2025 Royals Top Prospects

Age: 21 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 250

Acquired: 2024 Amateur Draft, Rd 1, Pick 6

FV: 60

Caglianone offers the Royals an immense power ceiling — one they’ve never had before in the farm system. It’s easily double-plus power with above-average contact to go with it. Caglianone posted exit velocities as high as 117 mph since turning pro, even if his initial numbers in a debut with High-A Quad Cities weren’t outstanding. “Cags” played a ton of baseball in 2024, from the College World Series with Florida to High-A, and then to the Arizona Fall League. The offseason will give him some much-needed time to rest. It’s unclear if Caglianone will truly ever pitch at the professional level, but nothing has yet indicated that the Royals will shut down that notion to this point. Caglianone has a chance to reach the Major Leagues by 2025, but more likely factors into 2026 as the team’s starting first baseman.

Age: 20 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 202

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Rd 1, Pick 8

FV: 55

Blake Mitchell came through in a big way in his 2024 season. It was the first full campaign for the Texas High School Star, and Mitchell showcased the excellent power potential that made him a top-ten pick for the Royals in 2023. He offers plus power potential with at least an average hit tool to go with it. There were struggles with strikeouts in 2024, but Mitchell’s overall zone contact ability was above-average and points to improvements on the horizon in limiting the strikeouts. Defensively, Mitchell was inaccurate behind the dish and struggled to throw out runners. His arm still figures to be above average. The rest of his defensive profile fits well behind the dish and he should stick at the position long-term. Pitchers throwing to Mitchell in 2024 raved about his ability behind the dish and praised the job he did.

Age: 24 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 185

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft, Rd 4, Pick 9

FV: 50

Zobac has seen a meteoric rise through the farm system in the last 12 months. He debuted as a reliever in 2023 and it’s taken him time to progress as a still relatively new pitcher. An outfielder at Cal, Zobac entered the system a raw prospect and has quickly refined his craft very well. He throws a three-pitch mix, featuring a great fastball. Zobac’s heater sits in the mid-90s and he commands it extremely well in the strikezone. An above-average slider and a solid changeup round out the profile. It’s all tied together with excellent command of the arsenal making Zobac a great prospect. He could be Major League-ready as early as 2025. There’s a chance Zobac will develop into a solid back-end starter, but should he end up in an MLB bullpen, Zobac could become an elite high-leverage option.

Age: 21 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 210

Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft, Rd 3, Pick 7

FV: 50

Jensen has come along very nicely for still a relatively young prospect. The Royals paid him over-slot to steal him away from a commitment to LSU back in 2021 and he’s developed into one of the organization’s best young prospects. Long known for his plate discipline, Jensen’s power potential has started to show its face more and more. He profiles as an above-average power hitter at the next level but will be limited by a lacking hit tool. Defensively, Jensen has the arm and glove to stick at catcher but may be moved elsewhere due to the great depth the organization has to offer in that department. He’s athletic enough to transition to a corner outfield role, but a move to third base could allow Jensen’s strong arm to shine as well.

Age: 22 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 195

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Rd CB-B, Pick 5

FV: 50

Roccaforte finished 2024 with a below-average showing at the plate. He started the season extremely cold, but as the season progressed saw some welcome improvements. Following his brutal start in April and May, Roccaforte posted a 100 wRC+ over the remainder of the season for High-A Quad Cities. By August, he was on fire with a .225 ISO and an .823 OPS. Roccaforte needs to find consistency next season but offers a safe floor with above-average potential at the plate. Defensively, the profile is near MLB ready right now. Roccaforte is a true center fielder at the next level and will play the position very well. It’s a Gold Glove defensive profile with power potential to dream on at the plate.

Age: 20 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 190

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Rd 3, Pick 5

FV: 45

Wyatt impressed the Royals front office with his strong showing in 2024. He showed an ability to run with his development and progressed at a rapid rate in just his first professional season. Entering the year with a fastball/slider mix, Wyatt did a ton to round out his arsenal and improved upon his changeup substantially. He spins the ball well, touching mid-90s consistently with his fastball. Beyond just improvements to the arsenal, Wyatt limited walks and showed advanced ability for such a young arm. He’s a huge part of Kansas City’s future plans in the starting rotation.

