The Royals system is categorized mostly by the unfound upside present among the crop of prospects. The team’s most recent first-round draft selections — Frank Mozzicato, Gavin Cross, and Blake Mitchell — have all struggled to some degree in their professional careers thus far. Mitchell, of course, hasn’t played much aside from a handful of Complex League games but ranks no. 94 on Pipeline’s top 100 prospects.
There are a ton of young prep prospects that were highly drafted. Mozzicato, Ben Kudrna, Blake Mitchell, Blake Wolters, Carter Jensen, and Hiro Wyatt are all 20 years old or younger and could raise their prospect status greatly with just one strong season in 2024. Others, such as Emmanuel Reyes, Luinder Avila, and Ramon Ramirez have added depth to the system as strong international signings. The system is deep but lacks a ceiling. Kansas City is hoping that some of that ceiling will show itself in 2024.
Here are the Farm to Fountains’ Top 70 Royals prospects:
1. Frank Mozzicato (LHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 20
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft – Round: 1 Pick: 7
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 1
Although the transition from Low-A to High-A was a difficult one, Mozzicato still ranked in the top 100 of all High-A starters with a 25.3% strikeout rate. His strikeout stuff didn’t get too lost in the shuffle. He also started throwing a slider, which is a welcome development for his future prospects as a starter. As has been the case since his debut in 2022, the success for Mozzicato seems to focus most on his ability to command his stuff in the zone. Early on in 2023, he would start to lose control by around the 4th inning. By mid-season, that was happening more in the fifth or even sixth inning of starts.
The organization did a great job in 2023 of lengthening their young starter deeper into games while also allowing him to work on commanding his fastball up in the zone. Much has been made about Mozzicato’s fastball velocity, an area that didn’t improve in 2023. He still sits in the low-90s with his 4-seamer. Despite the velocity, he creates a very good vertical approach angle (VAA) with the pitch which can make it impactful still despite the low velocity. That great VAA is a good sign that Mozzicato can become even more effective as he adds muscle and potentially more velocity in the process.
Overall Value (/50): 34.9
Player Comp: Tyler Glasnow
Fastball: 40/50
Curveball: 55/60
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 40/55
Command: 40/50
2. Carson Roccaforte (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 22
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: CB-B Pick: 5
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 2
Before a slump took away some of the shine in the last week of the season, Carson Roccaforte looked like an early steal from the 2023 MLB Draft. He reached base in his first 23 games for the Low-A Columbia Fireflies, a streak that was only broken when he recorded an out as a late-inning pinch hitter. He showed up with outstanding defense in center field, great speed on the basepaths, and a nice propensity for creating good contact with the baseball.
The only aspect of Roccaforte’s game that didn’t truly shine through in a limited sample at Low-A in 2023 was his power. In college, he slugged .551 over 178 games with 28 home runs and 47 doubles. The Royals seem to believe they can get even more power out of Roccaforte as he matures at the plate. If so, the path to becoming a five-tool center fielder is there. His stance and game remind me of a young Cody Bellinger.
Overall Value: 34.0
Player Comp: Cody Bellinger
Hit: 55/60
Game Power: 40/50
Raw Power: 45/55
Glove: 55/60
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 55/55
3. Tyler Gentry (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 25
Acquired: 2020 Amateur Draft – Round: 3 Pick: 4
Current Level: AAA
2023 Rank: 6
Tyler Gentry exploded onto the scene in 2022 and looked like one of the very best prospects in the entire farm system. He’s shown a strong ability to walk at every level of the minor leagues thus far and has improved his swing-and-miss at just about every level as well. He makes consistent solid contact and has the power to generate loud exit velocity as well.
The Royals took Gentry 76th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft — behind Asa Lacy, Nick Loftin, and Ben Hernandez. Thus far, he looks like he could be the team’s best pick from that year’s shortened draft pool. The Royals added him to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and he should get a chance at the Major Leagues as early as Opening Day next season. More likely, the Royals will have him start the year once again in Omaha and make him an early call-up.
