2024 Report Cards: RHP Ben Kudrna

Preston Farr/Farm to Fountains’ Scouting Grades: 

Fastball: 50/60

Changeup: 55/55

Slider: 45/50

Command: 45/50

Background

Ben Kudrna is a local product out of Blue Valley Northwest in Overland Park, Kansas. He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of high school, the same year he won Kansas’ Gatorade Player of the Year award. There was a lot of hype behind Kudrna’s selection, leading him to being ranked as the Royals’ No. 11 prospect during the 2022 season. He has worked his way up the list, landing as the No. 3 prospect in the Royals’ system in MLB Pipeline’s 2024 midseason ranking. 

How were his first two seasons in the minors?

Kudrna has developed a reputation as a very dependable starter. You can count on him to get 5 to 6 solid innings nearly every time he takes the mound. In 2022, he threw 72.1 innings for the Columbia Fireflies, holding a 3.48 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 1.91 K/BB. He followed that up by dominating in Columbia to start the 2023 season, holding a 3.56 ERA in 68.1 IP before earning a promotion to Quad Cities. Things weren’t nearly as smooth at the High-A level, as he held a 5.36 ERA in 40.1 IP allowing opponents to hit .325 against him.

What went well in 2024?

2024 season stats (A+): 69.2 IP, 3.49 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .226 OBA, 2.22 K/BB

2024 season stats (AA): 30.1 IP, 5.34 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, .297 OBA, 2.46 K/BB

The beginning of 2024 saw Kudrna return to form for the River Bandits, as he posted five quality starts during his time there. He also earned two Midwest League Pitcher of the Week awards and was selected along with Gavin Cross to represent the Royals in the Futures Game at MLB All-Star Week. Kudrna is becoming well known even outside of the Royals’ community. There has been a lot to like about Kudrna’s trajectory in 2024, as he’s continued to grow as a reliable starter within the Royals’ system.

With all of the good, there have also been struggles the last two seasons after a midseason promotion. However, this isn’t too concerning, given Kudrna’s young age (21) and the typical adjustment period for any player making their way through the minors. It is encouraging to see Kudrna’s K/BB ratio in NW Arkansas be the highest of his career, despite the fact that hitters in Double-A tend to be more patient than the lower levels of the minors. I expect Kudrna to make the same adjustments in NW Arkansas heading into next season as he did in Quad Cities from 2023 to 2024.

What to expect in 2025

I expect Kudrna to begin 2025 back in NW Arkansas to iron out some of the difficulties he’s faced so far there. His biggest area of growth may be limiting hard contact, as opponents are currently slugging .483 with a .855 OPS against him in Double-A. I don’t doubt that he will make the adjustments in the offseason to do so, possibly looking to increase his fastball velocity from 94-95 MPH to help his off-speed offerings play better. I think his 2025 season will play out much like the past two seasons as he earns a promotion to Omaha in the middle of the summer, inching closer and closer to making his major-league debut just minutes from his hometown.

Image credit: Quad Cities River Bandits