Cory Moen

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?

Kris Bubic was on a rehab assignment, looking to return to the Royals rotation in the future, but he was scratched from his most recent start after receiving a cortisone shot in his sore shoulder. This season has been a lot of stop-and-go, with Bubic on the injured list with an elbow injury before the shoulder injury was found during another rehab assignment. He has stopped and started rehab assignments multiple times, with his most recent appearance being on June 28, where he threw two innings. Bubic was transferred to the 60-day IL, which was more of a procedural move, having been out since May 18 (retroactive to May 15). The Royals hope this setback doesn't keep Bubic out too long, as they need help in their rotation, especially with Cole Ragans being out for the year after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Being an impending free agent, the Royals were hoping Bubic would come back and become their most enticing trade piece come the August 3rd trade deadline. It's possible he could still be traded, but he may not return to the major leagues before the trade deadline, which will limit his appeal to teams looking for a rotation boost.

While May was a tough month, especially for the offense, the hitters in June showed a bit more promise, and a few players had a much better month after having disappointing starts to the year. Bobby Witt Jr. continued to be the superstar he is and is worthy of Hitter of the Month in almost every month he plays regularly. There were other hitters who also had solid months in June. Witt played 21 games in June and posted a .909 OPS with 3 HR, 10 RBIs, and also stole 11 bases in 12 attempts. Carter Jensen also bounced back from a tough month of May, posting a .860 OPS in June with 5 HR and 20 RBI to boot. While both Witt Jr and Jensen had really solid months, the clear choice for June Hitter of the Month is Jac Caglianone. Caglianone has had an up-and-down year, hitting well in April, struggling in May, and then coming alive in June. In June, he played 25 games and posted a slash line of .309/.387/.649, with 9 home runs and 19 RBIs. Not known for his speed, he also added two stolen bases in the month as well Caglianone is cementing himself as a middle-of-the-order bat, hitting mostly third in the lineup behind Jensen and Witt Jr. A former first-round pick, Caglianone is looking more comfortable, and the Royals will hope he continues his production from this past month going forward. While the Royals may end up being sellers at the deadline, it will be key for players like Caglianone to take advantage of the opportunity and ensure they are in the future plans of the team. Here’s one of the nine home runs Caglianone hit this month, against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he absolutely crushed the ball. Which players are your picks for next month’s hitter of the month? Let’s discuss in the comments!

The Royals have announced they have selected the contract of catcher Luke Maile. To make room on the 26-man roster, OF John Rave has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Since Maile was not on the 40-man roster, RHP Eric Cerantola has been designated for assignment or release. Maile has played 28 games with the Storm Chasers this year, hitting for a slash line of .202/.324/.303 and serving as depth behind the dish. Rave has played in nine games for the Royals, with 18 total at-bats. He's looked solid in the small sample size, with one home run, one triple, and one double since being recalled. Prior to being called up, he had hit for an .870 OPS with Triple-A Omaha with 10 home runs and 10 doubles over 60 games played. He also stole 16 bases in that time frame, earning his call-up, which proved to be pretty short. If he continues to hit, he will likely be back in Kansas City soon. Cerantola was called up for his major league debut earlier this year, pitching in four games and completing 5 1/3 innings. His results were not great, as he issued 10 walks and gave up two home runs, along with striking out 7 hitters. Maile will likely serve as the backup catcher behind Carter Jensen, with Salvador Perez dealing with a sore left elbow.