Overall Value: 29.75
Player Comp: Alex Gordon
Hit: 55/55
Game Power: 50/50
Raw Power: 50/50
Glove: 55/55
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 50/50
4. Cayden Wallace (3B)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 22
Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft – Round: 2 Pick: 10
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 3
Wallace was one of the few bright spots among Kansas City’s minor league hitters to open the 2023 season. He led the Midwest League in RBI for much of the year before eventually being promoted to Northwest Arkansas. Entering the season, there were questions about whether Wallace could truly stick at third base long-term. If not, a move to the corner outfield could be in the cards for him. In response, he played excellent defense at the hot corner and seems to have quieted any talk about him moving elsewhere.
At the plate, Wallace showed a good approach, taking walks at an okay rate and limiting strikeouts. His power was good, but not great, and his overall contact ability left a bit to be desired. The best way to describe Wallace is well-rounded. He does everything somewhat well but doesn’t truly stand out in any one aspect of his game. That could change as he gets more time under his belt. He’s still just 22 years old and was more than 3 years younger than the league average for AA last season.
Overall Value: 29.25
Player Comp: Jake Lamb
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 45/55
Raw Power: 50/55
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
5. Blake Mitchell (C)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 19
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: 1 Pick: 8
Current Level: A
2023 Rank: 4
While it was a risky selection, it’s possible that a dwindling farm system such as Kansas City’s needed exactly what they got in Mitchell. Recent prep catchers (such as Harry Ford and Tyler Soderstrom) haven’t had nearly as poor showings as those of yesteryear. Both are top 100 prospects in the league and the Royals surely hope Mitchell can follow a similar path.
He was committed to LSU before signing with the Royals. The Tigers Head Baseball Coach, Jay Johnson, compared Mitchell to Joe Mauer. Of Mitchell, he said, “Special talent. Joe Mauer has qualities on the catching side. If it doesn’t work, could become a Major League Pitcher also. Special talent worthy of that pick.” The results were very limited in Arizona last season, and it’s difficult to take such a small sample for much worth. He didn’t hit the ball all that well, but it’s hard to know what he was working on behind the scenes with player development. Since his showing in the Complex League, he’s drawn rave reviews about his defensive ability and also hit his first professional home run in the Instructional League.
Overall Value: 29.0
Player Comp: Tyler Soderstrom
Hit: 25/50
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 40/60
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 55/60
Speed: 40/40
6. Ben Kudrna (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 21
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft – Round: 2 Pick: 7
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 5
Much like Frank Mozzicato from the same draft class, Ben Kudrna is a very young and raw pitching prospect. He’s still just 20 years old and the Royals have been somewhat conservative moving him through the system. Kudrna didn’t pitch in affiliated ball at all after being drafted in 2021 and then debuted each of the next two seasons for the Low-A Columbia Fireflies. The ERA and FIP numbers don’t jump off the page for Kudrna, but he does create a great amount of swing-and-miss from opposing batters.
His walk rate has improved since entering the system. The most interesting piece of Kudrna’s game on the mound is the lack of strikeouts. He struck out 8.61 batters per nine innings last season. That mark alone isn’t terrible, but it also isn’t elite and what you’d expect to see from a future frontline starter. What makes it confusing is how that low SO/9 conflicts with Kudrna’s very high swinging strike rate. In 2023, he ranked 5th in the system in swinging strike rate (15.0%) behind just John McMillon, Alec Marsh, Emmanuel Reyes, and Yefri del Rosario. If Kudrna can develop a true out pitch, he’s a name that could skyrocket up prospect rankings.
Overall Value (/50): 28.75
Player Comp: Chris Archer
Fastball: 45/60
Slider: 50/60
Changeup: 50/55
Command: 50/55
7. Javier Vaz (2B/OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 23
Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft – Round: 15 Pick: 9
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 7
I started hearing whispers about Javi before the 2023 season. Many told me about him as an under-the-radar prospect and name to watch. He had shown great contact ability in a small sample for the Fireflies in 2022 but it wasn’t obvious yet how good he would become. Then, for most of the 2023 season, he was among the best hitters in a very strong Quad Cities lineup.
His swinging strike rate was among the lowest in the entire minor leagues. His bat-to-ball skills are the best in the entire Royals farm system. That’s not good enough, for Vaz. He wants to sacrifice some of that innate ability to make contact so that he can generate a bit more power — something he did successfully after being promoted to Double-A last season. He’s been a quick mover through the minor leagues thus far and should have a chance to make the roster for Opening Day 2025.
