1. C Blake Mitchell
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Mitchell has made his mark in his first full season with the Royals Low-A affiliate in Columbia. He’s shown plenty of reasons why the front office put their faith in him with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft. The leading tool here is clearly Mitchell’s immense power. The bat speed is legit and should translate to plus power as he continues to develop at the dish. The strikeouts have been far too high, leaving some concerns around the hit tool. However, despite the high strikeout rate, Mitchell’s swinging strike rate hasn’t been all that alarming. Pitchers have rarely given him anything to hit up in the zone this season, and he’s already shown developments in covering the outside half of the plate much better than when the season started.
Defensively, Mitchell looks well beyond his years behind the plate. His arm isn’t just strong, it’s extremely accurate. At worst, it’s a 55-grade defensive profile but the tools are all there for a plus backstop defensively. There is little question that Mitchell will stick behind the plate. He’s shown an impressive ability to command the Fireflies’ young rotation as well. He calls a good game and has shown a good grasp of when he needs to reel in the arm on the mound. For a high-school product that’s just now transitioning into playing five or six times a week, it’s difficult to see what more you would want to see from a player with Mitchell’s ceiling. The hit tool needs more refining to limit the strikeouts, but there’s perennial All-Star potential once it all comes together.
Preseason Rank: 5 (+4)
ETA: Late 2026
Hit: 35/45
Raw Power: 60/60
Game Power: 50/60
Glove: 40/55
Arm: 50/55
Speed: 45/40
2. OF Gavin Cross
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It didn’t take long for Gavin Cross to get right back on track after a disastrous 2023 campaign. He’s shown once again this season why he was a top-ten pick. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever derailed his season last year, but there was more beyond that causing questions about his long-term prospects. By now, I’m all the way back in on Cross. He looks more like a future five or six-hitter versus a middle-of-the-order mainstay, but he should still be good enough to earn at least a couple of All-Star nods if the tools continue to all come together. The only thing that hasn’t really shown itself yet this season has been Cross’s impressive raw power. I still believe that will start to come through more and more.
Defensively, Cross has played a mixture of center field and right field, but profiles most as a right fielder by the time he reaches the major leagues. His arm plays well there, even if it’s probably just average overall. Cross is still a sound outfielder defensively and should carry his value enough there that he doesn’t need to be an elite offensive force. The hit tool seems to have caught up more than the power to this point in 2024, and it will be important to see what sort of power starts to come through as Cross moves into the warm summer months. He’s played the entire season at Northwest Arkansas thus far, and a brief injury put him on the shelf with back spasms. His stay on the IL was only a week-long, but still worth monitoring how that progresses.
Preseason Rank: 11 (+9)
ETA: Early 2025
Hit: 45/55
Raw Power: 55/60
Game Power: 45/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 50/45
3. OF Carson Roccaforte
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2024 started about as poorly as it could for Roccaforte. After showing impressive plate discipline in his Low-A debut, he came out of the gate struggling with strikeouts this season. An off-season focus for Roccaforte was lifting the ball more, and that focus seems to have impacted him strongly at the plate to start 2024. As the season has progressed, however, there have been signs of life from the center fielder. Over a 15-game stretch from May into June, Roccaforte broke out for a .321 ISO. All that’s left now is for the hit tool to catch back up to that sort of power output. Once it does, Roccaforte has all the makings of a true offensive force.
Defensively, he’s the best outfield defender in the entire farm system. He should stick in center field long-term and provide well above-average defense. His plus speed and strong instincts allow him to make routine catches that others would miss altogether. He makes efficient routes to the baseball and isn’t afraid to go up and get one at the wall when necessary. His arm isn’t all that strong, but won’t be much of a liability either. Roccaforte has all the tools to be the Royals starting center fielder for much of the next decade. He just needs to keep putting them all together. His swing mechanics are smooth and efficient and should allow him to continue finding more lift. There’s a 20/20 upside paired with 60-grade defense up the middle.
Preseason Rank: 2 (-1)
ETA: Early 2026
Hit: 40/55
Raw Power: 45/55
Game Power: 40/50
Glove: 60/60
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 60/60
4. LHP Frank Mozzicato
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As high as his ceiling is, the floor is just as low for Mozzicato. Now in his third full season as a prospect, there have been signs of improvement. 2024 has been his best showing thus far, but it hasn’t come with its own share of concerns. Mozzicato posted a sub-3.00 ERA over his first nine starts of the season but has seen his strikeout rate dip around five percent versus last season. Alongside the dip in strikeouts, Mozzicato’s walk rate has dropped four percent, signaling improvements in command. That was the focus for much of the offseason for Mozzicato — developing a better command of the strikezone. The velocity on his fastball remains in the upper-80s which seems concerning on the surface. However, the shape and metrics on the pitch allow it to continue missing bats in High-A despite the low velocity.
