Cory Moen

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter are headed to the Atlanta Braves in a trade. Thomas was a popular name in trade rumors over the past few weeks, and it is not surprising to see him moved ahead of Monday's trade deadline. Falter has spent the year between the majors and Triple-A, with 5 appearances, two starts, and 9 ⅔ innings pitched. His results in the majors have not been great, but the Braves will be betting on his upside, as he is under team control for two more years after this season through the arbitration process. Falter was designated for assignment in late May and has spent part of this season on the injured list with elbow inflammation. Thomas is a rental bat who has been the source of many trade rumors over the past few weeks. He does most of his damage against left-handed pitching, with an .800 OPS against left-handed pitching, as opposed to a .719 OPS versus right-handers. He will provide additional depth in the outfield for the Braves and specifically lengthen their lineup versus southpaws. As a team, Atlanta has a .705 OPS against left-handed pitching, so he will provide an upgrade, especially in that area. In return, the Braves are sending LHP Carter Holton and RHP Lucas Braun to Kansas City. Holton was the Braves' second-round pick in 2024 and has pitched this year between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A. He has appeared in 10 games, with eight starts, throwing 41 ⅔ innings and recording 41 strikeouts with 16 walks, posting a 4.32 ERA. Lucas Braun was a sixth round pick by the Braves in 2023 and has pitched this year between Double-A and Triple-A. He has thrown 94 ⅓ innings, with a 3.53 ERA with 82 strikeouts over 19 appearances and 17 starts. Braun was ranked 8th in the Braves system on MLB.com. View full article

The Royals have placed RHP Beck Way on the injured list and recalled RHP Easton McGee. Way, a rookie, has pitched in 19 games with the Royals this year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.95 FIP. He has 21 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched in those 19 games. McGee will make his Royals debut, previously having pitched in the majors for the Rays, Mariners, and Brewers. Over 13 career games at the major league level, he has thrown 26 1/3 innings and has recorded 17 strikeouts with a 3.08 ERA and 3.61 FIP. McGee was acquired two weeks ago from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations. Since being acquired, he has thrown six innings over three appearances at Triple-A Omaha with seven strikeouts and six runs given up, good for a 9.00 ERA. View full rumor

The Royals have traded OF Kameron Misner to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. Misner was acquired in November in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 18 games at the major league level this year, Misner hit for a slash line of .220/.266/.244 and struck out 17 times in 41 at-bats. He added three stolen bases in four attempts in that time frame as well. He was much better at the Triple-A level, hitting for a .941 OPS with 14 home runs, 16 doubles, and adding 14 stolen bases in 63 games played. Misner is able to play all three outfield positions and will give the Phillies more outfield depth. View full rumor

The Royals have activated Nate Pearson to the major league roster. He was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros on July 22. The Royals sent RHP Max Martin to Houston to acquire Pearson. Pearson has been decent for Houston, throwing 20 innings with a 3.60 ERA and 4.10 FIP. To make room for Pearson on the major league roster, the Royals have optioned RHP Eli Morgan to Triple-A Omaha. Morgan has bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the Royals roster this year. He's appeared in 16 games and thrown 19 1/3 innings, recording 16 strikeouts with nine walks. In that time, he has a 5.12 ERA and 6.52 FIP. View full rumor

The Royals have acquired RHP Nate Pearson from the Houston Astros. Pearson was designated for assignment on July 19. In return, the Royals have sent prospect RHP Max Martin to Houston. Pearson had had decent results in the majors for the Astros, with a 3.60 ERA and 4.10 FIP over 20 innings pitched. He's appeared in 16 games, with 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in that time. Pearson, a former first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays (28th overall in 2017), is a six-year vet who is under team control through arbitration through the 2027 season. He's currently making $1.35 million this year, so he is still very affordable for a team looking to add to its bullpen depth. Martin has pitched between Single-A and High-A this year, pitching in 26 games, throwing 40 1/3 innings, recording 36 strikeouts with 13 walks. Martin was a 10th round pick in the 2025 draft. View full rumor

