The Kansas City Royals farm system is on the rise after a couple of down years. They ranked at or near the bottom in just about every farm system ranking over the last two seasons since the graduations of Top 100 prospects Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez, and others. The way back has been slow, but only because of the time needed for prospects to prove themselves in the system. Catcher Blake Mitchell has started to make a name for himself as a true top prospect — not just for the Royals but amongst the entire minor leagues.
Beyond Mitchell, others such as Ben Kudrna, Steven Zobac, and Hunter Patteson have continued to take steps forward in their development. Kansas City’s revamped pitching development, led by Paul Gibson at the top, has made fantastic promise system-wide. Not only are the team’s starting pitchers dominating in the big leagues, but they’re doing so throughout the minor leagues as well.
There are still questions to be answered, such as Frank Mozzicato’s velocity and whether Carson Roccaforte’s batted ball data can finally shine through in the box score. Regardless, it’s clear that the talent in the Royals’ farm system is on an upward trend. They’ll get a chance to add to that talent this summer in the draft. Kansas City owns the sixth overall pick and could get a chance to add yet another premium prospect alongside Blake Mitchell to truly lead the farm system even further up the farm system rankings.
1. Blake Mitchell (C)
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April Rank: 5
Player Comp: Tyler Soderstrom
Blake Mitchell was the Royals selection with the eighth overall pick in 2023. It was a polarizing selection at the time and that frustration amongst fans only compacted when he struggled during a small stint in the Arizona Complex League late last summer. In 2024, Mitchell has taken leaps and bounds forward, truly staking his claim as the team’s top prospect. He’s shown an extremely advanced approach for his age. Mitchell profiles as a hitter who could get better as he moves up through the minors. Facing pitchers who will give him more competitive pitches to hit is going to do wonders for his production at the plate.
His leading tool is the extreme raw power he possesses, especially to the pull side. He has extremely smooth swing mechanics and pairs that with extremely quick bat speed. The result is stunning loud contact whenever he’s able to connect with the ball. He should stick behind the plate and play sound defense behind the dish. His pop times have been a tick above-average thus far and his arm is a true cannon that will certainly limit opposing base runners. Despite being a prep prospect out of the draft, Mitchell has shown flashes of advanced ability for his age thus far. He has the talent to test High-A later this season despite his youth.
Hit: 40/50
Game Power: 40/60
Raw Power: 55/60
Glove: 40/55
Arm: 50/55
Speed: 45/40
2. Frank Mozzicato (LHP)
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April Rank: 1
Player Comp: Tyler Glasnow
Mozzicato got a slower start to the season, staying behind in Arizona while others made their way to High-A Quad Cities. That slow start was designed by the team to give their young lefty the best platform for success this season. Since heading to Davenport, the results have been strong in 2024. Although the velocity hasn’t shown any signs of an uptick, Mozzicato didn’t allow a run over his first three outings of the year. He’s mixed in his slider much more often than last season, and his changeup looks slightly improved so far as well. Over his first two outings this season, the fastball velocity sat 86-88mph. By the third and fourth start, that number has risen to 89-91mph.
There’s still plenty to love about Mozzicato’s overall makeup, even if the lion’s share of the future ceiling is based on projection. Although the concerns about velocity are valid, it’s worth reminding that Mozzicato is still just 20 years old. More important this season will be an improvement in command of the strikezone. That’s where the Royals’ current focuses lie as Mozzicato starts his season.
Fastball: 40/50
Curveball: 55/60
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 40/55
Command: 40/50
3. Carson Roccaforte (CF)
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April Rank: 2
Player Comp: Cody Bellinger
The 2024 season started extremely slow for Carson Roccaforte. Despite the slow start, there were signs of life. Early on, he was making a lot of hard contact and carried a very high line drive rate. Alongside that line drive rate was a low groundball rate and a high flyball rate. All of that combined gave the impression that Roccaforte would soon see his fortunes turn for the better. Instead, the slump has somehow gotten even worse. Roccaforte hasn’t walked at the same rate we saw in his debut season. He’s been much more aggressive at the plate while trying to lift the ball more at the same time.