Overall Value: 28.75
Player Comp: Tommy Edman
Hit: 45/70
Game Power: 35/45
Raw Power: 35/45
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 60/60
8. Chandler Champlain (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 24
Acquired: via trade (NYY) for OF Andrew Benintendi
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 8
Chandler Champlain upped his prospect status in 2023 with a strong showing. Among Royals farmhands with at least 50 IP, he ranked sixth in strikeouts, eighth in ERA, first in innings pitched, and sixth in WHIP. It was a great season all around, but there were still areas that Champlain was lacking. He ranked 22nd in the farm system with a 14.9% K-BB%. The walks weren’t extremely high, but Champlain isn’t a dominant strikeout pitcher.
There were certainly outings in which he punched out his share of hitters. On July 27 he pitched six no-hit innings and struck out six Travelers. A few other starts saw him punch out eight and nine hitters, respectively. The root of the lack of strikeout totals revolves mostly around Champlain’s stuff. He commands it pretty well but doesn’t generate many swinging strikes. His swinging strike rate in 2023 was down to 9.5%. That ranked among the very worst in the Royals farm system.
Overall Value (/50): 28.5
Player Comp: Jesse Hahn
Fastball: 50/55
Curveball: 60/60
Slider: 45/55
Splitter: 40/50
Command: 45/55
9. Noah Cameron (LHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 24
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft – Round: 7 Pick: 7
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 9
Among pitchers with at least 30IP last season, Cameron’s K-BB% of 34.5% at High-A was third, just behind Yankees’ prospect Drew Thorpe (35.5%). Cameron’s xFIP of 1.91 over that same span of innings also ranked third among all minor league pitchers, behind only Thorpe and Jackson Jobe. That strong showing earned him a promotion to Northwest Arkansas. Cameron’s first outing was fantastic, going seven scoreless. After that, however, the wheels fell off a bit.
Cameron also missed a month or so last season to rest his arm and allow him to stay on the mound the full season. He wasn’t on the injured list but also wasn’t pitching. It’s impossible to ignore the ceiling that Cameron has. That combination of strikeout ability, paired with great command is rare and usually translates to good Major League success. That could very well be the case for Cameron if he can get back on track next season against stronger minor league competition.
Overall Value (/50): 27.75
Player Comp: Brendan McKay
Fastball: 45/50
Curveball: 50/55
Changeup: 55/60
Command: 55/60
10. Blake Wolters (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 19
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: 2 Pick: 5
Current Level: A
2023 Rank: 17
At 19 years old, the path to the Major Leagues is just beginning for Wolters. It will be quite some time until he’s on his way to Kansas City. The Royals will have him start his first professional season at Low-A Columbia with draft mate Hiro Wyatt. Wolters’ blend of high velocity and high spin rates at such a young age makes his upside sky-high. The Royals have had a difficult history developing prep pitchers. Arms such as Ashe Russell and Nolan Watson failed to live up to their draft status. More recent arms — Frank Mozzicato and Ben Kudrna — have developed slowly through the system.
Wolters represents a new mold of pitcher that the Royals didn’t have in their system before last July’s draft. Neither Mozzicato nor Kudrna touches the upper 90s the way Wolters can. He spins the ball better than Kudrna as well. Other pitchers in the system around his age (such as Emmanuel Reyes and Shane Panzini) are pitching in the low 90s. As with any prep arm, good command early will likely make or break his entry into the minor league ranks. No matter how good the stuff can be, it won’t matter if Wolters can’t command it effectively.
Overall Value (/50): 27.5
Player Comp: Bobby Miller
Fastball: 45/60
Slider: 40/60
Changeup: 30/50
Command: 40/50
11. Gavin Cross (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 23
Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft – Round: 1 Pick: 9
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 10
Cross started rather slowly in 2023, hitting just .202 by the end of May. He had nine home runs by that point but would finish his season with just three more. The slump never really ended for Cross and he eventually hit the injured list due to illness that shortened his 2023 campaign. He entered last season as a Top-100 prospect but quickly fell off that list due to his high strikeout totals and overall lack of contact.