Mozzicato will need more velocity to succeed in the big leagues, but he’s still just 21 years old with time for that to arrive. Beyond the fastball, Mozzicato’s changeup has taken noticeable steps forward this season. That’s given him another weapon to use and has helped him fare better against left-handed hitters. The curveball remains absolutely stellar and his slider continues to look sharp as well. The pitch mix is great outside of the fastball velocity. Should Mozzicato ever work his fastball up even to 93-94mph, he’s going to fly through the system. Mozzicato has seen a noticeable downtrend in strikeouts this season, which will be concerning should it continue for much longer.
Preseason Rank: 1 (-3)
ETA: Late 2026
Fastball: 40/50
Changeup: 45/55
Curveball: 60/60
Slider: 45/55
Command: 40/50
5. 2B/OF Javier Vaz
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Javier Vaz was sensational in 2023, firmly putting his name on the map as a legitimate prospect in the Royals farm system. So far in 2024, he’s seemingly back under the radar despite doing just about what he’s done at every other level thus far. Vaz has seen his power drop off some after starting the year back at Double-A. Much of that was a result of an early season slump and the power has started to return some as the season progresses. Long-term, he’s never going to be much of a power hitter anyway. Vaz should be good for an ISO around .100 while providing an excellent approach, good speed, and solid bat-to-ball skills.
The swinging strike rate was among the best in the minor leagues last season and has been so once again in 2024. Vaz has walked more than he’s struck out this season and his line drive rate has improved 10% versus last season — now up to 24%. Vaz is about as consistent as they come in the system, making up for a lack of ceiling with a very high floor. Defensively, he has the best chance to stick at second base but has been serviceable in a corner outfield role when the need arises. There have been times that he’s played center field but those chances have come sparingly and he looks like a future second baseman. The difference between being a utilityman and a true regular will come down to how well Vaz can hit for average. He will need to with the low power output.
Preseason Rank: 7 (+2)
ETA: Late 2025/Early 2026
Hit: 50/70
Game Power: 30/40
Raw Power: 40/40
Glove: 50/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 60/60
6. OF Asbel Gonzalez
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Asbel Gonzalez has all the traits needed to stick up the middle defensively and provide impact offensive value in the meantime. He had mixed results in the 2023 Dominican Summer League but has really hit the ground running in his first taste of Complex League competition this season. Over his first 20 games, Gonzalez slashed .306/.438/.375 with 14 stolen bases and a 14.4% walk rate. Gonzalez does have a noticeable amount of swing-and-miss at the plate, but it currently isn’t alarming considering his youth (18) and raw international profile. His timing can be off often due to his toe-tap mechanics and twitchy hands in his swing-load mechanics.
With more refining, Gonzalez should be able to reduce the swing and miss some. His bat plane is great and should allow him to lift the ball with more refinement at the plate. He will likely never be a 30+ home run slugger but has a solid chance to be good for 15 HR with 30 stolen bases and gold-glove-level defense in center field. Of course, all of that is a bit premature considering Gonzalez is yet to appear in full-season ball. He will possibly get a chance to do so later this season with the Complex League wrapping up in July. Once he does, we will have a more clear idea of how well the tools will play up against stiffer competition.
Preseason Rank: 28 (+22)
ETA: Early 2029
Hit: 40/55
Game Power: 30/45
Raw Power: 30/50
Glove: 50/60
Arm: 40/50
Speed: 60/60
7. RHP Mason Barnett
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A quick look at Mason Barnett’s ERA this season (6.14) might scare you off, but he’s still been very solid and the underlying metrics have shown signs of better days ahead. Barnett has struck out more batters and walked fewer per nine innings than he did at either level last season. Of course, he won the organization’s Paul Splittorff Award for Pitcher of the Year in 2023. The command remains strong after being perhaps the largest knock for Barnett when he was drafted in the third round of the 2022 Amateur Draft. He mixes a fastball, curveball, changeup, and slider.