Any team that sees itself out of contention at the trade deadline will often be a seller, and unless the season turns around quickly, the Royals will be a team looking to trade pieces to be more competitive in future years. Which players the team decides to deal will depend on how the organization feels about the pieces they have going into next season and the following seasons. If they sell only players on expiring contracts, this will likely indicate that the organization sees the team as competitive as early as 2027. Now, if the team trades players with multiple years of control, this could signify a larger rebuild (or the organization might use the team re-tool). Players with more control tend to yield a better return, but will hurt the team’s chances of being competitive in the near future. There are some players the Royals have that are untouchable in trades for a variety of reasons, such as Bobby Witt Jr. or Salvador Perez. However, there are plenty of other players the team could look to deal near the August 3rd trade deadline. Here’s a look at four possible trade candidates and what they offer a team looking to acquire them. I’ll also include a list at the end of players that could be dealt if they are looking to shake things up on a larger scale. Lane Thomas - OF, 50 G, 99 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR Thomas is no stranger to being in the rumor mill as a possible trade deadline target for a contending team. He has been traded twice near the trade deadline. He was first traded in 2021, which sent him from St. Louis to Washington in a one-for-one swap for Jon Lester. The second time he was traded at the deadline was in 2024 when the Nationals traded him to the Cleveland Guardians in return for two minor leaguers, and infielder Alex Tena, who has served as a utility player for the Nationals the past few years. Now, why would a team want to acquire Thomas? The most obvious being that he is a right-handed hitter who has historically crushed lefties, with a career .850 OPS vs lefties. He hasn’t been quite that stellar against lefties this year, but has still hit for a solid .759 OPS against southpaws on the year. With the ability to play all three outfield spots, Thomas offers the ability to be a fourth outfielder with the ability to jump into a starting role against lefties in particular. He also has above-average arm strength in the outfield and has positive baserunning value as well. He also has a solid walk rate, which would contribute to a team looking for more on-base ability during a playoff run. While the return the Royals would get might be seen as minimal, Thomas is on an expiring contract, so the possibility of getting a minor leaguer who may contribute in the future would be better than letting him walk at the end of the year for no return. Matt Strahm - LHP, 23 G, 7.48 FIP, -1.0 fWAR Strahm is another impending free agent that a contending team may look to acquire at the trade deadline. His numbers on the year have not been great, but a team may look to buy low and use him as a lefty out of the bullpen, especially if they are looking for someone to get a tough lefty out in a key spot in a tight situation. Lefties are hitting .208 off of Strahm this year, while righties are hitting .246. Over his career, he has actually been better against right-handed batters, which shows he can hold his own in a middle relief role, especially with the three-batter minimum rule. If he can look a bit better than his 7.49 FIP between now and the trade deadline, the Royals could look to get something in return for him, especially since he is on an expiring contract. Kris Bubic - LHP, 9 GS, 3.71 FIP, 0.8 fWAR Bubic might be the most coveted trade target on the Royals roster in the next couple of months. He has pitched to a 4.11 ERA over 50 ⅓ innings, recording 51 strikeouts with a 1.23 WHIP on the year. Similar to Thomas and Strahm, Bubic is on an expiring contract. Bubic was an All-Star in 2025 prior to being shut down in late July with a rotator cuff injury. He made 20 starts, throwing 116 ⅓ innings with a 2.55 ERA and 116 strikeouts. He was healthy to start the 2026 season, but has been sidelined since May 18 after experiencing soreness in his left elbow. Unfortunately, he had a setback during his rehab stint, this time with a shoulder issue. If Bubic can come back healthy and throw a few good starts for the Royals, a contending team may look to acquire him for a postseason push of their own, with the Royals looking like a likely seller. How he looks in his potential return could dictate what type of return the Royals get for him if he is dealt come late July or early August. John Schreiber - RHP, 31 G, 5.15 FIP, -0.3 fWAR Schreiber is also an impending free agent and has been very solid out of a Royals bullpen that has struggled on the year. Schreiber has thrown 28 ⅔ innings, recording 21 strikeouts with a 2.83 ERA and 5.16 FIP. While those numbers don’t jump off the page at you, contending teams are always looking for reliable bullpen help, even if they see their bullpen as a strength. Schreiber is not necessarily a reliever that a contending team will toss into a high-leverage role, but is someone who could, in the right situation, get some key outs in tight situations. A low to mid leverage reliever who is an impending free agent may not get a return that will catch headlines, but it gives the organization an opportunity to see if they can find a diamond in the rough type prospect and turn a couple of months of Schreiber into a contributor in the future. While this focused on impending free agents, if the Royals decide to sell on players with more team control, the deadline could get much more interesting. They won’t trade any players they deem as part of the core of the next contending team in Kansas City, but here is a list of players that could interest contending teams, and the Royals may move if they deem the return is too good to pass up. Who do you think the Royals should, or shouldn’t, trade? Any other names not mentioned that the team should look to sell on?

The month of May will be one many Royals fans and players are hoping to forget as the calendar turns to June. The Royals have started the year with two sub-par months, as they went a paltry 10-18 in the month of May after turning in a 10-17 record in April. Looking for a standout performance on a team that is severely underperforming pre-season expectations is never a fun thing to do. I didn’t have to look far to see who the best hitter was in the month of May, and it wasn’t particularly close, to be honest. Only one hitter had an OPS above .700 (league-average this season is .710) this past month. The Royals had four hitters who looked good in April. Carter Jensen, Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Jac Caglianone. Only one of them kept the solid start going in the month of May. Bobby Witt Jr. has been the best player on the Royals in the first two months of the season. Specifically in May, he hit for a .853 OPS with seven home runs and 11 RBIs. This home run against the Tigers may have been the most fun to watch, with Witt Jr showing off his speed: Speaking of speed, he added seven stolen bases, being thrown out only one time. In 28 games played, Witt Jr. hit for a slash line of .283/.331/.522 (133 wRC+) and struck out just 23 times (19.6% of plate appearances). He walked just eight times in the month, but he did have 13 extra-base hits, six doubles, along with the aforementioned seven home runs. With the team playing at an underwhelming base this far, Witt Jr. will need some help if he and the Royals hope to climb out of the nightmarish start to the season. The Royals were 14 games under .500 to start June, but will look to climb back into contention in an AL Central that still appears pretty open for the taking. Typically, I would highlight any honorable mentions, but I’m not sure any player deserves an honorable mention if they were below league-average hitters over an entire month. Here’s to hoping the offense can find more consistency and get their superstar some help the rest of this season.