The Royals promoted Cross to Double-A despite all his struggles, but he only appeared in two games before illness ended his season. He did travel to Arizona to play in this season’s Fall League. Over eight games there, he slashed .222/.353/.296 with zero home runs. All hope isn’t lost for Cross, but it’s certainly been difficult to see thus far. Although the strikeout rate is very high, his swinging strike rate was below the minor league average in 2023. This could point to an issue with approach, or seeing the ball in the zone. He took too many pitches last season. Starting strong in 2024 will be important for Cross, otherwise, he may fall off the prospect radar entirely.
Overall Value: 27.25
Player Comp: Tyler O’Neill
Hit: 40/55
Game Power: 40/55
Raw Power: 50/55
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 55/55
12. Jared Dickey (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 22
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: 11 Pick: 5
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 13
Dickey was billed as a good power prospect coming into the draft thanks to loud exit velocities in college. Joe Doyle of Future Stars Series called Dickey a “future middle-of-the-order slugger” with 30 home run potential and great patience at the plate. Oddly enough, despite all that hype around his raw power, Dickey didn’t hit a single home run for the Fireflies in 28 games last season.
Despite the lack of big flies, he absolutely dominated at the plate. Much of the strong showing can probably be attributed to the level of competition he faced. A prep bat facing off against Low-A pitchers isn’t exactly all that fair. However, it was still an excellent showing. Dickey walked more than he struck out while hitting .347. His ISO was just .116, leaving much to be desired but it’s easy to anticipate that number improving next season and beyond.
Overall Value: 26.25
Player Comp: Kole Calhoun
Hit: 50/55
Game Power: 45/55
Raw Power: 50/60
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
13. Mason Barnett (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 23
Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft – Round: 3 Pick: 7
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 12
Barnett shot through the farm system in 2023, spending much of his year in High-A before making his way to Northwest Arkansas. Upon reaching Double-A, he was actually better in many ways. He finished his season with a very strong 18.3% K-BB% while showing some durability. He was one of just 11 Kansas City farmhands to pitch at least 100 innings last season. Among them, he had the best FIP (3.23) and second-best SO/9 (10.75). That strong showing earned him the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year Award.
The mixture of strikeout ability and solid command we saw from Barnett last season is a welcome sign. The farm system has been relatively unable to develop effective starting pitching for some time. Barnett signals an improvement in that regard, as someone who was drafted under the new pitching regime then immediately saw success in the system. Repeating that performance next season will be important, but there’s a ton to like thus far from Barnett.
Overall Value (/50): 26.2
Player Comp: Drew Rasmussen
Fastball: 50/55
Curveball: 45/50
Slider: 55/60
Changeup: 45/50
Command: 45/55
14. Ramon Ramirez (C)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 18
Acquired: 2023 International Signing – Dominican Republic
Current Level: CPX
2023 Rank: 21
Although it was a strong showing, it was still just one season in the DSL for Ramirez. The league is littered with such a wide range of talent that it’s hard to take away too much from the results there last season. However, Ramirez is set to debut stateside to start the 2024 season. If he can show up in a big way to open next year’s Complex League he could be on the fast track to Columbia.
Fellow prospect Emmanuel Reyes went through a similar path to the minor leagues. Reyes debuted in 2022 and dominated the DSL before starting the 2023 season in Arizona. All signs point to Ramirez sticking behind the dish, at least for now. He has a bulky, muscular build that should fit well behind the plate. His advanced approach for this stage in his development is a big sign of things to come.
Overall Value: 26.0
Player Comp: Carlos Santana
Hit: 40/60
Game Power: 40/55
Raw Power: 45/55
Glove: 40/50
Arm: 45/55
Speed: 30/30
15. Trevor Werner (3B)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 23
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: 7 Pick: 5
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 18
It’s tough to find a 2023 draft prospect who had a more dominant showing after transitioning to the minor leagues last season than Werner. Werner outshined all of them, but it should be noted that he was 23 years old playing in Low-A. The level of pitching talent in Low-A in some cases is worse than the pitchers Werner faced in college.
Still, I can only grade a player on what he does on the field and Werner was exceptional. His power output was perhaps the most surprising of all, as he launched eight home runs en route to a gaudy .345 ISO. That production will undoubtedly regress next season once Werner reaches High-A and beyond. He showcased a strong arm at the hot corner in a limited sample but could make the transition to a corner outfield role eventually as well.