The focus this offseason was lifting the ball more for Roccaforte. That should help him get more into his power but hasn’t helped so far. Instead, it looks to have thrown off his approach at the plate entirely. There’s still plenty of time for Roccaforte to get back on track. The floor remains very high as well thanks to his strong defensive ability and good speed on the basepaths.
Hit: 55/60
Game Power: 40/50
Raw Power: 45/55
Glove: 55/60
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 55/55
4. Blake Wolters (RHP)
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April Rank: 10
Player Comp: Bobby Miller
Blake Wolters didn’t spend the same time in extended spring training that we usually see from Royals prep arms. Both Frank Mozzicato and Ben Kudrna spent that time in Arizona for at least the first month of their debut seasons. With Wolters, the Royals sent him straight to Columbia to start his season. It was clear why from his very first start of the season. Wolters has sat 98 mph regularly in 2024, but in more recent starts he’s been more 95-96mph. His entire arsenal has been on display, and the changeup looks more advanced than first expected.
What’s been most surprising this spring has been the command. Wolters has shown good command for his age, sitting at or above a 60% strike rate in most of his starts so far. There’s plenty of development to go before Wolters will reach his potential. He has a mid-rotation upside as he currently sits, but a fourth offering will be needed to raise the ceiling. The good news is that there’s plenty more time before that will be needed.
Fastball: 45/60
Slider: 40/60
Changeup: 30/50
Command: 40/55
5. Carter Jensen (C)
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April Rank: 18
Player Comp: Trent Grisham
Carter Jensen has been among the best hitters at all of High-A so far in 2024. He’s done so despite being just 20 years old. So far he’s slashed .326/.472/.495 with more walks (26) than strikeouts (25). He’s cooled some since a smoldering hot start, but Jensen still has a career-high .168 ISO. He’s answering just about every question that arose in the last two seasons, from hitting left-handed pitching to finding his power stroke more consistently. Defensively, Jensen looks the part as well. His receiving skills are excellent and his arm behind the plate is certainly above-average.
Long-term, Jensen can certainly stick behind the plate. The only issue with that plan may be the team’s top prospect, Blake Mitchell. As good as Jensen has been, Mitchell may force the team’s hand and move Jensen out from behind the dish. All that talk is putting the cart before the horse, however. Until both players are knocking down the door, there’s little reason to make a move.
Hit: 40/45
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 30/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/55
Speed: 40/40
6. Jared Dickey (OF)
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April Rank: 12
Player Comp: Kole Calhoun
Jared Dickey didn’t hit a home run in his pro debut last season. That lack of power seems to be short-lived, as he’s posted a robust .225 ISO so far in 2024. Out of the draft, Dickey was seen by many as a 25-30 home run talent at the plate. That’s starting to show. Dickey has slashed .225/.340/.450 which is fairly strong, especially considering his low .250 BABIP. His swinging strike rate is below 10% and he’s walking more than 12% of the time as well. It’s a well-rounded profile at the plate but the power should eventually come through as the leading tool. Defensively, Dickey should be at least average in a corner outfield role.
Hit: 50/55
Game Power: 45/55
Raw Power: 50/60
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
7. Mason Barnett (RHP)
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April Rank: 13
Player Comp: Drew Rasmussen
Mason Barnett has picked up right where he left off last season. The 2022 third-round pick started the 2024 season back in Northwest Arkansas and has posted a 33.7% strikeout rate through his first five starts. The walk rate is up marginally, but still in a healthy range as long as the strikeouts remain elevated like they have been. He’s once again been among the best starters in the farm system, leaning heavily on an excellent fastball/slider combination. Offseason signings limit the need this season, but Barnett has every chance to make his big league debut as early as the start of 2025.