There have been a few prospects who have started the year strong, and a handful of pitchers who have stood out throughout the minor leagues in the Royals organization in the first month of the season. There are a handful of starters and a couple of relief prospects who have stood out at various levels. Choosing the minor league pitcher of the month was not easy, but I have chosen to highlight Michael Lombardi, who is pitching with Single-A Columbia. He started the year as the #18 prospect in the Royals system and has turned some heads over his first four appearances, two of them being starts. He has thrown 12 1/3 innings and has recorded 24 strikeouts on the season. While his 2.92 ERA might not be the lowest, the strikeout percentage numbers are hard to ignore. Lombardi was drafted by the Royals in the second round of the 2025 draft, so he is pitching in his first professional season this year. He was mostly a reliever in college, pitching at Tulane, but he has been tried as a starter in two of his appearances this year. He’s yet to throw more than 4 innings in a single appearance, but this is not uncommon for young pitchers. At 22 years old, Lombardi has plenty of upside, and the Royals may look to try him as a starter, and if that doesn’t work out, a bullpen role is a very realistic option for him down the line. One thing to keep an eye on is his walk rate, as he has walked 9 batters in the 12 1/3 innings pitched so far this year. If he can reign in the control and still strike guys out at a high rate, the upside is quite high for him. While I chose to highlight Lombardi’s first month, there were a few other names that I wanted to give a shoutout to for their performance over the first month of the season. Honorable Mentions Single-A: Blake Wolters - 5 games, 5 starts, 1-1, 1.66 ERA, 21.2 IP, 24 SO, .179 avg against High-A: Justin Lamkin - 4 games, 4 starts,1-0, 1.02 ERA, 17.2 IP, 24 SO, .153 avg against Emmanuel Reyes - 4 games, 4 starts, 1-0, 1.13 ERA, 16 IP, 12 SO, .154 avg against Yimi Presinal - 7 games, 0 starts, 2-0, 0.84 ERA, 10.2 IP, 12 SO, .156 avg against Double-A: Caden Monke - 8 games, 0 starts, 2-0, 2.51 ERA, 14.1 IP, 22 SO, .128 avg against Triple-A: Eric Cerantola - 11 games, 0 starts, 1-0, 1.54 ERA, 11.2 IP, 17 SO, .233 avg against

A few weeks into the year, we at Royals Keep wanted to take a look at how the top-20 prospects have fared to start the 2026 season. With lots of upside and intrigue among prospects, some of these guys are players you either have already seen or will see soon at Kauffman Stadium. Here’s a quick look at each member of the top-20 prospects and how they have looked to start the season. 1. Carter Jensen - C Playing his age-22 season this year, Jensen has looked pretty solid, especially at the plate. He has hit five home runs in 20 games. He’s shown very good bat speed, in the 88th percentile. One potential issue is the strikeouts, as he has struck out in 31.8% of his plate appearances this season. He’s had a solid start to the year, but where he will be most valuable is at the plate; his defense has been solid as well. Like all young players, Jensen will likely have his ups and downs, but he is set up to be a premier part of the Royals lineup for a long time. 2. Blake Mitchell - C Mitchell is playing his age-21 season, his third professional season, and is playing the early part of the year with High-A Quad Cities. He’s started off somewhat slow at the plate, but it is a small sample size, so it’s silly to get too focused on the numbers there. This will be a big year if he can show upside with the bat, or if he is more likely to take on a back-up role long term as a glove-first catcher with limited upside offensively. 3. David Shields - LHP Shields is also playing at High-A Quad Cities, where he has pitched in 3 games, throwing 11 innings and striking out 15 batters. At 19 years old, he is still a ways from making an impact at Kauffman Stadium, but he has shown the ability early in his career to hit hitters out. He threw 75.2 innings last year and will look to build off that to continue developing as a starting pitcher. 4. Kendry Chourio - RHP A member of the 2025 international signing class, Chourio is playing his age-18 season this year. He’s got higher octane raw stuff than Shields, throwing his fastball between 94-97 mph with a kick-change, curveball, and slider in his arsenal as well. He’s ahead of other 18-year-olds, starting the 2026 season at Single-A, starting three games and throwing 12.2 innings with 15 strikeouts to start the year. One very exciting thing about him in his pro career is his 0.91 WHIP, which means he isn’t giving up many hits and isn't walking many batters either. There is a lot of upside, but young players, especially pitchers, are volatile. He’s likely still a few years away from the majors, but he is a prospect that Royals fans can start dreaming on in the next few years. 