Age: 23 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 195

Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agent (VEN)

FV: 45

Avila has long been a consistent contributor in the Kansas City farm system. He’s posted two seasons of more than 100 innings already in his professional career. There were some cracks in that consistency in 2024 with Avila hitting the injured list for a time, but his arsenal has continued to progress well under the organization’s new pitching staff. Avila’s sinker has reached the upper 90s in short stints and he’s put together a full five-pitch mix. Behind the sinker he throws two solid breaking balls, a slider and a curveball. Avila also tosses a splitter and a changeup. The command is good enough for Avila to be a safe swing-starter, but shorter stints in the bullpen give him a high-leverage upside to love.

Age: 18 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210

Acquired: 2024 Amateur Draft, Rd 2, Pick 6

FV: 50

If there’s any prospect primed to rise on a national scale in 2025, it may well be Shields. Kansas City praised his fastball and athleticism after selecting him in the second round last summer. He commands the ball well also, giving him a good mix of floor and ceiling for a prep prospect. Behind the fastball, Shields incorporates a curveball and a changeup with a true starters frame. The range of outcomes is still great for Shields, ranging from mid-rotation starter to a depth rotation piece. There’s a ton of ceiling to dream on here with Shields and he should debut in Low-A Columbia as early as April 2025.

Age: 25 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 220

Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft, Rd 7, Pick 7

FV: 45

Noah Cameron eased into his professional career following Tommy John Surgery back in 2021. He got rolling in 2022, got on track in 2023, and looked to level up by the end of 2024. It’s been clear progression every season thus far and Cameron is now positioned to challenge for a Major League roster spot by Spring Training. He added a cutter last offseason which helped to offset some of the below-average traits his four-seam fastball offers. It’s a low-90s fastball with an above-average curveball and a plus changeup. Cameron pairs the four offerings with above-average command. It makes him an intriguing back-end starter type with the potential for more if he can add more “oomph” behind his fastball.

Age: 21 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 208

Acquired: 2024 Amateur Draft, Rd 3, Pick 2

FV: 45

Beam joined the farm system via the 2024 draft and entered as perhaps one of the highest-floor starting pitchers in the class. He didn’t pitch professionally after being selected, putting in question where he will debut in 2025. Most likely with his polish following three years in the SEC, he’ll head to High-A Quad Cities. Beam sports a solid four-pitch mix with a fastball that sits 93-94 mph. He pairs it with a changeup — his best pitch — and at least average command. There isn’t a frontline starter upside, per se, but Beam offers a nice floor as a fifth or even fourth starter at the next level. His offseason regiment and developments will tell the story as to how he will mesh with the Kansas City development staff and what the future will hold.

Age: 18 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180

Acquired: 2024 Amateur Free Agent (DOM)

FV: 50

The Royals signed Ricardo for $2.4 million. He ranked as a top ten international prospect for his class and saw an up-and-down debut last year. It’s all projection for such a raw prospect, but Ricardo has all the tools to stick at shortstop and offer good offensive value as well. He’s a safe bet to be a valuable defender thanks to his sharp glovework and strong arm on the infield. There’s the potential for above-average power and at least a 50-grade hit tool as well, making Ricardo a well-rounded prospect with a ton to like. The first half of his 2024 debut was rough, but by the time August rolled around, Ricardo caught his stride in the Dominican Summer League. He will likely stay in the Dominican for a second campaign in 2025 before moving stateside as early as mid-season.

Age: 20 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 210

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Rd 2, Pick 5

FV: 45

Wolters drew plenty of hype before his 2024 debut. There were some in the organization calling his fastball the best in the entire system, and he showcased that early on in his professional debut. Starting the year strong with a 98 mph four-seam fastball, Wolters certainly lost some gas as the season progressed. By the time he was sent back to the team’s facilities in Arizona, Wolters was throwing closer to mid-90s and struggling with command. The team sidelined him out of precaution with some fatigue and discomfort, but he figures to return to Low-A Columbia next season. Wolters pairs the high-ceiling fastball with a changeup and a slider. He will have to start building strength to level up that arsenal even further but offers mid-rotation upside long term.

Age: 18 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 195

Acquired: 2024 Amateur Draft, Rd 14

FV: 45

DeGroat is an athlete on the mound. He was a two-way player for the Walkill H.S. Panthers entering the draft but will pitch at the next level. The arsenal is led by a plus curveball and a fastball in the low 90s. With additional strength and conditioning, there’s a chance for the fastball to level up further into an eventually above-average offering. Like many prep arms, DeGroat has a changeup that he simply hasn’t used all that much, and rounding out the profile will be key if he hopes to remain in a starting rotation. He signed as a late-round option offering tons of potential to love and should make his professional debut in 2025.