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back tightness, which has kept him out of a few games recently. This move is retroactive to July 21, so the first day he will be eligible to come off the injured list is July 31. In a corresponding move, the Royals have selected the contract of shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez last appeared in a major league contest in 2023 with the Angels. He has major league experience every year from 2018-2023 and has played at Triple-A the past few years with the Braves, Yankees, and the Diamondbacks and Royals this year. Across 58 Triple-A games this year, he has hit for a slash line of .270/.333/.370. He's played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions this year, so expect to see him at multiple positions when he is on the field. To make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster, RHP Stephen Kolek was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list. View full rumor

The Royals have signed LHP Aaron Bummer to a minor league deal. Bummer opted out of his minor league deal with the Cubs on July 17. Bummer pitched in the major leagues with the Braves earlier this year without much success. He pitched 15 1/3 innings, giving up 13 earned runs and striking out 13 with 10 walks. Bummer was released by the Braves and signed with the Cubs in late May. He made six appearances in the minor leagues for the Cubs, pitching six innings, during which he gave up four runs on eight hits. Bummer's best season was in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox, where he was worth 2.7 bWAR over 67 2/3 innings pitched. He pitched with the White Sox through 2023 before being traded to Atlanta, where he was until he was released earlier this year. Over his 10-year career, Bummer has a 3.94 ERA and 3.44 FIP over 406 appearances and 397 innings. Bummer has reported to Triple-A Omaha. View full rumor

Agreed. When I saw the DeVaughan pick, I thought it was a long shot to sign him, but I guess you never know. It would make a ton of sense for him to go to college and (potentially) be a higher round pick in the future.

The Royals have traded OF Rudy Martin Jr to the Orioles in return for cash considerations. Martin Jr is a 30-year-old outfield prospect who was a former 25th-round pick by the Royals back in 2014. He climbed up the minor league ranks in his first stint with the Royals and got up to Triple-A Omaha back in 2019. He returned to Triple-A Omaha in 2021 and was granted free agency after the 2021 season. He played the 2022 season in the Washington Nationals organization and then played in Independent Ball in 2023 and 2024. He played in the Mexican Winter League in 2024-2025 prior to re-signing with the Royals for the 2025 season. He's played the majority of the 2026 season in Double-A but earned a call-up to Triple-A. Between the two levels, he slashed for a .284/.414/.441 across 255 plate appearances. He's walked at a 16.1% rate and struck out at a 23.5% rate as well. He also has eight home runs and 33 stolen bases on the year. He had an upward mobility clause in his contract that he triggered, and the Orioles chose to add him to their 40-man roster, which was the first time in his career that he earned a 40-man roster spot. It will be interesting to see if the long-time minor leaguer can earn his first major league call-up with Baltimore. View full rumor

Yeah, it looks like they did save quite a bit, so there is definitely space to give him enough to sign. It just depends on if he decides to do that. I'm also intrigued by Griffith as an option either out of the rotation or in the bullpen and Wickersham as a dark horse type guy who could develop into a contributor.

Kendry ChourioDavid ShieldsBlake MitchellJosh HammondZion RoseSean GambleRamon RamirezDrew BeamCarson RoccaforteAsbel GonzalezMichael LombardiTyler RabeYandel RicardoJack SlightomJustin LamkinBen KudrnaFelix ArrondeBlake WoltersSteven ZobacFrank Mozzicato