Overall Value: 26.0
Player Comp: Bobby Dalbec
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 50/60
Raw Power: 55/60
Glove: 40/45
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
16. Will Klein (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 24
Acquired: 2020 Amateur Draft – Round: 5 Pick: 4
Current Level: AAA
2023 Rank: 37
Klein will almost certainly pitch some innings in Kansas City this upcoming season. His command has been up and down throughout his time in the minors and he’s never quite reached the same strikeout rate that he accomplished in his stellar 2021 season. With that said, he’s also pitching against more advanced talent in the minor leagues as he’s progressed. His arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, a cutter, and a curveball. The curveball is closer to average but plays very well off his heater and that amplifies its effectiveness.
His four-seamer sits in the upper 90s with ease. At times last season, we saw Klein work backward when he needed to and it worked well to keep hitters off balance. His stuff would play in the big leagues right now and there’s a chance he will break Spring Training with the Royals. As long as he continues with a strikeout rate of around 30%, as we’ve seen most of the time with Klein, he can still succeed with the amount of walks he’s usually allowed. He ranks somewhat low here, at 36 but not because he lacks talent. That’s more reflective of the relievers in general and the inherent volatility of the position.
Overall Value (/50): 26.0
Player Comp: Corey Knebel
Fastball: 70/70
Curveball: 50/55
Command: 40/45
17. Josi Novas (SS)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 19
Acquired: 2022 International Signing – Dominican Republic
Current Level: CPX
2023 Rank: NR
Novas is a raw prospect. He’ll turn 19 before the 2024 season and has plenty more development to go. However, a large amount of that development showed itself in 2023. From his debut in 2022 to last season, Novas improved his approach greatly. His walk rate was nearly eight percent higher year over year. The swing-and-miss is clear in his game and will limit him if he can’t cut down on the strikeouts. With that said, the combination of tools here is just too intriguing to ignore.
Novas has an easy swing from the right side that allows him to generate ample pop to all fields. The overall swing mechanics are easily repeatable and good bat speed allows Novas to hit the ball hard. His large frame gives hope that the power can develop further. He posted a .126 ISO in Surprise last season but that mark was .214 in Novas’s largest DSL sample. Novas should get the chance to test Low-A sometime in 2024. He plays shortstop, but a move to second base wouldn’t surprise me long-term. If his arm can develop, he may profile as a third baseman as well.
Overall Value: 26.0
Player Comp: Willy Adames
Hit: 30/50
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 40/60
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 55/50
18. Carter Jensen (C)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 20
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft – Round: 3 Pick: 7
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 19
It’s been a slow improvement for Jensen in the average and power departments. He has been a second-half hitter in both his full MiLB seasons thus far. Consistency will be needed for him to reach his full potential. Although the on-base prowess carries much of his value thus far, it’s impossible to discuss Jensen without highlighting how young he’s been at every level thus far. As an 18-year-old at Low-A, Jensen was 2.8 years younger than the league average. Last season at High-A he was 3.2 years younger.
That youth and eye at the plate generate a lot of optimism for future development. Behind the dish, his defense is good but not great. Should he remain a catcher long-term he’d likely become at least average defensively. His speed won’t jump off the page either, although he stole 11 bases last season. Prospects Live called Jensen “one of the most well-rounded backstops in the 2021 class.” The defensive ability is in there somewhere, as is the power. It will take a little patience to let Jensen find it.
Overall Value: 25.5
Player Comp: Trent Grisham
Hit: 40/45
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 30/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/55
Speed: 40/40
19. Spencer Nivens (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 22
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: 5 Pick: 5
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 30
Just as small samples can lead to very good results that won’t last, they too lead to poor results that probably won’t last either. The latter is the case with Nivens last season. His approach was sound and he made good swing decisions. The contact Nivens made in his Low-A debut was loud but he suffered from a .208 BABIP. Over a larger sample, that will regress much more to the mean and lead to better box score results for Nivens.
