Player comparisons for Royals top prospects

The Royals have a rapidly growing farm system that has grown immensely over the last few years. With several new faces, fans may not be familiar with some of the biggest up-and-comers in the Royals organization. Today, I compare them to current MLB players to provide a better understanding of the type of player these guys could develop into down the line.

Jac Caglianone – Yordan Alverez

Caglianone has made a name for himself quickly in the Royals farm system after an electric performance in spring training this offseason. So far in his professional career, Caglianone has made his presence felt with his elite power at the plate and ability to break the game open at any time. I have compared Caglianone to Alverez due to their similar approach at the plate and ability to flip the script with their pop from the left side of the plate.

Alverez also struggled with strikeouts early in his career but developed the discipline to become a superstar hitter in the MLB. Alverez is a subpar fielder in the outfield due to his lack of range, which will likely be a similar problem for Caglianone if he moves to the outfield at some point in his career. If Caglianone can reach his potential, I think Alverez is a good comparison for what his potential could be in the MLB.

Blake Mitchell – Cal Raleigh

Here I have compared Mitchell to Raleigh due to their approach at the plate and skills defensively behind the plate. While Raleigh is a bit larger than Mitchell and I think Mitchell has more potential defensively, they both show off good pop time and framing behind the plate. They also both come with a conservative approach at the plate that results in a lot of walks but also a lot of strikeouts.

Raleigh is a switch hitter and while Mitchell only hits from the left, he is more than capable of hitting against both sides. It’s so rare to find left-handed catchers in the MLB, so finding a comp for Mitchell was hard. Raleigh has great power at the plate and is probably the maximum amount of pop Mitchell will be capable of at the plate. Nonetheless, I think they have similar player profiles and could find similar results down the line.

Steven Zobac – Freddy Peralta

Zobac has quickly come onto the scene as one of the Royals’ top prospects after his great performance last season. Zobac offers a three-pitch mix with a good fastball, slider, and changeup mix that he is able to use effectively. He has elite command, maybe the best in the entire farm, and his ability to pound the zone with great location is impressive.

I have compared him to Freddy Peralta because of his elite command and effectiveness with a limited pitch mix. Peralta has proven to be effective with the same three pitches as he has gotten later in his career and he rarely mixes in a curveball. Zobac is still at AA and will add more pitches as time goes on, but the blend of pitch mix and elite command makes me think of Peralta when considering what Zobac could be later in his career.

Carter Jensen – Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber started his career behind the plate as a catcher but later transitioned to the outfield to make sure he was able to find the most time in the lineup. Many project that Jensen will do the same thing as he continues to move through the farm system. Jensen and Schwarber both come with a boatload of left-side power that can go deep any time during the game.

This one felt easy, with both guys starting behind the plate but maybe moving out to find more offensive play time, and their compact build with electric power at the plate, the resemblance between Jensen and Schwarber is apparent. We have already seen great flashes of power from Jensen both in the minor leagues and in spring training, and if he can become a similar player to Schwarber, I think fans will be very happy with him and his development.

Carson Roccaforte – Kevin Kiermaier

A true defense first centerfielder, Roccaforte displays an elite glove in center field with great range to cover a lot of ground. He struggled at the plate some last year and does not have incredible pop at the plate, but he has the speed to put the ball in play and get on base. Roccaforte’s development all comes at the plate, as I think he is a major league defender already, and will just need to improve his ability to get on base with consistency to be a productive major league center fielder.

Keirmaier is a similar player, with good speed and elite defensive range in center field but was never known for his ability to hit. Despite being an average hitter at best, Keirmaier was an immensely valuable player with his glove and ability to make plays defensively in center field. The Royals are hoping Roccaforte will come to Kansas City and provide a similar skillset for them, making plays defensively in Kauffman’s big outfield.

Hiro Wyatt – Dylan Cease

Hiro Wyatt has a long way to go before he can become Dylan Cease, but his signs of a great fastball and slider pairing, at his size are very reminiscent of what Cease can do on the mound. Wyatt throws hard and has a nasty slider with great bite that he can use as an out-pitch at any time. He is young and has a long way to go, but when you watch Wyatt play, you can see his upside to be a very productive and skilled MLB pitcher in time.

Luinder Avila – Mike Baumann

Lou Avila has become a fan favorite recently after displaying incredible stuff in spring training this offseason. Avila throws hard and can touch triple digits at times while also displaying elite spin on a curveball and slider as well as the occasional changeup. Baumann has a very similar pitch mix and also offers a firm fastball as his primary offering. Avila will move to the pen and has proven to have elite MLB stuff and if he can command it will find himself being an incredible MLB reliever.

David Shields – Nick Lodolo

Shields was the Royals’ second-round pick in this year’s draft out of high school and has yet to have his first season of professional ball. It is hard to know what he will look like, or how he will pan out, but in high school, he had a firm fastball and a great curveball. This made me compare him to fellow lefty Nick Lodolo who similarly has a solid fastball and big curveball that he relies on as his primary pitches.

Noah Cameron – Charlie Morton

I compare Noah Cameron to his fellow soft-throwing lefty Charlie Morton who plays with elite command and impressive off-speed stuff to get outs. Morton typically sat low 90s with his fastball and incorporated a great curveball and changeup he used to force soft contact with efficiency. Cameron ticked up to 94 this last season and mixed in a cutter to help keep hitters off the fastball. His good curveball and changeup, along with his ability to be effective with the softer fastball make him very reminiscent of the two-time All-Star Morton.

Drew Beam – Joe Musgrove

Last but certainly not least is Drew Beam, the Royals’ third-round pick in the 2024 MLB draft and one of my favorite prospects in the Royals organization. Beam is a polished pitcher with a good five-pitch mix all of which he can use effectively to force contact and get outs. When you watch Tennessee games from the last few years, Beam feels like a veteran, with a reliable pitch mix and solid stuff to be effective. Musgrove has had a very successful career in the MLB, and if he follows, Beam can develop into a very solid late-rotation pitcher.