Image courtesy of © Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Here is a look at all of the Royals' draft picks from rounds 11-20 in the 2026 MLB draft. While these prospects may not require top dollar like some of the day one picks might, there is still plenty of potential, and it will be interesting to see if these players can be contributors at the major league level one day. Round 11 (329th overall): Tanner Griffith, OF, Saint Mary’s Griffith, a left-handed hitting outfielder, played three years at Saint Mary’s, where he hit .300/.450/.437. This past year, he hit at an even better rate, with a 1.022 OPS, and he hit five home runs. He hit three in his first two years of college. He’s also shown the ability to steal some bases as well, stealing 43 bases over his three years at Saint Mary’s. He announced that he transferred to TCU, but the Royals will look to get him to start his professional career and forgo his final year of eligibility. Griffith will add to the outfield depth, as he played all three outfield positions while in college. Saint Mary's Baseball (@smcbaseball) • Instagram photos and videos WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 561 likes, 6 comments - smcbaseball on March 21, 2026: "Griffith to the moon ??➡️ #GaelsRise". Round 12 (359th overall): Lance Hartley, RHP, College of Central Florida Hartley pitched at the College of Central Florida, where he pitched in five games, giving up six earned runs over 16 innings pitched while recording 22 strikeouts. He previously committed to play next year at the University of South Carolina, which was one of two division one offers he had after this past year. He pitched in the 2024 MLB Draft League. He throws a mid-90s fastball and a low-80s slider. He also throws a changeup and a curveball. Unfortunately, he is currently rehabbing for Tommy John and has reopened his recruitment, so the Royals will look to have him pitch starting in 2026 at the professional level instead. Round 13 (389th overall): Dalton Hill, RHP, Nicholls St Hill pitched out of the bullpen at Nicholls St this past season, appearing in 17 games, throwing 20 innings, recording 19 strikeouts, and giving up only three runs. In 2025, he had less success in the rotation, pitching in 15 games with 10 starts. Hill previously pitched at Northeast Texas Community College prior to the last two years at Nicholls State. Hill has a lot of emotion on the mound as well, which makes for a fun player to watch. Round 14 (419th overall): Banks Wickhersham, C, Fort Dorchester HS (South Carolina) Listed as a catcher, Wickersham has played all over the diamond, including some time on the mound. He has thrown in the mid-90s on the mound. He also played quarterback for his high school football team. He is committed to playing collegiately at the College of Charleston. Here is a look at how he approaches his work as a player: Round 15 (449th overall): Madden Clement, LHP, Virginia Tech Clement, son of former MLB pitcher Matt Clement, played for the Hokies for three years, where he pitched both in the rotation and as a reliever. In 2026, he pitched in eight games, five starts, and threw 13 ⅔ innings while striking out 13, walking nine, and giving up six earned runs. He missed most of the season with an arm injury, which is never a great sign for a pitcher. He pitched this summer in the Cape Cod League, where he pitched 12 ⅓ innings over four appearances. While the 6.57 ERA might not look great, he struck out 18 batters in that time, so he showed the ability to strike hitters out on the Cape. Round 16 (479th overall): Dylan Alonso, RHP, Troy University Alonso pitched this past year with Troy, mostly out of the bullpen. He threw 49 ⅓ innings and struck out 60 hitters over that time. He also had a high walk rate, walking 32 in that time period as well. He pitched at Middle Tennessee State University his freshman year before pitching at Columbia State Community College in 2025. He has a mid-90s fastball that has touched 96 mph and an above-average curveball that sits 83-84. He was part of a pitching staff that helped Troy make a College World Series appearance at the Division I level for the first time in program history. Round 17 (509th overall): Richie Roman, RHP, Houston Roman has pitched the past three years at Houston, where he has improved year over year. In 2026, he pitched in 13 games, starting four, where he threw 30 ⅓ innings, recording 31 strikeouts with a 3.86 ERA. His control was suspect this past year, walking 13 and hitting eight batters in those 13 appearances. He just turned 21 last week, so he will be pitching his age-22 season in the first full season of his professional career in 2027. His fastball has reached as high as 97 mph with a splitter/sinker that sits 88-92. He also throws a curveball and a changeup. Round 18 (539th overall): Cooper Corkrean, LHP, University of New Mexico Corkrean was thrown out of the Lobos bullpen this past year, recording four saves across 21 appearances. In those appearances, he had two starts, throwing 59 innings with 59 strikeouts. He was second-team All Mountain West in his one year with the Lobos. Prior to pitching at New Mexico, he pitched for Galveston College for two years. His fastball tops out in the low-90s. He entered the transfer portal after the 2026 season, originally committing to Houston but then flipping his commitment to Kentucky. Round 19 (569th overall): Hudson DeVaughan, P, Mooresville HS (Indiana) The University of Alabama commit has a deep repertoire, including a four-seam fastball, a two-seamer, a cutter, and two breaking balls. His fastball has reached 98 mph. He was part of a state championship team his sophomore season in high school. He was limited on the showcase circuit last summer, but he bounced back as one of the best pitching prospects in the Midwest. It will likely take more than the $150,000 to convince DeVaughan to forgo his college commitment. His parents were both athletes at the University of Florida, and his dad, Derek, was drafted in the 23rd round of the 1997 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the 138th-best prospect in the 2026 draft. He projects to have more velocity to come, so that is an intriguing thing to keep an eye on going forward as well. If he doesn’t sign, he will be draft eligible again in 2028 as a sophomore. Round 20 (599th overall): Riley McDonald, RHP, State College of Florida McDonald, a JUCO product, pitched mostly out of the bullpen, with 21 appearances and five starts. He threw 63 ⅔ innings, where he recorded 58 strikeouts. He entered the transfer portal at the end of the season and committed to Liberty University. Which of these picks are you most excited about? View full article