The curveball and changeup profile as more average offerings, but his slider is a plus offering and the fastball has been consistently above-average with potential for maybe a little more. He looks a bit like Drew Rasmussen on the mound and I expect he could profile as a similar arm once he makes his big-league debut. Barnett doesn’t have the makings of a future frontline starter, but he should be a safe bet to stick in the middle of a rotation. So far in 2024, the largest factor in his inflated ERA has been an inflated BAA. Hitters have hit .275 against him this season with a .383 BABIP. Last season, those marks were at .218 and .316, respectively.
Preseason Rank: 13 (+6)
ETA: Late 2025
Fastball: 50/55
Curveball: 45/50
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 55/60
Command: 50/50
8. RHP Chandler Champlain
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After a rough season debut, Chandler Champlain got right back on the horse and dominated Double-A en route to an early season promotion to Triple-A Omaha. The results have been strong at times since arriving there, but he’s found his share of struggles in the process as well. The offensive environment at Werner Park is not very pitcher-friendly, so I wouldn’t be too scared off based on some early returns. Champlain sits 94-96mph with his fastball, averaging close to 2300 rpm on the pitch. The velocity and spin rates help the pitch run well up in the strikezone and miss plenty of bats.
The rest of Champlain’s arsenal includes an outstanding curveball, a slider, and two new offerings for 2024: a circle-changeup and a splitter. Although it’s new, the changeup has helped Champlain plenty this season, giving him another offering to use and keep hitters off balance. He leans most heavily on a fastball/curveball combination, and made needs to find more consistent use of his other two pitches to find long-term success as a starter in the big leagues. That should help him maintain swinging strikes at the sport’s highest level as well. His swinging strike rate has fallen six percent in a small sample at Triple-A thus far.
Preseason Rank: 8 (0)
ETA: Early 2025
Fastball: 55/55
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 45/50
Curveball: 55/60
Command: 50/55
9. RHP Ben Kudrna
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Ben Kudrna has shown flashes of premium potential ever since entering the Royals farm system back in 2021. That’s continued into 2024, as Kudrna has continued to generate whiffs at an outstanding rate. Oddly enough, despite a high swinging strike rate, Kudrna continues to have rather mediocre strikeout totals. His arsenal includes a mid-90s four-seamer, a gyro-slider, and an outstanding changeup. The combination has done enough to get Kudrna to this point, but hasn’t changed too much since he was drafted in the second round. The lack of development in that regard is somewhat concerning, especially when it seems that Kudrna struggles to really put hitters away consistently.
Adding a fourth offering with more east-west life could help Kudrna level up what is otherwise a solid profile. As it currently sits, Kudrna has the makings of a fifth-starter or a high-leverage late-inning reliever. The fastball has touched as high as 97 at times, and could likely play up even more in smaller, one-inning outings. There was once a time that Kudrna looked to have some of the best upside of any starter in the Kansas City system, but there simply hasn’t been enough noticeable development over three seasons to back up that claim any longer. With that said, the high-ceiling potential still exists. There have been some improvements to his fastball shape over the course of the 2024 season that could be very important to his success in the upper minor leagues.
Preseason Rank: 6 (-3)
ETA: Early 2027
Fastball: 50/60
Changeup: 55/55
Slider: 45/50
Command: 45/50
10. RHP Emmanuel Reyes
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Emmanuel Reyes has followed up his 2023 full-season debut very strongly. He just turned 20 in May. This season, he’s shown a better ability to last deeper into starts, going at least five full innings in nine of his first 13 starts. What matters more than the innings, however, is how effective Reyes has been after the first three innings. In 2023, starts would tend to come off the rails by the fourth inning and beyond, but that hasn’t been the case so far in 2024. From May 17 into June 9, Reyes has pieced together five consecutive starts of at least 5.0IP and three or fewer runs allowed. He did that just four times all of last season for Columbia.
His velocity hasn’t picked up much, but that isn’t cause for concern at this point in his development. The fastball traits remain very good, and it has exceptional horizontal break that keep hitters missing. His slider has found more consistency this season after struggling with some release point and arm slot woes prior. It’s the changeup that’s taken the largest step forward in 2024, becoming less of a filler pitch and more of a true weapon. Reyes maintains excellent command and tends to hover around a six percent walk rate. As he continues to develop his arsenal, the strikeouts should trend upward and the ceiling will start to raise.