Age: 18 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 175

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Signing (DOM)

FV: 45

Cabrera was a Dominican League All-Star in 2024, appearing as an injury replacement for Darwin Rodriguez. He throws a lively fastball with excellent carry through the strike zone. The pitch touches the mid 90s and there’s certainly room for more velocity there thanks to Cabrera’s youth and frame. Behind the fastball, Cabrera also throws a promising curveball and a still-developing changeup. The mechanics are smooth and easily repeatable and that shined through in a noticeable improvement in walk rate for Cabrera in 2024. With more time in the system, Cabrera has a healthy ceiling but needs to bulk up and continue putting more behind his fastball.

Age: 18 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 170

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Free Agent (VEN)

FV: 40

Gonzalez is a contact-first outfield prospect with the speed and glove to stick in center field. He’s young enough to still add power as well, but it’ll likely always be a below-average power profile. Gonzalez offers promising bat-to-ball skills and an ability to hit for average while letting his speed impact the game. That profile shined through in 2024 across 41 games in the Arizona Complex League. Gonzalez posted a .285 average with 22 stolen bases and an 11.1% walk rate. The Royals moved him to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to end the season, but it was more a result of how the farm system shaped up rather than how far along Gonzalez is in his development. He will head to A-Ball in 2025, possibly High-A but more likely Low-A to open the year in his first full season with a full-season affiliate.

16. Darwin Rodriguez, RHP

Age: 20 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Free Agent (VEN)

FV: 40

Rodriguez would’ve been a Dominican League All-Star in 2024 if not for an unfortunate injury late in the season. The leading offering is a solid curveball. It’s a two-plane beauty that generates a healthy amount of swing-and-miss. He pairs it with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s with good carry through the strike zone. At times, there’s the look of an effective slider as well. Rodriguez is an older prospect for the level, still yet to debut stateside despite being already 20 years old. That age limits some of the fastball projectability for Rodriguez who profiles as a back-end starter long-term. The command needs some work, but with elite strikeout numbers, Rodriguez can stand to walk a few batters here and there while remaining effective on the mound.

Age: 21 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 215

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft, Rd 20, Pick 9

FV: 40

Charles remains a physical specimen thanks to a robust 6-5 frame. It creates a lot of hope for a projectable power ceiling for Charles but he’s yet to truly deliver on that promise. Now 21 years old, Charles has yet to debut above Low-A but did a nice job improving his bat-to-ball skills last season. With a .353 on-base percentage and a 10.4% walk rate, he looks poised to finally make the jump to High-A in 2025. The power remains absent in the profile and defensively, the strong arm has come through much more than the rest of his profile. He played more at third base by the end of the season and figures to stick there long-term. Unfortunately, at the hot corner without enough power, it limits the overall ceiling as a prospect. Should additional power finally bleed through next season, Charles could again be on the rise in the system.

Age: 19 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180

Acquired: 2024 Amateur Free Agent (DOM)

FV: 40

Benitez made his debut last season and struggled immensely with command over his first 21.0 professional innings. Despite that, the raw potential offers a lot to like and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Benitez take that command into the starting rotation next season. It’s a high-spin fastball that rides through the top of the zone nicely. Benitez pairs that heater with a curveball that freezes opposing hitters. It will be crucial for him to find the zone more in a larger sample next season, but the pure stuff in the arsenal already gives a strong foundation to build upon for Kansas City.

Age: 21 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 175

Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft, Rd 2, Pick 7

FV: 40

Kudrna represented the Royals alongside Gavin Cross at the 2024 Futures Game in Texas. There’s the potential for three above-average pitches in the arsenal for Kudrna if he could just continue developing them to reach that potential. The fastball sits in the mid-90s but has touched 97 at times. He pairs it with a gyro-slider and a solid changeup that has become a more effective offering in the last year. On one hand, Kudrna has been a steady presence at every level thus far. His strikeout and walk rates have remained relatively flat despite moving up two levels since the start of 2023. Much like his struggles after moving up to High-A initially, Kudrna struggled through hard contact in his first Double-A sample in 2024. He will need to limit that damage next season and beyond. Further advancements in the arsenal are overdue as well, with Kudrna’s repertoire more or less the same as his initial debut back in 2022. There’s a ton of reliever risk, but Kudrna has the two-pitch mix to become an effective high-leverage option if necessary.