Fastball: 50/55
Curveball: 45/50
Slider: 55/60
Changeup: 45/50
Command: 45/55
8. Ben Kudrna (RHP)
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April Rank: 6
Player Comp: Chris Archer
Ben Kudrna started 2024 blazing hot. His first start was a bit mediocre — allowing 2 earned runs over 3.2 IP — but he followed that up with two consecutive scoreless outings. On April 12 he didn’t allow a hit over six scoreless innings. The largest difference early on this season has been the strikeouts. Kudrna has consistently generated swing-and-miss throughout his minor league career but has lacked a true put-away pitch. That’s changed so far this season. The slider looks outstanding. The changeup has too. Those two pitches have combined to turn a lot of two-strike counts into strikeouts. That wasn’t the case as much in 2023. The result has been a strikeout rate well above 30%. The walks are right around the same as we saw last season, but opponents are hitting just .172 against Kudrna.
Fastball: 45/60
Slider: 50/60
Changeup: 50/55
Command: 50/55
9. Gavin Cross (OF)
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April Rank: 11
Player Comp: Tyler O’Neill
If you’ve followed Farm to Fountains long enough, the return of Gavin Cross shouldn’t come as a surprise. His swinging strike rate wasn’t extremely alarming last season. That, paired with the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that slowed him down, gave plenty of optimism that things could be better in 2024. So far, they have. Cross has a 118 wRC+ over his first 24 games of the season. His .286/.363/.429 slash line is very healthy, especially considering he didn’t hit his first home run until early May. The strikeouts are still a touch too high and concerning, but if Cross can work his ISO closer to .200 and maintain his walk rate at a healthy level, the value still exists. It’s still very early, but everything from Cross has been very encouraging this spring. If his current pace continues, there’s reason to believe that Cross could be playing in Omaha by the end of the year. More recently, he’s been on a torrid pace. If his more recent pace continues, Cross has an outside shot to play games in Kansas City this September.
Hit: 40/55
Game Power: 40/55
Raw Power: 50/55
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 55/55
10. Yandel Ricardo (SS)
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April Rank: NR
Player Comp:
Yandel Ricardo is yet to debut for the Royals in professional ball. He will do so later this season in the Dominican Summer League. He’s a line-drive hitter who’s shown strong batted-ball skills. In the field, he profiles as a shortstop or third baseman, depending on how he matures into his frame. It’s a hit-over-power profile early on, but Ricardo has the potential for at least average raw power. This early ranking is based almost solely on projection, but there’s a lot to like. Ricardo was a top-20 international prospect available in this year’s signing class.
Hit: 30/55
Game Power: 30/45
Raw Power: 30/50
Glove: 45/55
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 50/50
11. Chandler Champlain (RHP)
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April Rank: 8
Player Comp: Jesse Hahn
A quick look at the season stat line might have been concerning for Champlain early this season. His first start of the season was abysmal. Champlain allowed eight earned runs over 2.2 IP. Since then, he’s allowed just six earned runs over 21.0 IP. In the big picture, the swinging strike rate is up 2% compared to last season. At the same time, Champlain has raised his strikeout rate by 11% and dropped his walk rate by 2% compared to his sample last season in Northwest Arkansas. The underlying statistics are impressive. His fastball looks great this spring, and mixing in his splitter and circle-change has helped him keep hitters off balance as well. Champlain should move up to Omaha right around the same time his teammate Mason Barnett makes the same jump.
Fastball: 50/55
Curveball: 60/60
Slider: 45/55
Splitter: 40/50
Command: 45/55
12. Cayden Wallace (3B)
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April Rank: 4
Player Comp: Jake Lamb
Cayden Wallace started 2024 fairly slow but has picked it up recently alongside Gavin Cross. Despite that turnaround, he’s dropped out of the top ten in this May update. The largest reason is the continued lack of power. Wallace has a strong arm and good glove that should stick at third base. The true upside for him was always going to revolve around the power. There was potential for more, especially after he posted a .170 ISO at High-A last season. Since the jump to Double-A, Wallace has seen that ISO dip and he’s been at .141 through 23 games this season. It’s still far too early to count him out entirely, but for Wallace to meet his potential as a second-round pick, that power will need to start developing and coming through at the plate.