Preseason Rank: 25 (+15)
ETA: Late 2027
Fastball: 40/60
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 40/55
Command: 50/60
11. C Carter Jensen
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It’s no exaggeration to say that Carter Jensen has been the best hitter in the entire farm system for 2024. He returned to High-A once again this season and has obliterated the Midwest League all year. He won’t turn 21 until July, making it all the more impressive what he’s been able to do. In his first 60 games of the season, Jensen slashed .290/.408/.462 with an 18.4% strikeout rate and a .172 ISO. Jensen has maintained his excellent walk rate (16.2%) despite swinging more and putting the ball in play far more often. He’s raised his ISO 20 points in the process and also leveled out his splits against LHP.
In short, Jensen has done just about everything you’d like to see from him so far with Quad Cities. He’s ripe for a promotion to Double-A where he will face even stiffer competition. The profile has shifted some for Jensen, who once looked like a future power threat at the plate with excellent plate discipline. This season, he looks more like a line drive machine who can hit for average alongside taking his walks. The home run power is still there as well, and he’s on pace to finish the season right around where he did each of the last two seasons. Defensively, Jensen should be an average defender behind the plate but has the athleticism to shift out into a corner outfield role eventually.
Preseason Rank: 18 (+7)
ETA: Early 2027
Hit: 45/55
Game Power: 40/50
Raw Power: 45/55
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 55/55
Speed: 50/50
12. OF Jared Dickey
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Jared Dickey has shown flashes of what made him an 11th-round overslot pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old has posted a 27.3% line-drive rate thus far in High-A. Even if the overall stats don’t stand out too much (106 wRC+ so far), the underlying metrics show a lot of signs of good things to come. Dickey has a zone-swing rate above 70% and his zone contact rate is approaching 80% so far this season. At the same time, he keeps his swinging strike rates low. His whiff rate so far this season sits under 30%. The result of all of those things is a metric profile that sits above average across the board.
Putting all that together gives me faith that Dickey’s .136 ISO will start to trend upward. Out of Tennessee, he profiled as a 30+ home run potential hitter and that still exists somewhere in the profile. He walks at a healthy rate as well, giving him one of the more well-rounded profiles in the farm system. Defensively, Dickey plays solid defense in a corner outfield role and should be able to stick there with at least average defense at the big-league level. His arm should play well enough, but it will be the offensive value that will carry him most.
Preseason Rank: 12 (-1)
ETA: Late 2026
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 40/55
Raw Power: 50/60
Glove: 45/50
Arm: 50/50
Speed: 45/45
13. OF Erick Torres
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Erick Torres showed signs of promise in 2023, playing in the Arizona Complex League. That came after a solid showing in the Dominican Summer League the year prior. He moved into the top 50 of the preseason update but has continued to show exactly what we saw in the lower levels. This year, that’s come for Low-A Columbia. Torres is a contact machine, rarely striking out. There isn’t much swing-and-miss in his game at the plate and he takes his walks at a healthy rate as well. The result has been a good ability to hit for average and generate solid on-base totals. Torres has great speed as well, rounding out what profiles best as a future bottom-of-the-order table setter.
The power doesn’t really exist for Torres. Through 56 games, his ISO is a microscopic .028, which limits the upside substantially. Still, Torres is just 19 years old and there’s long-term potential for more lift and power, even if it will always be more gap power than true over-the-fence prowess. Defensively, Torres plays a good center field, but the routes and jump to the ball are still a bit raw and inconsistent. I’ll believe in his ability to stick at the position until I’m shown otherwise, and the added defensive value really helps to round out the profile.
Preseason Rank: 38 (+24)
ETA: Early 2028
Hit: 45/60
Game Power: 30/40
Raw Power: 30/40
Glove: 45/55
Speed: 60/60
Arm: 45/50
14. LHP Noah Cameron
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Cameron struggled after a mid-season bump to Double-A in 2023 but has put many of those struggles behind him in 2024. His first ten starts of the year saw him pitch to a 3.58 FIP with more than ten strikeouts per nine innings. Cameron is back to generating whiffs and commanding the strike zone well. Part of his success has stemmed from adding a cutter this offseason, which has helped him to add another wrinkle for hitters. The four-seamer lacks life and has struggled against more advanced hitters in the past. The cutter may be the answer to those woes. His changeup remains outstanding, as does the curveball. Now, with something more of an east-west option in the cutter, Cameron continues to round out his overall profile nicely.
Injury sidelined Cameron for a short time in May of this season, but he’s since returned and eased back into things. After undergoing Tommy John Surgery just before the draft, the Royals have worked Cameron back at a safe pace in order to keep him on the mound. Last season, that included a one-month planned “hiatus” of sorts to keep his arm fresh. For those reasons, it’s possible Cameron will shift to the bullpen eventually. However, as good as the stuff can be alongside solid command, it truly is a starter profile until it isn’t.