Throughout college, Nivens showed an ability to hit mid-90s velocity while maintaining a very low chase rate and very high exit velocities. His Max EV in 2022 was 95th percentile. I still think Nivens has a ways to go in his development compared to Roccaforte, but the value could be just as high if it all comes together. Nivens offers a great foundation for the Royals to build upon and could be a quick riser in the prospect rankings.
Overall Value: 25.5
Player Comp: Robbie Grossman
Hit: 45/60
Game Power: 40/50
Raw Power: 40/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 50/50
20. Luinder Avila (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 22
Acquired: 2018 International Signing – Venezuela
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 28
According to FanGraphs, Avila’s arsenal includes a fastball, curveball, and splitter. At times last season, he also looked to mix in a slider. Despite the appearance, it’s still possible that Avila simply had some arm-slot struggles and delivery inconsistencies that changed the shape of his curveball throughout his starts. At times, the pitch was a nice, high-arching breaker. Then other times, it was a late-breaking offering with some horizontal fade. Most notable last season was Avila’s development of the fastball.
To start 2023, Avila was regularly hanging around the 92-93mph range with his four-seamer. In May and June, his focus on improving the heater was evident. He deliberately targeted the upper half of the strikezone more than we’ve seen prior. By the end of the year, it wasn’t uncommon to see Avila touching 96 mph in his starts. That development of the fastball — including his command up in the zone — should only make his secondary offerings that much more effective. It raises his ceiling some, even if there remains notable reliever risk.
Overall Value (/50): 24.85
Player Comp: Wade Davis
Fastball: 50/55
Curveball: 45/55
Splitter: 40/45
Command: 45/50
21. Peyton Wilson (2B/OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 24
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft – Round: CB-B Pick: 3
Current Level: AA
2023 Rank: 20
Wilson’s ability to hit for average and walk at a healthy rate both showed up big time in 2023. It was his first attempt at Double-A and was in many ways a success. For much of his minor league career thus far, Wilson has been able to walk around 10% and limit the strikeouts to slightly below the league average. Last season, he cut the strikeouts much more than we saw in 2021 and 2022. He hit for his highest average yet, although much of that was fueled by a .345 BABIP.
Wilson profiles as a leadoff man in the major leagues. He has excellent speed, a good approach, and a sound hit tool. He’s shown power in bursts as a pro, but it’s always been inconsistent. Last season he leveled out around where he will likely be for much of his MLB career. His ISO was .125, just behind his Low-A mark of .128. In that regard, 2022 looks like the outlier thus far. There’s a lot to like about Wilson’s game but more consistency will be needed for him to reach the sport’s highest level.
Overall Value: 24.75
Player Comp: César Hérnandez
Hit: 50/60
Game Power: 40/45
Raw Power: 45/45
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 60/60
22. Tyler Tolbert (SS/OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 26
Acquired: 2019 Amateur Draft – Round: 13 Pick: 2
Current Level: AAA
2023 Rank: 24
2023 was a quiet breakout for Tolbert. Prior, he had made a name as a speedster on the basepaths with a healthy walk rate but limited potential at the plate. He had struggled to make contact to start his professional career and the power wasn’t there. A lot of that remained the same to start his 2023 season with the Naturals. However, over the second half, he became a new player entirely.
From July 1 through the end of the season, Tolbert appeared in 59 games. Over that span, he slashed .298/.351/.471. His ISO was up to .172. Although his walk rate dropped, his strikeout rate dropped even more. Tolbert was swinging more often, making contact more often, and it paid off at the plate. Perhaps most impressive of all, the increased production at the plate coincided with Tolbert moving into center field nearly full-time. He’s a rising name in the farm system despite his age and certainly someone to watch next season.
Overall Value: 24.75
Player Comp: Peter Bourjos
Hit: 50/50
Game Power: 40/40
Raw Power: 45/45
Glove: 55/55
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 70/70
23. Andrew Hoffmann (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 24
Acquired: via Trade from Atlanta (Comp Pick)
Current Level: AAA
2023 Rank: 29
Hoffmann was a 12th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Braves. He immediately entered the Braves farm system and started to dominate opposing hitters. His 25.0% K-BB% in his pro debut was impressive. He followed that up with another strong showing in 2022 but has struggled since joining the Royals organization. Although he’s struggled since, it coincided with his first promotion to Double-A, which could explain some of the struggles we’ve seen.