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 45/55
Raw Power: 45/55
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
13. Austin Charles (3B/SS)
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April Rank: 26
Player Comp: Keon Broxton
Charles clearly worked on his swing mechanics this winter and it’s paid off early on. So far in 2024, the 20-year-old has walked 11.6% and hit .250. That average was even higher before a recent slump. The power is still lacking, but with a 6-4 frame, the projection there remains optimistic. On the flipside, strikeouts have been way up this season compared to last and Charles still operates with a swinging strike rate of around 17%. That will require improvement for him to ever be a true force at the plate. The tools are there to dream on.
Hit: 30/45
Game Power: 30/50
Raw Power: 35/55
Glove: 40/50
Arm: 50/60
Speed: 55/55
14. Erick Torres (OF)
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April Rank: 38
Player Comp: Desmond Jennings
Torres was a standout in the 2023 Complex League and has followed that up with a tremendous start for Low-A Columbia. The batted-ball skills are next level and Torres rarely swings and misses. He makes steady contact. Although most of that contact is weak or on the ground, Torres uses his above-average speed to turn those weak choppers into hits. He’s still just 19 years old, hitting .318 with more walks than strikeouts. Although his groundball rate is extremely high, he’s got the potential to lift the ball more as he develops and turn that into true gap power. He has the upside to be a future leadoff man in center field.
Hit: 45/60
Game Power: 30/40
Raw Power: 30/40
Glove: 40/50
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 55/55
15. Hunter Owen (LHP)
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April Rank: 47
Player Comp: Austin Gomber
Hunter Owen took some time to get his pro career going. He didn’t pitch at all after being selected out of Vanderbilt in 2023. Then, whispers over the offseason were that he would be a project and was going to take time. Owen has silenced many of those doubters early on this season in High-A. He’s still advanced for the level and probably needs to test Double-A sooner rather than later, but it’s still a promising sign. Owen has pitched to a 2.79 ERA over six appearances. His pitch mix features a fastball, changeup, and two good breaking balls in a slider and a curveball. There’s a back-end starter upside here.
Fastball: 50/60
Curveball: 45/55
Slider: 45/55
Changeup: 40/50
Command: 45/50
16. Tyler Gentry (OF)
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April Rank: 3
Player Comp: Alex Gordon
Not a single player in the Royals farm system has had a worse start to 2024 than Tyler Gentry. Gentry entered spring training with an outside chance to earn a roster spot. That came after a tremendous end to 2024. In spring, however, Gentry struggled mightily and was quickly reassigned to minor league camp. Then, this season in Omaha that slump has continued. Gentry has just a 48 wRC+ in 24 games for Omaha. His ISO is miserable at .071 and he’s hit just .155. There are some signs of life, however. Gentry has gotten back to patience at the plate and has raised his season walk rate to 15.8%. The strikeout rate cancels that out at 32.7%. There are signs he’s coming out of the slump but not much is trending the right way for Gentry in 2024.
Hit: 45/55
Game Power: 50/50
Raw Power: 50/50
Glove: 55/55
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 50/50
17. Javier Vaz (OF/2B)
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April Rank: 7
Player Comp: Tommy Edman
Javier Vaz looked to be on the fast track to the big leagues when this season started. That’s changed some after a slow start to the season. Like normal, he continues to walk (14.4%) more than he strikes out (12.6%) but the average is down a tick compared to 2023. Vaz is hitting just .356 over his first 25 games. His power looks zapped as well, with an ISO sitting down at just .044. Despite all those struggles, Vaz has still been good for a 105 wRC+ this season. He’s still got all the tools to be a future big leaguer and could find his way to Omaha by mid-season.