Preseason Rank: 9 (-6)
ETA: Early 2026
Fastball: 40/45
Changeup: 60/60
Curveball: 55/55
Command: 50/55
15. RHP Blake Wolters
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Blake Wolters received a healthy amount of attention prior to the season, including talk that he may have the best fastball in the entire farm system. Some of that was on display early, with Wolters touching 98 mph in his first start of the season. What’s been perhaps just as impressive has been the changeup for Wolters. When drafted, Wolters was more of a two-pitch guy with an electric fastball and a wipeout slider. The changeup was there but not used much in the high school ranks. Since his pro debut this season, the changeup stands out as a real weapon that can help Wolters against lefties. Although the potential is there, it hasn’t come without challenges this season.
After debuting in the upper 90s, Wolters has fallen off and sat more mid-90s for much of the season since. His command can be spotty, missing his spots. Sometimes he misses those spots in the zone and gets punished for it. Opposing hitters have slashed .261/.347/.412 against him this season. At still just 19 years old, there is little reason to get concerned about Wolters and his long-term prospects. However, it may be time to temper expectations. As the rest of this season progresses, Wolters will continue to work on his command and build up his strength to last over a full season. Once he’s able to consistently land in the upper 90s, his margin for error will be more management and his overall success should improve as a result.
Preseason Rank: 10 (-6)
ETA: Early 2028
Fastball: 45/60
Changeup: 45/55
Slider: 40/55
Command: 30/50
16. RHP Logan Martin
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Logan Martin was a bit of an unassuming 12th-round pick by the Royals in 2023. Then, over two starts for Low-A Columbia in 2023 he was met with mixed results. This season, those results have been far more impressive. Martin maintains healthy swing-and-miss rates while commanding the ball well. Over his first 12 appearances in 2024, he’s pitched to a 2.87 ERA. Admittedly, he’s under-matched in Low-A but should get a chance to test himself against stiffer competition sometime soon. Martin throws a good fastball, sitting 93-94mph in most outings. The pitch has solid traits, with good life up in the strike zone that helps it to generate whiffs.
The best pitch for Martin is his slider. It’s a plus offering with excellent late-breaking action. It’s used primarily against right-handed hitters and they have an impossible time laying off the pitch. There isn’t much to speak of as far as platoon splits are concerned. Martin has done a solid job getting both side hitters out at around an even rate. It’s primarily a two-pitch mix, but Martin mixes in a changeup and curveball as well. Both pitches have at least average potential.
Preseason Rank: 63 (+46)
ETA: Early 2027
Fastball: 45/55
Slider: 50/60
Changeup: 40/50
Curveball: 45/50
Command: 45/50
17. SS Austin Charles
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Austin Charles has made some noticeable improvements in his approach this season, evidenced most by his near four percent improvement in walk rate. That improved walk rate has given Charles more on-base success in a season that’s otherwise been characterized by slight declines in power output and average. Despite the slight drop in numbers, the future for Charles remains very high and the potential for more power certainly exists in his 6-5 frame. He’s still just 20 years old, and it makes sense at this stage of his career to focus more on his approach and plate discipline than maxing out his power output.
There are signs of improvements there so far this season, including a one percent drop in his swinging strike rate. Despite that improvement, Charles still sits far too high — north of 16% — and will need to improve there long-term to offer any sort of worthwhile offensive value. The offensive profile is far too pull-happy at this stage, and will also need to be leveled out for Charles to reach his potential. Defensively, he’s spent time at both shortstop and third base in 2024 but hasn’t been elite at either. There have been some miscues, but at still just 20 years old there’s still time for him to iron out the wrinkles and become at least average defensively.
Preseason Rank: 26 (+8)
ETA: Late 2027
Hit: 30/40
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 40/55
Glove: 40/50
Speed: 55/50
Arm: 55/55
18. SS Daniel Vazquez
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Daniel Vazquez comes here right next to Austin Charles, which is somewhat fitting. Both 20-year-old shortstops rank in the top 30 for nearly polar opposite reasons. Vazquez is a glove-first pure shortstop who makes enough contact to offer good offensive value if it all continues to come together. Whereas Charles offers high power-upside at the expense of contact, Vazquez has shown an ability to hit for a good average while limiting strikeouts, at the expense of any sort of noticeable power. He won’t ever generate even above-average power in the major leagues, but should do enough to be dangerous — a la Maikel Garcia.