5. Ben Kudrna - RHP The first prospect on this list in the upper minors, Kudrna, is starting his age-23 season with Triple-A Omaha. Unfortunately, he was moved to the injured list with right elbow discomfort after just one start and two innings pitched. Any type of arm injury for a pitcher is concerning, so they will likely be careful with Kudrna, not wanting to make the issue worse. Kudrna is getting a second opinion on his elbow before an updated timeline is released. 6. Sean Gamble - OF/2B The Royals' first-round pick from 2025, Gamble, was committed to play college at Vanderbilt before the Royals signed him away after drafting him 23rd overall. He’ll be playing his age-19 season this year, and the left-handed hitter showed up to spring with more strength than he had. While his numbers through his first handful of professional games don’t jump off the page at you, the Royals believe in his athleticism and approach as a hitter. He has upside as a base stealer and the athleticism to stick in center field long term. 7. Josh Hammond - SS The 28th overall selection in the 2025 draft, Hammond is currently a shortstop but may move to third base long term. The Royals are seeing if he can stick at shortstop before making the move. He’s playing his age-19 season in 2026, and started the year at Single-A. He’s gotten off to a hot start at the plate, playing games at both shortstop and third base. Young for the level, it will be interesting to see how he develops as a hitter and grows as a professional. 8. Ramon Ramirez - C Ramirez signed in 2023 as part of the international signing class. He started his age-20 season this year at High-A Quad Cities, with games at both catcher and designated hitter. He’s got enough raw power to hit home runs to any part of any ballpark, and some projections show upside of 20-plus home run power down the road. The organization has lots of catchers in the system, so Ramirez will be given time to develop both at the plate and defensively as well. His upside is as a bat-first catcher, which is something the Royals may have multiple players in the same ilk. 9. Drew Beam - RHP Beam is a former 3rd round selection in 2024, and pitched his first professional season in 2025 at High-A. He threw 131.2 innings over 26 starts in 2025 and will look to build off that solid first year in the organization. He has started the 2026 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and has thrown 12 ⅔ innings over his first two starts. He isn’t a high-strikeout pitcher, and his calling card will be his control, which will hopefully help him. He will likely move quickly if he can continue to get hitters out, even without overpowering stuff. 10. Asbel Gonzalez - CF Another member of the 2023 international signing class, Gonzalez has stood out in his first couple of years as a professional. Playing his age-20 season, he is playing at High-A and is in the process of slowly climbing the minor league ladder. Seen as an above-average center fielder, there are few doubts he can stick in center field long term. His development at the plate will be key to watch, as he has shown he can handle the fielding and baserunning, stealing six bases in his first ten games this season. If he can develop offensively, he could project as more than a defensive replacement and pinch-running option. 11. Yandel Ricardo - SS The top Cuban prospect in the 2024 international class, Ricardo, signed for $2.4 million and started his professional career looking the part. His first struggles came at Single-A, where he played 50 games and posted a .547 OPS. One thing worth remembering is that he was playing his age-18 season that year, so reaching Single-A at 18 is an accomplishment. He started this year back at Single-A. The switch-hitter is still a work in progress at the plate, but the Royals believe in him, and signs show he has untapped power if he can make better swing decisions. Like many prospects, what role he has long term will depend on how he develops at the plate. Keep an eye on him if he can start to piece things together at the plate. 12. Felix Arronde - RHP Signed in 2021 out of Cuba, Arronde is playing his age-22 season and started the year at Double-A. He posted a 2.80 ERA in 2025, with 128 ⅔ innings pitched. He has looked solid over his first few starts, but has given up more home runs this year than in previous years. He gave up nine home runs all last season and has given up four already this year. The hope is that he is just adjusting to the upper minors, and this isn’t a sign of issues to come. He’ll likely pitch most, if not all, of the year at Double-A, and the thing to keep an eye on is if he can tap more into swing and miss stuff, because the upside is most certainly there. 