Hit: 45/70
Game Power: 35/45
Raw Power: 35/45
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 60/60
18. Ramon Ramirez (C)
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April Rank: 14
Player Comp: Carlos Santana
Ramon Ramirez headlines the Royals Arizona Complex League this season. He’s already hit three doubles and a home run through his first three games there as well. Ramirez has drawn the eye of many scouts around the minor leagues. He has a strong blend of hit tool, power, and patience that will help carry his value at the plate. Defensively, it’s more of a work in progress and although there’s a chance to stick behind the dish, more likely the bat may move him out to first base. Ramirez is still young but very intriguing and carries a high upside.
Hit: 40/60
Game Power: 40/55
Raw Power: 45/55
Glove: 40/50
Arm: 45/55
Speed: 30/30
19. Will Klein (RHP)
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April Rank: 16
Player Comp: Corey Knebel
Klein was re-assigned to Minor League Spring Training midway through March. He’s been strong so far in Omaha, limiting runs. The strikeouts aren’t quite as high as we’ve usually seen and the walks have crept back up, but that hasn’t changed his overall game success in 2024. The Royals promoted Klein for a short time and he was able to make one scoreless appearance before heading back to Triple-A. He has back-end reliever upside thanks to his upper-90s fastball and cutter combination. He should be back in Kansas City before long and should graduate from this list in 2024.
Fastball: 70/70
Curveball: 50/55
Command: 40/45
20. Josi Novas (SS)
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April Rank: 17
Player Comp: Willy Adames
Novas is an extremely projectable prospect. He has a 6-4 frame with a great ability to barrel the baseball. The swing is easy with few moving parts and gets to the baseball quickly. He’s started 2024 in the Complex League with Ramon Ramirez and has been impressive. Novas hit two home runs in his second Complex League game of the season. He spent all of last season in Arizona as well, but the infield depth ahead of him in Columbia is deep. Once midseason promotions start to come down, Novas will make the move up to Columbia and we will get a clearer idea of how real his potential is.
Hit: 30/50
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 40/60
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 55/50
21. Noah Cameron (LHP)
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April Rank: 9
Player Comp: Brendan McKay
Cameron has had a strong start to the season, so it’s honestly somewhat surprising to see him drop out of the top ten. The largest force behind that fall is the fastball velocity. Cameron hasn’t been able to find his way to the mid-90s with any consistency and the four-seamer doesn’t play very well as it currently sits. He did incorporate a cutter this offseason which has been very effective around 93 mph. The changeup and curveball are both fantastic offerings, and his command is among the best in the farm system. Finding the right fastball will be key to Cameron’s big league success and there still seems to be a ways to go in that regard.
Fastball: 45/50
Curveball: 50/55
Changeup: 55/60
Command: 55/60
22. Shane Panzini (RHP)
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April Rank: 45
Player Comp: Parker Bridwell
Frank Mozzicato and Ben Kudrna have headlined the prep arms in the farm system since 2021. However, Shane Panzini is right there as part of a trio of arms. The three trained together in Florida this offseason at Cressey Sports Performance. Panzini did not have a good 2023 season and looked much further away than the other two. He still seems a couple of tiers below Mozzicato and Kudrna, but the fastball has shined early on in 2024. There is more spin and a tick more velocity which helps the pitch play better up in the strikezone. There isn’t a ton of big-league starter upside here unless all the cards fall right, but Panzini has reliever upside and there’s still more to unlock, especially if the fastball continues to improve.
Fastball: 45/55
Changeup: 45/50
Curveball: 45/50
Command: 40/45
23. Peyton Wilson (2B/OF)
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April Rank: 21
Player Comp: César Hernández
After spending all of 2023 back at second base, Wilson has found his way back to the outfield this season and looked solid. His arm is well above average and can handle the corners long-term. The power output continues to be inconsistent but Wilson has already hit six home runs in 26 games this season. He hit six all of last season. The strikeouts have trended upward with that power increase and now sit just above 25%. However, Wilson walks at a healthy rate, and if he’s doing that and slugging .515, the value will be there. He’s an intriguing option that could play some right-field innings in Kansas City this season, especially if the current big league outfielders continue to struggle.