Vazquez has drastically improved his line drive rates in 2024, from 16.6% in 2023 all the way up to 35.0% halfway through 2024. He uses all fields well and barrels the baseball often. The result is rarely over-the-fence power, but Vazquez possesses good gap-to-gap “doubles” power. Defensively, Vazquez is a pure shortstop with good fundamentals in the field. He still has work to do in refining his abilities in the field, but smooth footwork and good glovework should prevail long-term.
Preseason Rank: 54 (+35)
ETA: Early 2027
Hit: 40/55
Game Power: 30/40
Raw Power: 40/50
Glove: 45/60
Speed: 55/55
Arm: 50/55
19. C Ramon Ramirez
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Ramon Ramirez adds to what is quietly becoming a bit of a catcher pipeline in the Kansas City farm system. He burst onto the stage with a strong debut in 2023, slashing .344/.440/.615 in the Dominican Summer League. He transitioned to the Complex League to open 2024, and hasn’t been quite as stellar, but has been good nonetheless. The largest difference from 2023 to 2024 has been a decline in BB/K at the plate. Ramirez finished 2023 at 1.17 walks per strikeout, but that number is all the way down to 0.39 in 2024. He still offers a sound approach at the plate, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he’s still a 19-year-old prospect with a long way to go.
Ramirez offers some resemblance to a young Carlos Santana, in that he should develop into an above-average power presence with patience at the plate and a good ability to draw walks. Not unlike Santana, a move to first base in the future is likely in the cards for Ramirez. It should be a good move that allows him to focus more on his offensive value. Behind the dish, Ramirez has some quality traits, including good pop times, but profiles at best as average someday with much more refining.
Preseason Rank: 14 (-6)
ETA: Early 2028
Hit: 40/50
Game Power: 40/55
Raw Power: 50/55
Glove: 40/45
Speed: 40/40
Arm: 40/50
20. OF Spencer Nivens
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It’s been an abysmal season for Nivens at the plate. He’s been plagued by high strikeout rates and awful batted-ball luck. The end result has been a 46 wRC+ through 44 games in 2024. However, a hamstring injury sidelined Nivens rather quickly into the season and it’s taken him some time to get back up and running at the plate. Anchoring his ranking here in the top 30 are the tools more than the production (which is how I tend to always grade prospects anyway). Nivens has impressive batted-ball ability when he’s right at the plate, and can pair that contact ability with loud line-drive exit velocities.
The power hasn’t come through yet, but long-term Nivens has the makings of an average hitter at the plate with good-not-great defensive ability in center field. There’s a chance the overall profile is that of a fourth outfielder, but should Nivens find the barrel more often and put it all together at the plate, there’s an above-average offensive upside. Defensively, he plays a solid center field but has been mixed in at left field more often simply because of how outstanding Carson Roccaforte is in center field. A corner is likely where he ends up long-term, especially if that allows him to focus more on developing the bat.
Preseason Rank: 19 (-2)
ETA: Mid 2027
Hit: 30/55
Game Power: 30/50
Raw Power: 30/50
Glove: 45/50
Speed: 45/45
Arm: 45/45
21. 1B/OF Derlin Figueroa
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“Figgy” came to Kansas City as part of the Ryan Yarbrough trade at the 2023 trade deadline. Ever since arriving, he’s shown a very high ceiling at the plate. Most of that came in the Complex League, but he’s made the transition to Low-A so far in 2024 and the results have remained mostly solid. He’s still just 20 years old, with a massive frame that gives serious power potential long-term. The walk rate has dropped some in Columbia, but strikeouts haven’t been extremely alarming to this point. Figueroa is extremely pull-happy, as he tries to get into his raw power any time he makes contact with the baseball. That tendency to pull the ball has resulted in a large amount of swinging strikes that could lead to more concerning strikeout rates in the future.
Defensively, Figueroa is surprisingly athletic and agile despite his large, bulky build. He has played mostly first and third base so far this season, but has been sprinkled in as a corner outfielder at times as well. By the time he’s major league ready, it’ll almost certainly be as a first baseman. As Figueroa continues to grow into his frame and put on muscle, what’s already somewhat below-average range defensively will be even smaller. For that reason, the offensive value will be the bulk of the value. Should Figueroa continue to put things together — including using all fields — he could be an everyday first baseman with the bat to carry him.
