As we approach the middle of April, the minor league season is still young. Much like the big league club, trends are forming but are far from solid. Small samples still weigh heavy on any narratives in the system, and it’s necessary to take nearly everything with a grain of salt. Many of the Kansas City farmhands started the year hot, especially on offense. Top prospects, including Carson Roccaforte, Jac Caglianone, and Carter Jensen, have started the year strongly. It’s a welcome sight after many such prospects started the 2024 season much slower.
Some familiar names, including Luinder Avila, Jac Caglianone, and Noah Cameron, have all started the season strongly. I don’t need to write a paragraph on those names to help you understand how they’ve fared this season. Instead, here’s a closer look at some of the other early season standouts thus far in 2025.
Early season standouts in the Royals minor league system
2B Peyton Wilson – .464/.605/.821
Wilson is repeating Double-A for the third straight season now. He made his way there to open the 2023 season, finishing the year with a 108 wRC+ in 128 games. He was solid again in 2024, posting a 106 wRC+ in 120 games for the Naturals. Despite the strong showing, there were plenty of question marks around Wilson’s showing a year ago. He hit just .228 and slugged just .380. Both of those marks were substantial declines compared to the 2023 and 2022 seasons. Into 2025, Wilson has started as well as any prospect in the entire minor leagues. In eight games, he has three doubles, two triples, and a home run. He’s walked eight times against just five strikeouts and has stolen two bags as well. Wilson has played exclusively at the keystone with Javier Vaz on the injured list, but he’s spent time in left field and even center field in the past as well. He’s already 25, hurting his prospect stock some, but Wilson has put himself back on the radar as at least a name to watch moving into the bulk of the season.
1B Derlin Figueroa – .382/.450/.676
Figueroa was acquired from the Dodgers in the 2023 Ryan Yarbrough trade. He made his way to Low-A for the first time a year ago, and the power was apparent early on. As the season progressed, fatigue seemed to set in, and Figueroa had a difficult time maintaining production. He hit just .223 with a .303 on-base percentage. Still, a low strikeout rate and solid walk rate showed signs of a good approach. The power started to seep through once again in 2025. Across his first nine games, Figueroa has three home runs. He walked four times in just one of those nine games and has five total walks against four strikeouts thus far. There’s a good chance that Figueroa will spend a good chunk of time with Columbia, if not the full season ahead, but he is starting to look ready for a tougher challenge early on.
RHP Thomas Hatch – 2 GS, 2.79 ERA, 30.8% K%, 5.1% BB%
Hatch is 30 years old and far from a prospect. Regardless, he spent last season in the NPB and looks to have returned with improved command. Hatch has a 10.7% career walk rate but has posted a mark half that thus far in two starts for Omaha. His pure stuff looks great, with solid spin rates and good fastball shape. He’s generated a ton of strikeouts while working around a .243 opponents’ batting average. That average against paired with a stellar 97.6% LOB% leaves some worry for regression. Still, if Hatch is going to post K-BB% marks north of 25.0%, he could find his way forcing the issue and pitching in the Kansas City bullpen later this season.
OF Asbel Gonzalez – .382/.475/.382, 13 SB
Gonzalez has hit the ground running in his first taste of real affiliated ball. He was a trending top prospect after strong showings in both the DSL and Arizona Complex League. The hit tool looks more advanced than first expected, and he’s allowed his double-plus speed to impact on the basepaths. His 13 stolen bases are tied for the MiLB lead. There isn’t much power to speak of to this point, but at just 19 years old, there’s still time for that power to start developing. If it does, Gonzalez has the makings of a future All-Star center fielder and offers excellent long-term upside.
2B/3B Stone Russell – .419/.471/.581
Russell was an 18th-round selection by the Royals in 2023. He was one of a trio of prep prospects taken in the final three rounds and the only one that ultimately signed with Kansas City. After a less-than-stellar showing in last year’s Arizona Complex League, Russell has hit the ground running with Low-A Columbia this season. He’s played mostly third base but has spent time at second base as well. In eight games, Russell has two doubles and a home run. He’s limited his strikeout rate to just 11.8%. Russell’s swinging strike rate shows signs of regression there, but if he continues to hit for average and some gap power, a few more strikeouts will still be manageable in the long term.
RHP Ben Kudrna – 2 GS, 1.48 FIP, 28.6% K-BB%
Kudrna has shown new life early on. It was a mediocre season, even in the best moments a season ago. Kudrna struggled to a 4.50 FIP with Northwest Arkansas in 2024 but has showcased new life on his fastball early on this season. The result has been a 15.0% swinging strike rate — Kudrna’s best mark since 2023, when he was stellar with Low-A Columbia. He’s done so while sporting the best walk rate of his professional career. There are still signs of concern, however. Kudrna has allowed opposing hitters to hit .300 against him, and his 1.56 WHIP isn’t pretty. Much of that is the result of batted ball misfortune, however. If Kudrna can start limiting contact and keep runners off the basepaths, he should be ready to finally make the jump to Triple-A.
Discover more from Farm to Fountains
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