Hit: 50/60
Game Power: 40/45
Raw Power: 45/45
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 60/60
24. Andrew Hoffmann (RHP)
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April Rank: 23
Player Comp: Chris Flexen
Hoffmann is currently on the injured list and will hopefully return later this month. Before heading to the IL, it had been a mixed bag. Hoffmann owns a 4.53 FIP on the season, but he’s still striking out just north of 10.0 hitters per nine innings. His fastball plays very well, with solid spin rates and 93-94mph velocity. Alongside it, the slider is vicious and averages around 2600-2700 rpm. There’s back-end starter upside, but Hoffmann would succeed in a single-inning relief role as well. Had he not hit the injured list, I expect Hoffmann would’ve made a big-league start in place of Alec Marsh.
Fastball: 45/50
Slider: 55/60
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 40/50
25. Spencer Nivens (OF)
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April Rank: 19
Player Comp: Robbie Grossman
Spencer Nivens went onto the injured list fairly early this season after suffering a hamstring injury running down a ball in center field. He was reactivated on May 7th and will continue his season in High-A Quad Cities. Nivens has shown solid defensive ability in center. At the plate, he has above-average batted-ball skills and makes consistent contact. Unfortunately, that hasn’t quite come through in the very small sample we have so far in 2024. Nivens is looking to lift the ball more — and has — but that’s come at the expense of more swing-and-miss and fewer line-drive hits. It’s a work in progress, but Nivens has the tools to succeed and could turn around the box score results over a larger sample now that he’s healthy.
Hit: 45/60
Game Power: 40/50
Raw Power: 40/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 50/50
26. Logan Martin (RHP)
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April Rank: 63
Player Comp: Jonah Dipoto
Martin was one of the names to watch this season from some sources inside the Royals organization. He’s only pitched 12.0 innings so far across four outings and two starts, but it’s easy to see why. Thus far, Martin has posted a 29.3% strikeout rate. He has a 3.43 FIP and a very healthy 15.2% swinging strike rate. Martin has a solid fastball and a full pitch-mix that should help him succeed long-term. He will start as long as possible, but it’s been a piggy back situation in Columbia due to the number of starters developing at the level. Martin continues to be a name to watch and could be even higher on this list should he continue to succeed in High-A later this season.
Fastball: 45/55
Changeup: 40/50
Curveball: 45/45
Slider: 50/55
Command: 40/45
27. Daniel Vazquez (SS)
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April Rank: 54
Player Comp: Maikel Garcia
Vazquez didn’t have a great 2023 season but came out of the gate as one of the best hitters in the entire minor leagues this year. That hot start has since cooled some but Vazquez continues to make a case for a promotion to High-A. It’s been a bit of a slow progression thus far, but Vazquez has solid line-drive power that could develop into more over-the-fence ability as he continues to develop. His defense at shortstop is good and can flash plus at times. That combination makes him very similar to current Royal Maikel Garcia. He should get a chance to test High-A sooner rather than later.
Hit: 40/55
Game Power: 35/45
Raw Power: 35/45
Glove: 45/60
Arm: 45/55
Speed: 55/55
28. Trevor Werner (3B)
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April Rank: 15
Player Comp: Bobby Dalbec
Werner feasted on Low-A pitching in 2023, to the tune of eight home runs. That was the most of any 2023 draftee last season. The results haven’t quite been the same in High-A thus far. Werner has been slow to start this season and seems to have more difficulty against better pitching talent at the level. That’s dropped his outlook some, especially as a developed college bat. His strikeout rate is above 40% this season and will need to drop drastically for Werner to find any success at the plate. Thanks in large part to those strikeouts, he’s been unable to do much damage at the plate and carries just a .111 ISO on the year. There’s still time for a turnaround, but Werner is trending down after a strong start to his pro career.
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 50/60
Raw Power: 55/60
Glove: 40/45
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
29. Asbel Gonzalez (OF)
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April Rank: 28
Player Comp: Manuel Margot
Gonzalez was a standout in last summer’s Dominican Summer League and will get the chance to test the Complex League in 2024. He’s got an interesting blend of tools that should allow him to stick up the center of the diamond in center field. He has good speed and makes solid contact. The future power potential is more just a projection but exists nonetheless. There aren’t many true center field prospects in the Royals farm system, but if any exist, Gonzalez is certainly among them.