Image courtesy of © AL FREY/Special to the Free Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images With the 2026 draft right around the corner, we wanted to take a look at how the draft class from one year ago is doing in their first year in the Royals organization. With Mondays being an off day across the minor leagues, all stats mentioned are as of Monday, July 6. Round 1, Pick 23: Sean Gamble, OF, IMG Academy Gamble was taken 23rd overall and started his professional career after signing for $4 million and forgoing his commitment to Vanderbilt. In 2026, he was assigned to Single-A Columbia. Over his first two months, he has struggled at the plate, with a .567 OPS through 63 games. He has struck out at a pretty high rate (25.2%). He hasn’t hit for much power yet, but has shown the ability to steal bases, with 19 stolen bases in 23 attempts. It’s likely too early to worry, as many young players struggle offensively when they start their careers. The hope is that Gamble will begin to show more promise offensively as the season continues. He’s currently ranked as the #5 prospect on Royals Keep. Round 1, Pick 28: Josh Hammond, SS, Wesleyan Christian Academy Hammond was taken five picks after Gamble out of Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, NC. Similar to Gamble, he did not make his professional debut until 2026. He’s also played this season at Single-A Columbia and has played most of his games at shortstop, but quite a few at third base as well. He’s played 42 games at shortstop and 28 at third base, along with two at DH as well. He’s been solid offensively, hitting five home runs with three triples and 17 doubles as well. His 20.7% strikeout rate is something to keep an eye on if he climbs up to the next level in the future. The 19-year old also has a 9.1 % walk rate, along with 18 stolen bases in his first 74 games played. His solid start has had him climb up to the #3 prospect in the Royals system. Round 2, Pick 61: Michael Lombardi, RHP, Tulane Lombardi has also been playing this year at Single-A Columbia. He was mainly used as a relief pitcher in his final year at Tulane, but the Royals have tried him as a starter this year. His 2.44 ERA looks solid, but the 3.45 FIP tells a slightly different story. Both numbers are still solid in his first year of professional ball. He’s struck hitters out at a high rate (13.72 K/9), but also walked batters at a pretty high rate as well (5.52 BB/9). This is not uncommon for young pitchers, so the Royals are hoping those numbers can improve going forward. Round 2, Pick 71: Justin Lamkin, LHP, Texas A&M Lamkin started the year at High-A Quad Cities, and after six starts with a 1.27 ERA and 3.45 FIP along with 38 strikeouts over 28 ⅓ innings, was called up to Double-A. In two starts, he looked solid, throwing 11 ⅓ innings and a respectable 4.09 FIP. Unfortunately, he was put on the seven-day IL and then transferred to the 60-day IL with an undisclosed injury, so hopefully this is not something that gets in the way of his development long term. Round 3, Pick 97: Cameron Millar, RHP, Alhambra HS (Martinez, CA) Millar has played this year at the Complex League, pitching in six games (five starts). He’s thrown 16 ⅔ innings and has recorded 25 strikeouts. The home run rate is high (2.70/9), but it’s a small sample, so it's hard to extrapolate if this will be an issue long term or not. He’s an intriguing arm and someone to keep an eye on, as he is ranked #13 in the Royals system. Round 4, Pick 128: Nolan Sailors, OF, Creighton Drafted out of Creighton, where he was a four-year starter, Sailors was a high-average hitter, hitting for a .913 OPS in his time with the Blue Jays. He got his professional career started after being drafted, playing in 32 games with High-A Quad Cities, where he looked comfortable at the plate (.780 OPS), and he stole 17 bases in 21 attempts. In 2026, he played again at High-A, where he continued similar production with a .777 OPS and 23 stolen bases over 65 games played. Round 5, Pick 158: Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas Jimenez started his collegiate career at Oregon State in 2023 and then missed the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. He