026 MiLB Stats 3 4 6.35 34 0 0 39.2 32 1.87 Altavilla is in his second stint with Kansas City. He appeared in 5 contests in 2024, completing 3.2 IP while giving up 5 hits, 3 walks, and 6 earned runs for an ERA of 14.73. Familiarity brought Altavilla back to KC, and now it’s time to make way for younger prospects. Anthony Gose: LHP, age 35 Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP 2026 MiLB Stats 1 3 5.56 28 0 0 34.0 42 1.62 The former Detroit Tigers outfielder is a great story, converting to a left-handed relief pitcher. Gose has already been passed up by Jose Cuas and Easton McGee for a spot on the 40-man roster. At 35 years old, it’s time for the Royals to move on to other options. Connor Kaiser: SS, age 29 Year AB R H HR RBI SB AVG OBP OPS 2026 MiLB Stats 76 12 9 0 4 1 .118 .236 .368 Kaiser has been injured and has not played much in 2026. The Overland Park, KS native was signed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks as organizational depth in November 2025. Jorge Alfaro: C, age 33 Year AB R H HR RBI SB AVG OBP OPS 2026 MiLB Stats 130 21 28 10 34 0 .215 .286 .778 The Double-A Northwest Arkansas catcher still shows some power, but there are a couple of High-A catchers knocking on the door that could be promoted soon. Alfaro is easily the oldest player on the Naturals roster. No one celebrates a player’s tenure coming to an end. Everyone works tirelessly to be the best player they can be. Eventually, the bell tolls for every man. The new crop of 2026 draft picks is about to get their chance to shine as the sun sets on several current members of the Royals' minor leagues. View full article

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect With the deadline looming on August 3rd, the baseball trade winds are starting to blow, and Michael Wacha’s name continues to be floated on those winds. The Royals workhorse just threw his 13th quality start in 20 outings this season, ranks 3rd in MLB with 125 1/3 innings pitched, and has an affordable contract for 2027 at $14 million and a club option for 2028 also at $14 million. In his 125 innings pitched, Wacha has posted a 1.17 WHIP, allowing 111 hits, 36 walks, and 5 batters hit by pitch. His ERA is 3.66, and his FIP trails closely at 4.03. Those factors make him a target for almost any contender's rotation. Who could be a good fit for Michael Wacha at the deadline? Why The Braves Would Want To Trade For Michael Wacha The Braves sit at 58-42 and are currently atop the National League East. The trio of Chris Sale, Bryce Elder, and Grant Holmes have all been good this year. Sale has been excellent, posting a 2.06 ERA in 18 starts with 11 quality starts. After those three, the rotation gets sketchy. Reynaldo Lopez has averaged a little over four innings per start in his last five starts. Martin Perez is back in the rotation after a recent stint on the IL. Lopez and Perez have combined for a grand total of three quality starts. That just isn’t giving Atlanta the length it needs to keep its outstanding bullpen fresh. Lopez has appeared in 23 games with 10 starts, so it seems he would be the logical candidate to move back to the pen if Atlanta made a move for a starting pitcher. Lopez sports an ERA of 3.95 and a FIP of 4.57. Wacha currently outpaces Lopez in both categories. Why The White Sox Would Want To Trade For Michael Wacha In what would be a rare interdivisional trade, the White Sox stand out as another starting pitching-deprived team. In a surprise on the South Side, the Sox are currently tied for first place in the American League Central while also being plus 1 game up in the wild card standings. Wacha could easily slide into the number three spot in the rotation ahead of Anthony Kay and Eric Fedde. In fact, the White Sox have a dramatic drop-off in innings pitched after Fedde. Fedde has thrown 93 innings, and the next closest player has just 56 innings pitched. Wacha is an innings eater and would give the bullpen a chance to catch their breath. Why The Cubs Would Want To Trade For Michael Wacha The Chicago Cubs are currently in second place in the National League Central Division at 57-44 and are currently 4.5 games ahead in the wild card race standings as the first wild card recipient. To say the Cubs' starting pitching could use some help would be an understatement. Wacha would immediately become the de facto ace of the staff. Only Shota Imanaga comes close to matching Wacha’s 2026 performance. Imanaga has a solid 3.91 ERA and a FIP of 4.5. Wacha would easily be in any playoff rotation for the Cubs. Of these three teams, the Cubs may be the most desperate for Wacha’s services. Jim Bowden suggested this possible trade in The Athletic: Cubs receive: Michael Wacha, RHP Royals receive: Matt Shaw, INF/OF; Kevin Alcántara, OF In this deal, the Cubs would add Wacha, 35, who made the All-Star team this year and is controllable through 2027 with a team option for 2028. He has posted sub-4.00 ERAs each of the past five years (including this one) and still has a special changeup and unique downward plane to his pitches. In return, the Royals get two young bats who can’t crack the Cubs’ starting lineup in Shaw and Alcántara. Shaw, 24, can play second base, third base and corner outfield. As an everyday player, he projects to have 15-20 home run power. Alcántara, 23, has never been given a legitimate chance with Chicago, but he’s having another strong season in Triple A. I think this deal is an overpay by the Cubs, but it could be worth it to land a veteran starter like Wacha, especially given that there are so few starting pitchers on the market right now. The Royals front office has stated the return for Wacha would need to be “massive”. Any offer is usually just a starting point. Oh, to be behind those closed doors and hear what offers and counteroffers are being made. I believe the Cubs, Braves, and White Sox will all make a move for starting pitching. Who will they target? Unclear. The reality is the Cubs could use as many as three starting pitchers, the White Sox two, and the Braves one. Even if one or two of the top names in Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, Kevin Gausman, Foster Griffin, Casey Mize, or Reid Detmers are moved, that doesn’t mean the door is closed on Wacha moving to that same team. As seen above, even teams in control of a playoff birth still need more starting pitching. View full article