Hit: 40/50
Game Power: 30/40
Raw Power: 35/45
Glove: 45/55
Arm: 50/60
Speed: 50/60
30. Beck Way (RHP)
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April Rank: 37
Player Comp: Dylan Coleman
Beck Way has been among the best comeback stories in the minors for 2024. After an abysmal 2023 that saw the Royals move him to a relief role, things have been much better. Back at Double-A, Way has pitched to a 1.29 ERA over his first 10 appearances. Walks are still a concern, but the walk rate is down three percent and the strikeout rate is up almost ten percent. That combination has worked great in the bullpen. Way has two plus offerings in his fastball and slider. He’ll likely always have volatile command but volatility is to be expected from a relief arm. There’s true high-leverage upside here.
Fastball: 55/60
Slider: 60/60
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 45/55
31. Emmanuel Reyes (RHP)
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April Rank: 25
Player Comp: Zac Gallen
It might be time to cool the jets some for Reyes, but the ceiling remains sky-high. So far in 2024, the results have been strong at times. Most concerning, however, has been the inability to last into starts. It’s still rare to see Reyes succeed beyond the third inning. That was the case last season as well, but it’s worth mentioning that Reyes is still just 19 years old. His fastball sits in the low 90s but has the best shape of any heater in the farm system. He generates above-average spin on the pitch and should he ever find his way to the mid-90s, it’s a true plus offering. The slider remains a work in progress but the changeup has taken some steps forward this season. Longevity will be the focus for Reyes until it’s not and will be a limiting factor.
Fastball: 45/65
Slider: 45/55
Changeup: 40/50
Command: 55/60
32. Hiro Wyatt (RHP)
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April Rank: 29
Player Comp: Brady Singer
We haven’t seen Wyatt thus far in 2024. Blake Wolters skipped extended spring training but the same didn’t happen for Wyatt. Chosen a round later, that’s to be expected from the prep arm. Wyatt still boasts solid upside thanks to his fastball/slider combination. He will need to develop a third offering. He’s set to pitch in this year’s Arizona Complex League and should find his way to Low-A by at least July when that season wraps up. Should he find good success early on, he could be promoted even sooner. The pitching depth in Columbia is deep, however, and could slow that some.
Fastball: 40/55
Slider: 45/60
Changeup: 35/40
Command: 40/45
33. Felix Arronde (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: 52
Player Comp: Grant Gavin
Felix Arronde has a full and healthy pitch mix for a relatively young age. He generates healthy amounts of swing-and-miss and currently overmatches many of the Low-A hitters he’s facing. Arronde currently has a 2.79 ERA over his first six appearances this season. Opponents are hitting just .160 against him and he does a good-not-great job of limiting free passes. Arronde’s 4.25 FIP shows signs that regression may be on the horizon, but he’s been among the most improved arms so far this season.
Fastball: 45/55
Slider: 50/55
Curveball: 40/45
Changeup: 40/45
Command: 40/50
34. Henry Williams (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: 33
Player Comp: Touki Toussaint
Henry Williams was the key return in the Scott Barlow trade. He’s yet another former prep standout from the state of Connecticut. That seems to be a slowly developing hotbed for the Royals pitching talent. He commands a fastball, curveball, and changeup. Since returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2023, it’s been a slow road back to effective velocity and command. In 2024, that development has continued and Williams looks to have made some key steps forward. His FIP is down 130 points compared to 2023 but still sits a bit high at 4.58. Williams struggles to generate swing-and-miss but the projection remains for more.