13. Luinder Avila - RHP Signed back in 2018 out of Venezuela, Avila has worked his way up the minor leagues and made his major league debut in 2025. He started the year at Triple-A Omaha and was then recalled to the majors, where he has thrown six innings over two appearances at the major league level. He is serving as rotation depth, but may be destined for the bullpen long term, because that is where he profiles best. 14. Daniel Vazquez - SS An international signee in 2021, Vazquez is playing his age-22 season in 2026 and has started the year at Double-A after spending most of last year at High-A. His bat development will be key to his development this year. He profiles best as a utility infielder if his bat can develop enough, as he has been solid defensively and on the bases. 15. Steven Zobac - RHP Drafted in the fourth round in 2022 out of Cal, Zobac was slowed by a knee injury in 2025, limited to just 14 starts. He was added to the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft, so the Royals believe in him enough not to leave him unprotected. His strengths are in his command, and his pitches play up due to the command being as solid as it is. He has not pitched yet in 2026, but if he can show he is past the injury, he could rise up the last few steps of the minors pretty quickly. He’ll likely start at Double-A with the potential to be in the big leagues if things go as planned. 16. Carson Roccaforte - OF Drafted in the supplemental second round in 2023, Roccaforte won the organization’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in both 2024 and 2025, which shows he has upside in centerfield long term. He showed more power in 2025, hitting 18 home runs between High-A and Double-A. He has started this year at Double-A and hit four home runs over his first 15 games, which is a sign that the power might be here to stay. If his production continues on this trajectory, the Royals could bring him up to the majors sooner rather than later. 17. Blake Wolters - RHP A former second-round pick, Wolters has had his ups and downs throughout his time in the minors. Most recently, he was slowed by shoulder weakness in 2025, limiting him to just 12 starts. He will be pitching at Single-A for the third year, but could climb a level if he shows he is healthy. Still just 21 years old, Wolters has plenty of upside, and the Royals will look to continue developing him as a starter, but a move to the bullpen is possible if the shoulder issues persist. He’s looked solid over his first few starts this year, so hopefully he will continue to develop and live up to the potential that made him an early selection just a few years ago. 18. Michael Lombardi - RHP A 2025 second-round pick, Lombardi is pitching in his first professional action this year. In 2025, he threw 42 innings and had a whopping 73 strikeouts. He’s looked very good this year, with 20 strikeouts over his first three appearances over 10.1 innings. He’ll develop as a starter, but he did pitch out of the bullpen in college, having played both centerfield and first base as well while at Tulane. Still a long way to go developmentally, there is plenty of upside and things to be excited about with Lombardi, as he is playing his age-22 season this year. 19. Warren Calcano - SS Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2025, the 18-year-old switch-hitter will likely move up out of the Dominican Summer League at some point in 2026. His fielding is ahead of his bat, which is not uncommon for young prospects. Calcano has power potential, but time will tell how much he can tap into that down the road. He is returning from a shoulder injury, so how his arm strength looks will be something to watch for this year. He’s shown good speed and has upside as a baserunner as well. 20. Frank Mozzicato - LHP A 2021 first-round pick, Mozzicato has worked his way up the minors and started the year at Double-A. He’s been a bit inconsistent in his time in the minor leagues and will look to be more consistent at Double-A after struggling after a mid-year call-up last year. His velocity has not climbed like many thought it would, but he has an above-average curveball to go along with his 90 mph fastball and 86 mph changeup. He also started throwing a cutter this past season, so it will be interesting to see how much he throws that as well. The Royals will continue to try to develop him as a starter, but there is a real

Isaac Collins was removed from a game after attempting to make a diving catch into the stands in left field against the Tigers. He didn't get up right away, but walked back into the dugout with a noticeable limp. Collins hasn't had a great start to the season after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. Collins has hit .214/.327/.310 for an OPS+ of 85. The injury is listed as a knee injury, and the Royals will update his status on Wednesday.