I am glad you asked! I intend to dive into Blake Mitchell. The true three outcome catcher is an interesting case study. I want to look at his recent success - since July 1 his numbers are really good. Mitchell has raised his batting averave from .210 to .238, and his slugging % from .834 to .910. Is this just a hot streak or is he starting to figure some things out? Do the Royals want to promote him and have him potentially get exposed at Double-A if it is smoke and mirrors? His trade stock took a little hit when he fell out of the Baseball America top 100 prospects. I wonder if he will stay put for 2026 to preserve his off season trade value.

I am glad you asked! I intend to dive into Blake Mitchell. The true three outcome catcher is an interesting case study. I want to look at his recent success - since July 1 his numbers are really good. Mitchell has raised his batting averave from .210 to .238, and his slugging % from .834 to .910. Is this just a hot streak or is he starting to figure some things out? Do the Royals want to promote him and have him potentially get exposed at Double-A if it is smoke and mirrors? His trade stock took a little hit when he fell out of the Baseball America top 100 prospects. I wonder if he will stay put for 2026 to preserve his off season trade value.

I really like Luke Pelzer. I would like to see his tjstats Zswing% come up some showing he is attacking the balls in the strike zone with regularity. He strikes out and walks at an acceptable 21.4% and 10.2% respectively. I won't be shocked if he is also promoted or if they hold him for the full season at High-A Quad Cities

