There is nothing wrong with taking a few days to be upset about the Royals’ impressive 2024 season coming to a disappointing end. Heck, it’s been 40 years since we saw the team make the postseason and not play in the World Series. As fans, having a “win it all or who cares” mentality can be tempting, and who can blame us? We’ve seen our city bring home one World Series title and three Super Bowl titles in the span of 9 years. However, I urge you to look back on the 2024 Royals season with fondness and gratitude for what was achieved. After a 30-win improvement in a year, there is plenty to be excited about moving forward for Royals’ fans. I want to look at a few names in the minor league system who could help the Royals repeat their success in 2025.
What is the likelihood of these prospects debuting next season?
Very Likely
Noah Cameron (LHP) – Cameron had an outstanding bounce-back campaign in 2024. After holding a 5.28 ERA between High-A and Double-A in 2023, he improved to a 3.08 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. He earned International League Pitcher of the Month honors for August after posting a 1.71 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 8 walks in five starts. He has a great chance to earn a spot as the 5th starter in the Royals’ rotation out of spring training or could be the first call-up from Omaha early in the season.
Chandler Champlain (RHP) – Champlain struggled to see the same success in 2024 that he saw in 2023. Nevertheless, he still is one of the exciting young arms in the system, and there is reason to believe that he got back on track to end the season. Despite a 5.61 ERA this season in Triple-A, he dropped that number down to 4.41 during August and September. He will also look to compete for a spot in the back end of the Royals’ rotation in 2025.
Evan Sisk (LHP) – Sisk, an International League All-Star in 2024, put up eye-popping numbers this season. His 1.57 ERA led the entire Royals’ organization for pitchers with more than 50 innings pitched. He also held an impressive 12.72 K/9 and held opponents to a .166 batting average. There is a lot to like about Sisk and his funky sidearm delivery, and I was honestly surprised he didn’t debut in 2024 given the shakiness of the Royals’ bullpen at different points throughout the season.
Tyler Gentry (OF) – Yes, Gentry did debut in 2024 but was only given a measly five at-bats. I believe the Royals’ will give him a more extended look in 2025, especially with some outfielders likely on the way out in Kansas City this offseason. Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson, and Adam Frazier will all likely be off the roster in 2025 and spent a lot of innings in the outfield, leaving room for guys like Gentry to get an opportunity next to other offseason free agent acquisitions I expect the team to make. Gentry recorded a line of .251/.338/.422 in Triple-A this season.
Somewhat Likely
Javier Vaz (2B) – Vaz is a dark horse candidate to be the Royals’ leadoff hitter to begin the 2025 season. It would take an especially impressive spring training with the big-league squad to make this happen, but it wouldn’t be totally surprising. He holds a career on-base percentage of .376 and has walked more times than he’s struck out in his minor league career (158 walks to 127 strikeouts). His 14.0 BB% and 11.5 K% in 2024 are elite. He is no slouch in the hitting department either, tallying 114 hits this season in 433 at-bats. The one knock on Vaz would be his ability to hit for extra bases (he amassed 22 doubles, 3 triples, and 8 home runs this season). His stellar defense at second base (and left field at times) makes him an even more intriguing prospect.
John Rave (OF) – I would have loved for Rave to get an opportunity in Kansas City in 2024, but his time may be coming soon. He was arguably the most productive hitter for the Storm Chasers this season, slashing .259/.346/.470 with 21 home runs and 32 doubles. He led all Royals’ minor leaguers with 129 hits on the season. He spent over 200 innings in all three outfield positions and could be a great versatile option for the Royals in 2025.
Eric Cerantola (RHP) – Initially used as a starter in his first full minor league season (cut short by injury), Cerantola transitioned to the bullpen in 2023 with encouraging results. After posting a 3.66 ERA between High-A and Double-A in 2023, he lowered that number to a 2.97 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. His fastball has touched 99 MPH and mixes well with a strong curveball and slider. Although the results weren’t quite as good in Triple-A, he still has shown plenty of promise as a strong option out of the bullpen for the Royals, perhaps in 2025.
Gavin Cross (OF) – Cross has been an enigma for many Royals fans. The talent is undeniable, and he has shown glimpses of an incredibly high ceiling: in May 2024 he slashed .333/.412/.556 with 7 doubles, 5 home runs, 23 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. Unfortunately, his development has been slowed down by an unfortunate illness in 2023, and multiple nagging injuries the past couple of seasons. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him don a Royals’ uniform in 2025, and possibly even out of spring training.
Not Likely/Outside Chance
Luinder Avila (RHP) – The decision to have Avila listed here, and the rest of the players for that matter, has less to do with talent and potential and more to do with age and opportunity. Avila was great in 2024, holding a 3.81 ERA in Double-A before a late-season promotion to Triple-A where he only made two starts (including the postseason). Preston Farr noted on X that Avila hit 97 MPH in the Arizona Fall League a few days ago. Despite his growth this season, I see the Royals’ wanting him to get a full season in Triple-A under his belt before a jump to the big leagues, especially since he is only 23 years old.
Carter Jensen (C) – Jensen has the potential to be an incredibly productive big-league hitter. He only turned 21 years old in July and already has some of the best plate discipline in the entire system (although his walk and strikeout numbers weren’t as good upon promotion to Double-A). He smacked 18 home runs between High-A and Double-A, held a .359 OBP, and even swiped 17 bags. Depending on Blake Mitchell’s development, I could see him continuing his catching duties or transitioning to the corner outfield in Kansas City.
Steven Zobac (RHP) – Zobac, the organization’s Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award winner, took great steps forward in 2024. After posting a 5.31 ERA over 39 innings in High-A in 2023, he held a 3.25 ERA in 55.1 innings at the Double-A level to close out the 2024 season. He worked his K/9 up to an impressive 10.57 in Double-A as well. Zobac has only been a full-time pitcher since his junior year at the University of California, leaving many to believe he is just scratching the surface of his potential. He should get plenty of time in Triple-A this season to further his incredible growth.
Noah Murdock (RHP) – Murdock began the 2024 season in Double-A but was promoted to Triple-A in mid-June after posting impressive numbers: 2.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a .193 OBA. He continued to impress in Triple-A, holding a 3.76 ERA over 38.1 IP. I believe the Royals will want to see him get his walk numbers down before giving him an opportunity in Kansas City (5.89 BB/9 in 2024), but his 10.34 K/9 and .199 OBA in 2024 are encouraging.
Image credit: Mark Kuhlmann/Omaha Storm Chasers