pitched the 2025 season with Arkansas, where he threw 42 ⅓ innings, mostly out of the bullpen for the Razorbacks. He didn’t pitch in game action in 2025 after being drafted, but has pitched at High-A this year, throwing 48 innings in 14 appearances (seven starts, seven relief). Some of his underlying numbers have not been great, but the 22-year-old is still early in his career. The 5.79 FIP and 1.50 HR/9 along with a low strikeout rate (6.19 K/9) are concerning if they don’t improve going forward. Round 6, Pick 188: Tyriq Kemp, SS, Baylor Born in the Netherlands, Kemp played two seasons with Baylor, where he hit for a solid slash line of .305/.403/.446 with nine home runs over 108 games played. He got his first taste of professional ball after being drafted, playing with Single-A Columbia, and he struggled offensively, which is not uncommon for players in their professional debuts. Over 16 games played, he posted a .683 OPS, but did have five stolen bases in eight attempts as well. In 2026, he moved up a level, playing at High-A, where he has played both middle infield positions. He’s posted at .786 OPS with seven home runs and 21 stolen bases, so he has taken clear steps forward since being drafted. Keep an eye on how he continues to develop, as he has shown some promise over the past year. Round 7, Pick 218: Bryson Dudley, P, Texas State Dudley was drafted out of Texas State where he pitched as a relief pitcher. Over 50 ⅓ innings with the Bobcats, he struck out 53 hitters, but also showed some struggles with his control, where he walked 31 hitters. The Royals were intrigued with his pitch mix and saw promise, taking him in the seventh round. After being drafted, he pitched at Single-A, striking out 22 hitters in 13 ⅓ innings in nine games, recording two saves. He was placed at High-A and subsequently placed on the full-season injury list at the beginning of the 2026 season. Round 8, Pick 248: Brooks Bryan, C, Troy Bryan did not make his professional debut until this season, where he has played at Single-A Columbia. He’s played in 33 games (as of July 6) and looked very solid at the plate, with a slash line of .319/.406/.496. He’s added six stolen bases, which is more than he stole in any season while at Troy. He’s currently on the 7-day IL, where he was placed on June 1. Round 9, Pick 278: Shane Van Dam, P, NC State Van Dam started his collegiate career at SUNY Cortland, but pitched the final two years with NC State, where he served as mostly a reliever out of the Wolfpack bullpen. In 2026, he’s pitched in 15 games, starting 11 of them, so the Royals are trying him as a starter to start his professional career. The states have been a bit tough, as he has a 5.34 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 57 ⅓ innings pitched. At just 22 years old, he still has time to adjust, but if he doesn’t succeed as a starter, a move to the bullpen could be in his future. Round 10, Pick 308: Max Martin, P, UC Irvine Martin got his first taste of professional ball last year after being drafted, pitching in four games, where he threw 6 ⅔ innings, recording six strikeouts and not giving up a run. Between Single-A and High-A in 2026, he’s thrown exclusively out of the bullpen, and he has thrown 35 ⅔ innings over 24 appearances and recorded 30 strikeouts, along with giving up just one home run. He’s an intriguing arm as a mid-round pick, and time will tell if he can continue to make adjustments to continue climbing the organizational ladder as he gets deeper into his career. Round 11, Pick 338: Hunter Alberini, P, Arizona Alberini appeared in four games, pitching six innings after being drafted last year at High-A Quad Cities. He started the year at High-A again, appearing in 10 games, but struggling mightily with his control, walking 17 batters in 9 ⅔ innings pitched. He was sent to Single-A Columbia in late May and has looked better since being demoted, with four walks in 11 ⅓ innings pitched. Hopefully, this reset is what he needed to start having regular success out of the bullpen. Round 12, Pick 368: Matthew Hoskins, P, Georgia Hoskins is no longer in the Royals organization, as he was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as the PTBNL