Age: 22 Ht: 6-6 Wt: 261

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Rd 4, Pick 5

FV: 40

Drafted out of Vanderbilt in 2023, it seemed as if Owen was more advanced at the time than he truly was. The Royals have taken him along slowly and it’s been a longer process than expected. Despite that, Owen maintains the robust frame and makeup that made him a highly-touted prospect in the fourth round. It’s a mid-90s fastball with two effective breaking balls and a changeup to round it out. The slider is the only offering that looks truly above average to this point, but average command and enough variation to keep hitters off balance help Owen pitch up beyond that arsenal. Owen struggled to punch hitters out in his professional debut and without more strikeouts profiles more as a long-relief bullpen arm than a true back-end starter. The offseason regiment will tell the tale of what Owen’s long-term outlook is for 2025 and beyond.

Age: 23 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 210

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft, Rd 1, Pick 9

FV: 40

Health has been a limiting factor for Cross. In 2024, he struggled through back spasms and two separate stints on the injured list. Those back spasms seemingly impacted the power output for Cross and could change his overall profile as a prospect. At one time, it seemed Cross was destined to move to the corner and provide plus power from the outfield. Now, he looks more like a contact-oriented hitter than previously thought. There were noticeable improvements in the strikeout department in 2024 for Cross and he continues to walk at a healthy rate. There’s value in a .265 hitter with an on-base percentage in the mid-300s, but it isn’t quite the impact bat hoped for when he was chosen in the first round.

Age: 23 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 185

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Rd 5, Pick 5

FV: 40

There wasn’t a baseball player on the planet — Major League or Minor League — hotter than Spencer Nivens at the end of the 2024 season. It was truly a tale of two halves for his 2024 season. The early year was marred by a hamstring injury, but by the end of the season, he was cranking 13 home runs in just a single month. Nivens is a legitimate power presence at the plate and plays solid defense in the outfield as well. He could stick in center field in a smaller big-league park, but as he continues to develop a move to left field seems most likely. Swing-and-miss is a notable concern, but if Nivens can continue to produce with the power results we’ve seen of late, even at a 26-28% strikeout rate he will have value.

Age: 24 Ht: 5-6 Wt: 151

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Draft, Rd 15, Pick 9

FV: 40

Vaz has the hit tool to play in the big leagues right now. He’s an elite contact hitter at the plate, but a small frame makes any future power prospects extremely unlikely. Defensively, he’s a fit in left field or at second base but has played center field and shortstop sparingly as well. Great speed, versatility, and enough contact value make Vaz a great Utilityman prospect. There’s enough batted-ball ability to fit as an MLB leadoff hitter, but more likely Vaz profiles as a bottom-of-the-order hitter who can provide some consistency. Elite on-base skills are the leading value here from Vaz, but the high floor comes with a limited ceiling, making Vaz a safe bet to reach the big leagues despite lacking a truly elite prospect upside.

Age: 19 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 180

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Free Agent (DOM)

FV: 35

Size and raw talent remain a draw for Novas, even after his poor campaign in 2024. He spent a second full season in the Arizona Complex League, hampered by an abysmal strikeout rate and a lack of contact. Novas is the typical “traits over production” type of prospect thanks to his size and power potential. Defensively, he moves well enough at shortstop that he could stick at the position, although likely below average. A move to third base looks to be in the cards long-term, but Novas won’t hold enough offensive value if he can’t drastically reduce the swing-and-miss.

Age: 21 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 185

Acquired: 2021 Amateur Free Agent (Cuba)

FV: 35

It was a standout season in 2024 for Arronde. It was his first full season as a starter, compiling over 100 innings with a sub-3.00 ERA. He offers a four-pitch mix, featuring a mix-90s fastball, a plus changeup, and a slider and curveball combination that both profile as a tick below average. At already 21 years old and just now putting together a starter’s workload, there are questions to be had about Arronde’s durability and how it will hold up. The fastball offers enough velocity to matter but lacks spin and shape which will limit the overall strikeout ceiling for Arronde. Without durability or strikeouts, Arronde becomes a middle-relief prospect with a below-average arsenal. Rounding out the rest of the arsenal around a below-average fastball is Arronde’s best path forward and gives him back-end rotation upside as a bit of a late bloomer.