The Royals have had a lackluster start to the 2026 season. They currently stand 7-9, which is a disappointing start to the season for a team that was looking to compete in the AL Central. It’s still early, so this could just be a blip on the radar, but this week will be important in helping turn the season around and not dig a hole that the team cannot dig itself out of this year. This could be a key week in facing the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees on the road. A few things to keep an eye on this week to see if we are not seeing more of the same include if the hitters can step up and hit like they are expected to, if the starting rotation can continue to give the team a chance to win, and if the team can take some games from playoff teams from a year ago. Tough Offensive Start It has been a tough start to most of the Royals' lineup, as they are hitting .221 with an OBP of .311, good for 24th and 19th, respectively. The .655 OPS ranks 24th in MLB and will need to improve if the team hopes to build some momentum as we get deeper into the season. Only four players have a league average OPS of .693 or better, while other potential key contributors fall quite a bit below that. Carter Jensen, Maikel Garcia, and Kyle Isbel have been bright spots in the lineup, but expecting those three to continue hitting the way they have over the first couple of weeks of the year could be a big ask, specifically in Isbel’s case, who has a career OPS+ of 84. Maybe he has improved and will be closer to league average, but the .316 batting average to go along with an .895 OPS is a big ask of a player who has been a below-average hitter prior to this season. Garcia signed a big contract and is expected to be a key contributor in the lineup, so his getting off to a strong start is a bit less of a surprise. Jensen is a young hitter with plenty of upside and is someone who the team was hoping would take a step forward this season. Bobby Witt Jr. has had a down year by his standards, as he has a league-average OPS to this point. With the talent he has, it would be quite the surprise not to see him be the MVP caliber player he is the rest of the way. The rest of the lineup, specifically from bigger-name players, is where they have struggled mightily at the start of the year. Salvador Perez has hit for a slash line of .153/.219/.288 to start the year, and the Royals and their fans are hoping this isn’t the start of a decline for a mainstay in the Royals lineup for the past 15 years. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino has also had a rough start to the year, with an even worse slash line than Perez, hitting .153/.246/.169. Both players have had a rough start to the year, but will likely get closer to their career splits the rest of the way. This week will be a tough test for the offense, as they face the AL Central favorites to start the year, the Detroit Tigers, and the vaunted New York Yankees. Both teams are looking to rebound from tough weeks, so the Royals pitchers could be in for an interesting week ahead. To this point in the season, the starting rotation for the Royals has been solid. Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha have been very good, each with three starts and ERAs of 2.50 and 0.43, respectively. Seth Lugo has also delivered sterling results, pitching to a 1.53 ERA in his first three starts as well. Cole Ragans has struggled in his first three starts this year, pitching to a 5.91 ERA, and will look to get back to form, facing off against Framber Valdez to start the road trip. The bullpen has had its moments this year, being led by closer Lucas Erceg, who has recorded five saves in the seven wins this season. The rest of the bullpen has been spotty, so more consistency will be key, especially if the offense continues to struggle. While they may not finish with those numbers, they are a promising start and something to continue building on, because the starters will need to face two lineups in the Tigers and Yankees that have some starters either looking to build on a good start or get their seasons headed in the right direction. The Tigers have the 10th-best team OPS, while the Yankees, similar to the Royals, have struggled to the 25th-best team OPS to this point. Pitching, on the other hand, has been solid for both teams, as the Yankees rank 2nd in team ERA and the Tigers rank 11th. While the opponents might be tough this week, this could prove to be the week where the Royals' season does one of two things. Either it turns around and goes as the team, and fans were hoping it would, or they continue digging themselves into a hole that will be tougher and tougher to dig out of. The keys will be the offense starting to get back to form and not relying on the top three or four hitters, the pitching continuing to keep them in games, and the bullpen being more consistent beyond Erceg. How important do you think this week is for the Royals?

A prospect getting to Triple-A means they are just one step away from the major leagues. The call-up to the majors could happen for a variety of reasons, including the prospect playing their way into the major league club’s plans, an injury to a current major leaguer, or even a player needing to step away for a few days for personal reasons. Players at Triple-A are typically a combination of guys who have a good amount of experience, either at the major league level or some years in the minor leagues, and prospects who are still working their way up and looking for that first call. The Omaha Storm Chasers are no different and have a few intriguing names, including former first-round pick Gavin Cross, and fellow top 30 prospects via MLB Pipeline RHPs Shane Panzini (#21) and Ben Kudrna (#10). While many of the Royals' top prospects are in the lower minors, these players are intriguing enough, and they may even get a shot at Kaufmann Stadium as early as the 2026 season. The Storm Chasers roster is also full of