Fastball: 45/55
Curveball: 50/55
Changeup: 40/50
Command: 30/45
35. Ethan Bosacker (RHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: NR
Player Comp:
Bosacker was a 13th-round pick in 2023. He didn’t appear on our preseason rankings or our April rankings, but makes his debut here at 35. Over his first 24.2 IP this season, Bosacker has pitched to a microscopic 1.09 ERA. He’s walking just 6.5% of hitters. Limiting free passes, paired with a low .151 BAA has helped Bosacker to that success. He has a full four-pitch mix with the potential for two above-average offerings. It’s currently a college product pitching in Low-A, so the results may be somewhat misleading. Still, it’s been a strong start to 2024 for the Xavier product.
Fastball: 45/55
Curveball: 40/50
Slider: 45/55
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 45/55
36. Erick Peña (OF)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: NR
Player Comp:
He’s back! Erick Peña had a miserable 2023, resulting in an end-of-year move to the Development list. Peña was a prize in the 2019 international signing class but hasn’t followed that up with much success. In 2024, his strikeout rate has come down 14% (but still sits way too high at 38%). The power has come through more, en route to a current career-high .186 ISO. It’s probably a small chance that Peña ever reaches his potential, but it’s worth reminding that he’s still just 21 years old. He has a 110 wRC+ so far in Low-A and could be back on the rise if the strikeouts continue to come down.
Hit: 30/40
Game Power: 50/60
Raw Power: 60/70
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 45/50
Speed: 55/50
37. Luca Tresh (C)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: 34
Player Comp: Josmil Pinto
Tresh had an under-the-radar season in 2023 after starting to separate himself the year prior. This season, he’s been back on track with a 125 wRC+ over his first 15 games. He is still more of a part-time player than you’d like to see, but it’s helped him in the offense department. Tresh has slashed .280/.339/.500 with three home runs this season. The strikeout rate is still too high, limiting his future upside. He profiles as a backup catcher long-term, and the floor is as low as organizational depth. Regardless, there are some solid tools here.
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 45/50
Raw Power: 50/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 40/40
38. Oscar Rayo (LHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: 48
Player Comp: Angel Zerpa
If Oscar Rayo could effectively pitch deeper into games, he’d be a locked and loaded top-15 prospect in the farm system. Rayo NEVER allows home runs. He’s allowed just one in his last 84.0 IP. At the same time, Rayo generates a healthy amount of swinging strikes (14.9%) and RARELY allows free passes. His walk rate this season is 4.0% after finishing last season at 4.2%. The result has been a 1.42 ERA in 2024. Only one of his four outings has been a start, however, and without longevity, it’s unclear how useful Rayo can be long-term. His future outlook is cloudy, but there’s a path to effective mid-rotation ability here even if it’s probably a 20th percentile outcome.
Fastball: 40/50
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 45/55
Curveball: 40/45
Command: 50/60
39. Ryan Ramsey (LHP)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: 30
Player Comp: J.P. Howell
Ramsey has a similar problem as Rayo before him: limited longevity. He’s averaged under four innings per outing this season. With that said, his ERA is still strong at 2.81 and he’s struck out an impressive 33% of hitters. That strikeout stuff is matched with solid command en route to a 26.2% K-BB%. That mark is among the best in the farm system. Ramsey continues to face High-A hitters despite being a 23-year-old college product. The development has been slow due to injury and will need to pick up for Ramsey to maintain true prospect status.
Fastball: 50/50
Curveball: 45/45
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 45/50
40. Dillan Shrum (1B)
Overview
Scouting Grades
Video
April Rank: NR
Player Comp:
Dillan Shrum has quickly cemented himself as one of the few first-base prospects remaining in the Kansas City farm system. He has a gaudy .333 ISO over his first 24 games. That comes mostly on the back of seven home runs. Shrum still strikes out far too much, and his defensive upside is limited to first base. Those two things aren’t a great combination unless Shrum can maintain his high ISO. He finished last season at .199, which is still pretty strong but not quite strong enough to carry value into the big leagues. Shrum is an interesting depth prospect with upside to like but probably a bit too much development still to go for his age. He’s already 26 years old.
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 45/55
Raw Power: 50/55
Glove: 45/45
Arm: 45/45
Speed: 45/45