Preseason Rank: 27 (+5)
ETA: Early 2028
Hit: 30/40
Game Power: 30/60
Raw Power: 50/60
Glove: 30/40
Speed: 45/40
Arm: 45/45
22. RHP Will Klein
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Klein represented the Royals in the 2023 Futures Game and has long been a high-potential arm in the farm system. He continues to throw in the upper 90s with his four-seamer/cutter combination. He also mixes in a solid curveball with above-average potential. Command has always been the determining factor for Klein, and that’s remained the same so far in 2024. He earned a brief call-up to Kansas City where he posted a 2.10 FIP over a small 5.2-inning sample. In Triple-A this season, walks have bit Klein often. His 15.0% walk rate through 28 games would be the second-highest of his professional career should it hold up over the full season. Alongside the walks, the strikeout rate has dropped some.
It’s a volatile profile that comes with high-velocity relief prospects. Klein may someday become a reliable back-end bullpen piece but will need to develop more consistency in order to reach that role.
Preseason Rank: 16 (-7)
ETA: 2024
Fastball: 60/60
Curveball: 55/55
Command: 40/45
23. RHP Ethan Bosacker
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Bosacker has been among the largest surprises in the Royals farm system this season. Some of that should be taken with a grain of salt, however. He’s a college product pitching in Low-A and needs a stiffer challenge before we can be entirely sure just how good he can be. Even still, over his first 15 Low-A appearances, he’s been fantastic. Across 74.1 IP, Bosacker has pitched to a 2.78 ERA with a 3.47 FIP. The command has been strong, evidenced by a 5.6% walk rate, and has helped to carry his value thus far. The swing-and-miss stuff isn’t quite present, but there’s strong potential for more development in the long term. Bosacker strikes me as a “pitch-to-contact” type of arm who could excel by peppering the strike zone and limiting hard contact.
Preseason Rank: NR
ETA: Early 2026
Fastball: 50/55
Changeup: 40/45
Slider: 45/50
Curveball: 40/45
Command: 50/55
24. 2B/OF Peyton Wilson
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Wilson seems like a different player year to year, and each version offers something different. In 2023, we saw Wilson perform as a high-average, contact-oriented hitter with inconsistent power. This season, that’s shifted some back toward the power side of the pendulum. Wilson’s ISO in the first half has sat around .150, which in itself isn’t outstanding but it’s higher than his 2023 mark of .125. Unfortunately, with the slight power surge, Wilson has seen his average dip to a career-low .221. He’s swinging and missing more this season but maintains a healthy walk rate and has worked his way to a 105 wRC+ despite the concerns. If this is the floor for Wilson (.338 OBP, .150 ISO) then he profiles as a solid depth infielder/outfielder who offers a good approach and great speed.
Preseason Rank: 21 (-4)
ETA: Late 2025
Hit: 40/45
Game Power: 40/40
Raw Power: 40/40
Glove: 50/55
Speed: 60/60
Arm: 60/60
25. SS Yandel Ricardo
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Ricardo headlined the Royals 2024 international class, ranking as MLB Pipeline’s no. 16 international prospect in the class. Baseball America ranked him ninth. He signed for $2.4 million and made his debut in the Dominican Summer League this season. The results haven’t been fantastic over his first 17 games. He’s slashed .153/.320/.288. Still, the potential exists for more. Ricardo has a healthy approach for his age, walking as much as he strikes out. He’s still just 17 years old until October 2024, leaving far more projection to fill. Some have compared him to Ronny Mauricio, and the profile currently seems to favor power over the hit tool. Ricardo is a switch hitter but may do well to stick on the right-side long-term. He’s a natural infielder with good feel for the shortstop position and should stick there long-term.
Preseason Rank: NR
ETA: Early 2029
Hit: 25/45
Game Power: 30/55
Raw Power: 30/55
Glove: 30/50
Speed: 50/45
Arm: 55/55
26. OF Tyler Gentry
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Hopes that Gentry could avoid a similar early season slump like what plagued him in 2023 went unmet. He started the 2024 season extremely slow, all but erasing memories of his torrid second half last season. He’s fallen from a player on the cusp of forcing his way to the major leagues, to now something of an afterthought, despite Kansas City’s persisting outfield opportunities. Some of his slow start began to dissipate in June, but he’s continued to strike out at rates we haven’t seen thus far in his professional career. Many of the tools that helped him rank so highly are still present, but the inconsistency is likely the difference between a depth piece and an everyday starter.