players who have some experience in the major leagues as well, which are good guys to call on when a roster spot opens up in Kansas City. Here is a preview of the coaching staff, the roster, and what to expect from certain players this season and beyond. Storm Chasers Coaching Staff The coaching staff in the minor leagues is key to developing future major leaguers in any organization. The Storm Chasers have many familiar faces from past years. Pat Osborn will be in his second year as the manager of the Storm Chasers. This year will be his 15th in pro ball and seventh as a minor league manager. He was the bench coach for the Storm Chasers before his current appointment. Dane Johnson will be in his seventh season in Omaha and the sixth in the pitching coach role. He’s been in the Royals organization since 2020, and this year is his 27th season as a coach. He has experience as a major league bullpen coach and as a pitching coach at various levels of the minor leagues. David Lundquist will serve as the Assistant Pitching Coach, his third season with Omaha and 22nd in pro ball. He joined the Royals organization in 2024 and also has previous experience as a major league bullpen coach with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bijan Rademacher will be serving as the hitting coach in Omaha and will be in his fourth season in Omaha and sixth season coaching overall. He joined the Royals organization in 2023 after two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tripp Keister is listed as an Assistant Coach and will likely help with a variety of things across the coaching staff. He is in his second season with the Storm Chasers and his third year with the Royals organization. He’s entering his 15th season as a coach in minor league baseball and his previous experience is in the Washington Nationals organization, along with 12 seasons coaching in college and five years a pro scout. James Stone and Amanda Gallone will serve as Athletic Trainers and are in their eighth and second seasons with Omaha, respectively. Others listed on the coaching staff are Mike Brown, who is in his eighth year as the Clubhouse Manager, and his 20th season in Omaha, and Ben Nicholas, who will serve as the Assistant coordinator for Minor League Video. Brown is a mainstay with the Storm Chasers and has worked in various roles both at Werner Park and at Rosenblatt Stadium. Nicholas is in his third season with Omaha, and second in his current role. Storm Chasers Pitchers RHP Ryan Bergert, RHP Mason Black, RHP Ethan Bosacker, RHP Eric Cerantola, RHP Jose Cuas, LHP Tyson Guerrero, RHP Brandon Johnson, RHP Ben Kudrna, LHP Chazz Martinez, LHP John Means, RHP Eli Morgan, LHP Helcris Olivarez, RHP Shane Panzini, LHP Andrew Perez, LHP Ryan Ramsey, RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Anthony Simonelli, RHP Mitch Spence, RHP Beck Way A few of these names likely look familiar, either because they have major league experience or because they have appeared on top prospects lists over the past few years. Both Kudrna and Panzini are listed in the top prospects and may get a call very soon. Others will likely serve as organizational depth and have previous major league experience, so they are likely on a short list of guys to call up. Morgan, Guerrero, and Sanchez all have different levels of success at the major league level, and if the organization can get them back to what made them successful, they could be great options and be called up to the majors if they show they are useful out of the bullpen. Means is listed on the roster but will likely be out the entire season with a torn Achilles. He signed a two-year deal and will likely be available in 2027 for the Royals. Storm Chasers Catchers Jorge Alfaro, Elias Diaz, Elih Marrero, Luca Tresh Alfaro and Diaz will serve as depth options beyond major league catchers Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. Diaz is a former All-Star Game MVP back in 2023, so the upside is there. Tresh is in his second year with Triple-A Omaha, after playing 72 games and hitting 10 home runs in 2025. Both Alfaro and Marrero are listed on the Development List, so they are not taking up active roster spots. Storm Chasers Infielders Brandon Drury, Connor Kaiser, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas, Abraham Toro, Peyton Wilson A few of these names may also look familiar, as Drury, Newman, Toro, Kaiser, and Rojas all have some major league experience. Wilson will be in his second season in Triple-A. Most of this list are players on minor-league deals but could receive a call-up if they either play their way into a call-up, or an injury on the major league roster leads to needing another infielder. Storm Chasers Outfielders Gavin Cross, Nick Loftin, Kameron Misner, John Rave, Drew Waters Loftin, Waters, and Rave are likely familiar names as they have played some at the major league level with the Royals in recent years. Cross is a former first-round pick and is ranked 27th in the Royals system via MLB Pipeline. He will be playing his first season in Triple-A, after playing the past two seasons with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit for a .703 OPS this past season and showed some power, hitting 17 home runs over 114 games played. Misner was acquired in an off-season trade for a player to be named later from the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 71 games at the major league level and hit .213/.273/.345 in 2025. While the Omaha roster may not be filled with high-end prospects, there are still plenty of names that should be fun to follow and it is filled with plenty of players who could be called up this year. Whether the players are serving as organizational depth, playing at Triple-A for the first time, the Storm Chasers should be intriguing to watch to see if any players push their way into playing time at the major league level or show why they should be seen as pieces for the future in the Royals organization.