After a late-season call-up to Triple-A Omaha in 2023, Hoffmann started to show signs of his old self once again. His strikeout rate was back above 25% for the first time since 2022 with Atlanta. His walk rate also dipped under 10% for the first time since 2022 as well. Hoffmann’s first three starts for the Storm Chasers were fantastic. He went 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA while striking out 29 hitters in 19.2 IP. He walked only 11 in that span. The rails started to fall off some in some future starts, ballooning his ERA back above five despite the promising improvements. The trip to Omaha showed off some promising improvements and evident mechanical adjustments that will hopefully pay off for more in 2024.
Overall Value (/50): 24.75
Player Comp: Chris Flexen
Fastball: 45/50
Slider: 55/60
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 40/50
24. John McMillon (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 26
Acquired: 2020 Undrafted Free Agent
Current Level: AAA
2023 Rank: 32
Although McMillon wowed fans by moving through the entire farm system in just one season, the more impressive feat might be how consistently dominant he was at every stop. All of that success culminated in a short major league debut that only ended prematurely due to injury. McMillon suffered a forearm strain after just four MLB appearances and would go on to miss the remainder of the 2023 season. Command held him back early on in his professional career, but it was immensely improved last season.
It’s a two-pitch mix for McMillon, who relies heavily on a fastball and a slider. Both pitches are elite. His fastball touches triple digits with ease and the slider lands in the upper-80s with good breaking action. McMillon pairs his elite arsenal with a bulldog mentality on the mound. He’s a fierce competitor and has the mindset to become one of the best late-inning relievers in the league. That relies heavily on him maintaining his newfound command.
Overall Value (/50): 24.66
Player Comp: Tommy Kahnle
Fastball: 65/70
Slider: 65/65
Command: 40/50
25. Emmanuel Reyes (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 19
Acquired: 2022 International Signing – Dominican Republic
Current Level: A
2023 Rank: 16
Reyes is still just 19 years old. As he’s progressed into the farm system, he’s started to show that age and inexperience more and more. Once he reached Low-A last season, he saw a serious downward trend in punchouts, and his ERA worsened. On the statistics alone, it doesn’t look like Reyes is a true top prospect. Taking a look deeper tells a different story.
Reyes is extremely advanced in his command at such a young age. He rarely walks opposing hitters. Among all Royals farmhands with at least 30 IP last season, his 5.1% BB% at Low-A was the fourth-best. Reyes hit the ground running after a mid-season promotion to Columbia last season. Over his first two starts, he struck out 15 in just nine innings of work. The relative inexperience started to show itself as Reyes worked deeper into outings. By the third or fourth innings, his fastball velocity would decline and he’d allow more contact. As he continues to mature and build up to a true starter’s workload, there’s a very high ceiling to be found for Reyes.
Overall Value (/50): 24.5
Player Comp: Zac Gallen
Fastball: 45/65
Slider: 45/55
Changeup: 40/50
Command: 55/60
26. Austin Charles (SS/3B)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 20
Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft – Round: 20 Pick: 9
Current Level: A
2023 Rank: 22
The Royals spent well over slot for Charles in the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He was ranked much higher as a prospect but many teams felt that he would honor his commitment to UC Santa Barbara. The ceiling is very high as Charles figures to build out his immense frame very well. That large frame creates a lot of optimism for future power potential. He pairs that power potential with good speed as well.
Long-term, Charles could stick at shortstop with improved defense. He needs some work in that aspect of his game, but still made some flashy plays at times in his debut season and improved as the year went on. His frame could move him to third base long-term or even the outfield. He has a strong arm that could handle the hot corner or outfield very well. Inconsistency plagued Charles in his debut season but there was a time when many felt he was making a case as a top-10 prospect in the farm system. The ceiling is there if he can simply continue to develop and find more consistency.
Overall Value: 24.0
Player Comp: Keon Broxton
Hit: 30/45
Game Power: 30/50
Raw Power: 35/55
Glove: 40/50
Arm: 50/60
Speed: 55/55
27. Derlin Figueroa (1B)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 20
Acquired: via Trade from Los Angeles (Ryan Yarbrough)
Current Level: A
2023 Rank: 59
There hasn’t been a large sample at any level thus far for Figueroa. However, there have been glimpses of strong power potential throughout his minor league career thus far. The contact ability has been inconsistent, but that’s to be expected from a still pretty young international prospect. He will almost certainly get a chance to test the Low-A waters sometime in 2024, giving fans a clearer look at what his overall potential is.