as part of the Kameron Misner deal, which was completed in November of 2025. Hoskins is currently pitching in the Complex League for the Tampa Bay organization, where he has pitched in 11 games, throwing 12 innings with eight strikeouts, 12 walks, and eight hit batters. Some of the stats are rough around the edges, but Tampa saw enough in him to choose him instead of cash considerations in return for Misner. Round 13, Pick 398: Tyson Moran, SS, Ontario Playing in 38 games in the Arizona Complex League, Moran has hit seven home runs and hit for a slash line of .315/.389/.562, which is a solid start to his professional career for the Canadian. He has shown some promise and is someone who is looking to carve out a role for himself as a mid-round pick to have some success. Round 14, Pick 428: JC Vanek, 1B, Chipola Vanek got into 14 games at Single-A after being drafted and has played this year at the same level. He has shown a little bit of power, hitting seven home runs in 58 games with a .772 OPS. He’s played mostly first base, but also played a few games in the corner outfield as well. His bat will have to carry him at a position that has a high bar to be a successful big leaguer. Round 15, Pick 458: Connor Rasmussen, IF, Tulane Rasmussen has bounced mostly played second base, but also played some third base as well. He started the year at Single-A, where he hit well enough (.816 OPS) to get promoted to High-A, where he has not seen the same success, but still looked decent in his first 10 games with Quad Cities. His defensive versatility will help him, so it will be interesting to see where he plays in the future and if more positions are added to his defensive repertoire. Round 16, Pick 488: Randy Ramnarace, P, New Haven Ramnarace didn’t get into a game with the organization until this season, where he has appeared in 18 games out of the bullpen for the Fireflies in Columbia. He’s thrown 28 innings and has recorded 20 strikeouts with 29 walks, so getting his control under control, no pun intended, will be key to having success going forward. Round 17, Pick 518: Luke Pelzer, OF, Illinois-Chicago Playing in 19 games after being drafted, he absolutely crushed Single-A pitching, which earned him the opportunity to play at High-A this year. His offense has not slowed down over his first taste of a full professional season, hitting for a .929 OPS over 61 games, with three home runs, six triples, and 17 doubles on the year. He’s played left field this year, but can also play in right field and played a little bit of centerfield in college as well. If he continues to hit like this, it won’t be long before he gets called up again. Keep an eye on this late-round pick to make a little noise on prospect lists if this success continues. Round 18, Pick 548: Grayson Boles, P, St. Augustine HS (San Diego, CA) Pitching in the Arizona Complex League, Boles has thrown 10 innings this year and has recorded 20 strikeouts, with nine walks. This type of production isn’t too uncommon for young pitchers, but he clearly has raw stuff and is someone the Royals believe in. The development might just take a bit of time to see it come to fruition. Round 20, Pick 608: Kamden Edge, P, Northern OK Tonkawa Edge made his professional debut after being drafted, pitching 14 ⅓ innings over 9 appearances with 17 strikeouts in Single-A. He’s pitched this year out of the bullpen exclusively at High-A, where the strikeouts are still occurring at a high rate (45 in 32 ⅔ innings). For a late-round pick, he is having success early. The Royals signed all but one player from the draft class, but I wanted to mention him, and we can check out how he did this year as well. Round 19, Pick 578: Dylan Wood, P, Franklin HS (Oak Grove, CA) Wood decided to pursue a collegiate career and pitched the 2026 season with the University of Georgia, where he appeared in six games and threw 4 ⅔ innings. He struggled with his control, walking nine batters in that span, but did strike out seven. He has since entered the transfer portal and has not announced where he will be transferring this next year. Which of these prospects are you most intrigued by and excited by a year after the Royals drafted them? View full article