With the Royals looking to return to being competitive in the AL Central, we wanted to take a look around at the other teams in the division and what moves they made this offseason. This is a look at what to expect from the Chicago White Sox this season. The White Sox finished last in the division with a 60-102 record, marking their second straight season with over 100 losses after setting an MLB record with 121 in 2024. Here is a look at some notable additions and subtractions for the White Sox this offseason. White Sox Subtractions OF Luis Robert Jr. SP Martin Perez RP Tyler Alexander OF Michael A. Taylor RP Miguel Castro OF Mike Tauchman White Sox Additions INF Munetaka Murakami, 2 years, $34 million RP Seranthony Dominguez, 2 years, $20 million SP Anthony Kay, 2 years, $12 million, mutual option for 2028 SP/RP Jordan Hicks (trade w/Red Sox) OF Austin Hays 1 year, $6 million, mutual option for 2027 2B Luisangel Acuna (trade with Mets) SP/RP Sean Newcomb 1 year, $4.5 million OF Jarred Kelenic (minor league deal) P Erick Fedde, 1 year, $1.5 million Chicago made headlines this offseason with several notable changes. The addition of infielder Munetaka Murakami, signed from the NPB in Japan, is expected to bring significant power to the lineup despite a tendency for strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez was signed as the new closer to help improve a bullpen that has struggled for the last couple of years. Just as notable as their signings, the White Sox made a major move by trading former All-Star and Silver Slugger OF Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets. In return, they acquired infielder Luisangel Acuna—brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.—along with pitching prospect Truman Pauley. The White Sox also acquired veteran pitcher Jordan Hicks in a trade with the Red Sox. Hicks is expected to either join the starting rotation or be used as a high-leverage relief pitcher, depending on team needs. Although the additions seem to outweigh the subtractions for the South Siders, the overall impact will depend on how the team manages the new direction and whether young players can take a step toward being more consistently competitive. Here is a look at a few injuries and the players who should have the biggest impact on the White Sox's success in 2026. White Sox Injuries LHP Ky Bush, Tommy John surgery RHP Drew Thorpe, Tommy John surgery 1B Tim Elko - Torn ACL - expected return June/July RHP Prelander Berroa - Recovering from Tommy John surgery in March 2025 Losing two pitchers to Tommy John surgery—Ky Bush, a top thirty prospect, and Drew Thorpe—depletes pitching depth. Tim Elko and Prelander Berroa have gotten a cup of coffee, but they will be out to start the year, which will limit options in the lineup and out of the bullpen. Key White Sox Players SS Colson Montgomery - 3.3 bWAR SP Adrian Houser - 3.0 bWAR RP Mike Vasil - 2.9 bWAR SP Shane Smith - 2.3bWAR C Kyle Teel - 1.9 bWAR 3B Miguel Vargas - 1.9 bWAR Other players include starting pitcher Davis Martin, infielder Chase Meidroth, outfielder Andrew Benintendi, and utility player Lenyn Sosa (2B/OF). Notably, SS Colson Montgomery finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting and led the team in bWAR in 2026. Starting pitchers Adrian Houser and Shane Smith will anchor the rotation, with Smith displaying front-line potential thus far in his career. Catcher Kyle Teel and third baseman Miguel Vargas are also young players aiming to build on strong 2025 campaigns and step into more prominent roles at their respective positions. With a team looking to return and become more competitive, there will be opportunities for several young players. Young players can help speed up a rebuild and quickly return a team to competitiveness if they are called up and succeed. The White Sox system boasts five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 100, led by OF Braden Montgomery, whose advanced approach and athleticism make him a potential everyday outfielder. LHP Noah Schultz, a power lefty, is expected to contribute to the major league rotation as early as 2026. LHP Hagen Smith projects as high-upside rotation depth. Both SS Billy Carlson and SS/3B Caleb Bonemer show promise but may need more seasoning in the minors before contending for roster spots. Spring White Sox Storylines (and beyond) Early in the year, attention will rest on how the team's catcher and designated hitter roles take shape. With three catchers—Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee—vying for playing time both behind the plate and at DH, and potential contributions from Murakami, Andrew Benintendi, and Lenyn Sosa in the DH role, this competition will be something worth keeping an eye on. Like many teams, the White Sox will hope their young players take a step forward and provide the next core to build around when they return to contention. Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith will headline the position players and pitchers as young players with high upside. Munetaka Murakami signing with the White Sox was a bit of a surprise, and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to MLB. Transitioning leagues can present challenges, and the evaluation will focus on both his adjustment to Major League pitching and how opponents approach him. Murakami brings considerable potential, especially in the power department. With all of the additions shaping the roster for this year and into the future, here is a look at the projected lineup, rotation, and expected record for the White Sox in 2026. Projected White Sox Lineup Chase Meidroth - 2B Kyle Teel - C Colson Montgomery - SS Munetaka Murakami - 1B Miguel Vargas - 3B Austin Hays - RF Andrew Benintendi - LF Edgar Quero - DH Brooks Baldwin - CF Projected White Sox Rotation Shane Smith - RHP Davis Martin - RHP Anthony Kay - LHP Erick Fedde - RHP Sean Burke - RHP Projected White Sox Record PECOTA: 5th place, 69-93 FanGraphs: 5th place, 69-93 While the projections may temper White Sox fans' expectations, the roster features intriguing talent and some interesting storylines to keep an eye on this year. Both PECOTA and Fangraphs see improvement over last year, making it worth watching whether the team can surpass forecasts and build momentum throughout 2026 and beyond. While not projected as favorites, the White Sox are positioned to offer stronger competition in the AL Central this season than in recent seasons. Progress this year could spark renewed division rivalries and signify important steps toward contending for the division crown in the near future for the South Siders.