Figueroa’s swing has a minor hitch that allows him to generate great power despite his average frame. There’s some swing-and-miss in the swing, but that hasn’t translated to strikeouts thus far. Although the power ceiling seems rather high for Figueroa, he struggles to make consistent hard contact. This causes him to struggle to hit for average at times. This was shown best by a mere 11.8% line drive rate in 2023 with the Dodgers organization resulting in a .237 average. Figueroa has the ability to hit the ball hard to center field, but he often settles for pull power, further limiting the hit tool over larger samples.
Overall Value: 24.0
Player Comp: Nomar Mazara
Hit: 30/45
Game Power: 35/55
Raw Power: 45/60
Glove: 40/45
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 45/45
28. Asbel Gonzalez (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 18
Acquired: 2023 International Signing – Dominican Republic
Current Level: CPX
2023 Rank: 23
Gonzalez has a bevy of tools at his disposal. His 6-2 frame gives him room to build muscle and add power. He’s shown an advanced approach at the plate for a 17-year-old. That power potential and approach at the plate are anchored by the sound defense in center field and good speed. The sample size was so small in 2023 so it’s difficult to take much away.
Gonzalez looked like a blossoming prospect for DSL Royals Gold but struggled in a similar sample (15G) for Royals Blue.
As with any international prospect this young, it’s difficult to put any true stock in their abilities at this point. Most of the projection is built on potential rather than what we actually see in the box score. Gonzalez looks like a safe bet to become an average contact hitter with below-average power. A good glove will help him carry some value but the likelihood that he becomes a defensive-oriented fourth outfielder seems just as likely as the chance he becomes a regular.
Overall Value: 24.0
Player Comp: Manuel Margot
Hit: 40/50
Game Power: 30/40
Raw Power: 35/45
Glove: 45/55
Arm: 50/60
Speed: 50/60
29. Hiro Wyatt (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 18
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft – Round: 3 Pick: 5
Current Level: CPX
2023 Rank: 27
The Royals added Hiro Wyatt in their early 2023 draft. The early draft was heavy with prep players including Wyatt, Blake Wolters, and Blake Mitchell. Wyatt was the Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. That season, he finished 7-0 with a 0.67 ERA. Over 41.2 high school innings, he struck out 90. Like Wolters before him, Wyatt has a promising slider and good fastball velocity. Wyatt is yet another Connecticut prospect, joining fellow Royals prospects Frank Mozzicato and Henry Williams.
At times, the fastball for Wyatt has sat in the lower 90s, but by the end of last spring, he was sitting closer to 97 mph. His slider is spun excellently and has great, sweeping action. The Royals’ 2023 draft strategy circled a lot of late risers, including early picks Carson Roccaforte and Wyatt. If it works out, they could have found good value in Wyatt, a former USC commit.
Overall Value (/50): 23.75
Player Comp: Brady Singer
Fastball: 40/55
Slider: 45/60
Changeup: 35/40
Command: 40/45
30. Ryan Ramsey (LHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
Age: 23
Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft – Round: 13 Pick: 9
Current Level: A+
2023 Rank: 34
Don’t let the sky-high ERA fool you. Ryan Ramsey was just as good at High-A as in Columbia last season. With such a small sample, the ERA is flukey but his FIP mark shows positive signs. The most surprising mark from Ramsey was his strikeout rate last season. He hovered around 30% for nearly the entire season and didn’t walk many hitters. As good as the results were, it’s important to take them for what they are. Ramsey is a college product pitching in Low-A for the first time. He was advanced for the level and should give us a clearer picture of who he really is in 2024 and beyond.
If Ramsey can continue to succeed and miss bats as he did in 2023, he’s poised to rise up the Royals’ farm system rankings. His stuff doesn’t blow anyone away, but the way he uses it and the command he employed last season help him to be more successful.
Overall Value (/50): 23.5
Player Comp: J.P. Howell
Fastball: 50/50
Curveball: 45/45
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 45/50