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Ramon Ramirez Many of you, like me, have attended the elementary school promotion ceremony. In May, I attended (on the same night) my niece’s promotion to middle school and my nephew’s promotion to high school. While it is a nice year-end recognition of a student’s ascension to another level, it usually consists of awkward handshakes of congratulations, uncoordinated tromping across the stage, and an occasional flamboyant gesture from the class clown. Unlike the school promotion, promotions in the minor leagues signify excellence. I’m not saying there aren’t excellent students moving up in grade, but the kid who gets a 2.0 GPA goes to the next grade the same as the kid who pulls a 4.0 GPA. In baseball, a promotion means you have accomplished all you can at your current level, and it’s time for a new challenge. Let’s see who is ready to be promoted and face new challenges. Augusto Mendieta, RHP - 5’11”/190 - Age 21 Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP 2026 MiLB Stats 4 4 4.39 27 0 1 41.0 51 1.39 The soon-to-be 22-year-old Mendieta started the season at High-A and, after only 3 IP, was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The Ciudad Valles, Mexico native has a 28.5% K rate and an acceptable 10.1% walk rate. Mendieta throws strikes and gets ground balls all at an above-average rate. Jack Pineda, SS - B/T: L/R - 5’8”/170 - Age 26 Year AB R H HR RBI SB AVG OBP OPS 2026 MiLB Stats 210 34 78 7 25 16 .371 .443 .991 Pineda spent plenty of time getting end-of-game MLB at-bats in spring training. It looks like that experience has paid off as his second trip through Double-A has him on the cusp of a promotion to Triple-A Omaha. Pineda doesn’t walk much, but he does make excellent contact. There could be more power potential as the Baylor product learns to pull the ball more. Spencer Nivens, OF - B/T: L/R - Age 24 Year AB R H HR RBI SB AVG OBP OPS 2026 MiLB Stats 209 33 56 7 37 11 .268 .363 .818 Another player in his second trip to Double-A has kept his average and walk rate similar to 2025 but has increased his power output. The 2023 Missouri State draftee rarely strikes out and walks at a very good rate. Another player that might unlock more power with a more pull-happy approach. Kendry Chourio, RHP - 6’0”/160 - Age 18 Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP 2026 MiLB Stats 5 1 2.26 15 15 0 67.2 65 0.90 The 18-year-old fireballing phenom from Maracaibo, Venezuela has already been promoted once on June 15th and is angling for another promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His appearance in the All-Star Futures Game did nothing but add helium to his already rising prospect status. He has been nothing short of dominant this season. Chourio fills the strike zone, and walks are almost non-existent. The Royals #1 prospect and Baseball America’s #32 prospect should have a taste of AA in his future. David Shields, LHP - 6’2”/210 - Age 19 Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP 2026 MiLB Stats 8 4 3.86 18 18 0 81.2 96 1.10 Shields, the Royals' #3 prospect, has had a tremendous start to 2026. His 29.1% K rate and his ability to fill the strike zone have been on display in Davenport, IA all season. The biggest knock on Shields is his lack of fastball velocity at 92 mph. I believe his ability to locate pitches and feel for pitching far outweighs any marks against his fastball. This man deserves a promotion. L.P. Langevin, RHP - 6’1”/225 - Age 23 Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP 2026 MiLB Stats 4 2 3.11 27 0 0 37.2 74 1.12 The Quebec City, Canada native throws almost exclusively (82.5%) a sinker. But man, does it work. Langevin is striking out an absurd 46.3% of batters but walking an equally absurd number at 17.5%. Langevin needs to find one more quality pitch to rely on. His slider, cutter, and changeup all grade 101 or better in tjstuff+, but he doesn’t throw any of them more than 8.8% of the time. Ramon Ramirez, C - B/T: R/R - 5’11”/180 - Age 21 Year AB R H HR RBI SB AVG OBP OPS 2026 MiLB Stats 284 59 84 11 72 8 .296 .379 .879 The Royals #7 prospect and current Midwest League RBI leader with 72 RBI in 75 games played has been on a heater all season long. Ramirez is hitting .296, walks a reasonable amount at 10.6%, and has decent power with 23 doubles, 1 triple, and 11 home runs in 329 at-bats. The Porlamar, Venezuela native has a strong arm and continues to work on his receiving and blocking as he converted from the outfield just four years ago. Ramirez has the look of a middle-of-the-order run producer and projects to have 20+ home run power. Ryan McDonagh, RHP - 6’5”/190, Age 20 Next is another Canadian with really strong metrics. The 20-year-old McDonagh is having a great 2026 season. He has already been promoted once from the Surprise complex league to Columbia on June 16th. The reliever throws a lot of strikes and continues to get a lot of swing and miss. Tjstuff+ doesn’t rank, but one of his pitches is average or above (changeup 101), and the four-pitch mix of 4-seam fastball, changeup, sinker, and curveball continues to get the job done. The big right-hander relies on his slow (76 mph) curveball 43.9% of the time. The Royals recently welcomed 21 new members to the team. Those new signees reported to the Surprise complex today. In short order, some of the more advanced players will be assigned to the Columbia Fireflies and possibly even the Quad Cities River Bandits. Some promotions will be needed to facilitate room at the lower levels. In school, you can pass with an A+ or barely scrape by with a D for degrees. Baseball is much less forgiving. Only one team celebrates a championship at season's end. When the Royals have had an A+ farm system, they won it all. The days of D and F farm systems are in the rearview mirror. Brian Bridges has a plan, and after his third draft, I believe the Royals are on the path to achieving that A+. Don’t see your favorite minor leaguer on this promotions list or have a question about a particular player? Leave a comment, and we can take a look at the likelihood of their promotion. View full article