Preseason Rank: 3 (-24)
ETA: 2025
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 40/45
Raw Power: 50/50
Glove: 50/50
Speed: 50/50
Arm: 45/45
27. SS Josi Novas
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Novas was an under-the-radar prospect entering this summer’s Complex League. He’s a power-first shortstop prospect with a large frame and plenty more projection left. The Royals signed Novas as an international free agent in 2022. He offers a large 6-4 frame at just 19 years old and the power has already started to show on the field. After posting an ISO well above .200 in his 2022 Dominican Summer League stint, Novas has followed that up with a .192 ISO over his first 33 games with the Surprise Royals in 2024. His swing is a smooth operation, quick to the baseball with great bat speed. The lofty power projection doesn’t come without concerns, however. Novas has a serious strikeout problem and will need to erase the swing-and-miss if he’s ever going to become a true big-league prospect. He’s struck out well above 30% at every professional stop thus far and that mark has been even worse in the Complex League. Long-term defensively, it’s more of a third base profile than a true shortstop. As Novas adds more muscle and fills out his frame, he projects to lose some agility and range at shortstop but has the arm to stick at third base.
Preseason Rank: 17 (-11)
ETA: Early 2029
Hit: 20/40
Game Power: 40/60
Raw Power: 50/60
Glove: 30/45
Speed: 45/40
Arm: 40/50
28. 3B Jose Cerice
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Jose Cerice was one of the more high-profile names in the Royals’ most recent international signing class. Yandel Ricardo was the headliner, but Cerice signed for $700,000 in his own right. Early returns heavily favor Cerice as a solid prospect, but there’s still a long way to go until he’s anything near a bonafide prospect. Cerice is a 6-2 third baseman. The tools now are very contact-leaning, but there’s potential for more power to come along as Cerice develops and adds more muscle. His swing is compact, and the path to the baseball is good with a chance to generate good loft. He ranked no. 61 on Baseball America’s International Prospect rankings for the class and offers a healthy ceiling, albeit at very high risk. The floor is low, but everything we’ve seen so far looks good. Through his first 18 professional games, Cerice has slashed .316/.397/.421. The power hasn’t been there quite yet, but he’s posted an excellent 5.9% K% thus far. If he can maintain that contact ability once the power arrives, there’s a lot to like here.
Preseason Rank: NR
ETA: 2030
Hit: 30/55
Game Power: 30/50
Raw Power: 30/50
Glove: 30/45
Speed: 45/40
Arm: 40/45
29. LHP Walter Pennington
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Walter Pennington has seen almost a cult following in 2024. It’s been a meteoric rise through the system of late, as Pennington has gone from a relatively unknown prospect to one of the minor leaguers that fans most ask for. He’s been nothing short of sensational this season for Omaha, pitching to a 2.35 ERA over his first 32 appearances. The secret has been more strikeouts and less walks. Pennington has struck out 35.3% of batters this season while walking just 8.8%. Both of those marks are the best of his minor league career thus far. He pitches from the left side, mixing in a slider, cutter, sinker, and changeup. Although the results have been fantastic this season, concerns remain around Pennington’s ability to limit contact in the strike zone.
In Triple-A, Pennington has generated a large amount of chase out of the strikezone. That’s led to success, but when in the zone hitters are making quite a bit of contact. The pitch mix “stuff” grades out average at best, which will limit Pennington’s upside in the big leagues. Big league hitters aren’t going to chase nearly as much as what he’s seen in Triple-A, so it may be worth hedging expectations somewhat, once he makes his big league debut.
Preseason Rank: 42 (+12)
ETA: 2024
Fastball: 45/45
Slider: 55/55
Changeup: 45/45
Command: 50/50
30. LHP Oscar Rayo
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Oscar Rayo won’t blow you away with his stuff, but the results are fantastic regardless. He throws a low-90s fastball, pairing it with a changeup, curveball, and slider. The slider has good, sweeping action and the movement in his pitches all work nicely together to keep hitters off balance. The efficiency in Rayo’s arsenal, paired with good command of the strikezone has been a recipe for success throughout his minor league career thus far. Rayo generates a ton of weak contact while peppering the strike zone. He allowed four home runs in his full-season debut with Columbia back in 2022. Since then, Rayo has allowed just one home run over 120 innings of work. 113 strikeouts against just 25 walks is a great combination as well. It’s probably a reliever mold long-term. Rayo isn’t all that different from current Royals reliever Angel Zerpa.
Preseason Rank: 48 (+18)
ETA: 2026
Fastball: 40/45
Changeup: 45/50
Slider: 45/50
Curveball: 40/45
Command: 50/55
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