Age: 20 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 180

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Free Agent (DOM)

FV: 40

2024 was a huge success for Reyes in a couple of key areas. Most of all, he was able to top 100 innings and maintain his velocity throughout the full season. Reyes was throwing 93-94mph with his fastball late into the year. Just a season prior he had tapered off to the high-80s by the time fall came around. Behind the fastball, Reyes commands a two-plane slider and an effective changeup alongside above-average command of the strike zone. There are concerns that the fastball won’t add much more velocity, but even without it the shape and movement that Reyes generates make it an above-average offering. Rounding out the secondaries will be crucial to his continued development. Without it, Reyes simply doesn’t generate enough strikeouts to profile as anything more than a back-end, sixth-starter type in the Major Leagues.

Age: 22 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 185

Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft, Rd 11, Pick 7

FV: 35

Time is against McNair at already 22 years old and still yet to debut above Low-A. The Royals paid up over the $125,000 threshold to snatch McNair in the 11th round back in 2021. It hasn’t paid off for the most part, but recent power surges from McNair could signal more promise on the horizon. He’s moved to third base and left field more of late, and alongside that move has seen an uptick in power production. It started with a .160 ISO in 2024, thanks to six home runs after June 1. McNair continued to struggle with consistency, however. Into the offseason, McNair has shined in the Australian Baseball League. In 19 games, he’s slugged .537 with six more home runs. He will have to show that sort of production back in the States, but McNair may finally be seeing a breakthrough after some middling years as a fringe prospect.

Age: 21 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 150

Acquired: 2021 Amateur Free Agent (DOM)

FV: 35

After a scorching start to 2024, it looked as if Vazquez was well on his way to a long-awaited production. Instead, injuries sidelined him for parts of the year and he finished a third consecutive campaign with Low-A Columbia. Despite that, Vazquez remained consistent with strong walk and strikeout rates while improving his average by 30 points. The offensive profile remains below average but eerily similar to current Royal Maikel Garcia. Vazquez plays great infield defense and hits the ball hard consistently. Despite the great hard-hit rate, it hasn’t quite come through in true production for Vazquez to this point in his professional career. The power ceiling is non-existent, but Vazquez consistently makes strong plate appearances and the defensive value alone offers some sort of floor long-term.

Age: 19 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 180

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Free Agent (VEN)

FV: 40

Ramirez arrived on the scene with authority after signing as an international free agent in 2023. He dominated the Dominican Summer League with plus power, an outstanding approach, and an ability to hit for average as well. A 2024 promotion to the Arizona Complex League was met with more challenge, but even still Ramirez finished the year with a 115 wRC+ and seven home runs. The season uncovered some swing-and-miss in his game, and Ramirez struggled to maintain his high average against stiffer competition. Even still, he offers a promising and well-rounded offensive profile while still offering plenty of youth as a teenage product. Defensively, the value may change. There are reports that he could stick at the position, but a below-average arm and a lack of need could move him out from behind the plate into a first-base role. At first, the power ceiling simply isn’t as valuable.

30. Chandler Champlain, RHP

Age: 25 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 220

Acquired: 2022 Trade (NYY)

FV: 40

Champlain was a quick-rising prospect heading into 2024 and carried through on that promise well into the year. By a mid-season promotion to Triple-A, however, he started to see more struggles. The friendly offensive environment in the International League didn’t do him any favors, but Champlain struggled to miss bats at the same level we had seen prior. He commands a mid-90s fastball as well as a slider, curveball, splitter, and circle-change. Champlain added the splitter and circle-change at the end of 2023 and into the offseason but used the splitter more sparingly in 2024. The fastball offers good life through the zone and the full package gives Champlain a back-end rotation profile. In the bullpen, limiting the arsenal and letting the fastball play up further could make Champlain an attractive late-inning option as well.

Logan Martin, RHP: Martin offers a lot of the same notes as Ryan Ramsey (below). He’s an older prospect for his level, clouding just how real his season production was. He offers a four-pitch mix with great command. There’s enough strikeout stuff to notice, but doing it as a 23-year-old at Low-A muddies the waters far too much right now. Martin needs to start progressing through the system, but if he does he could easily move his way into the Top 30.

Frank Mozzicato, LHP: Mozzicato had an impressive year, limiting hitters to an average under .200 and pitching to a sub-3.00 ERA. His FIP, however, and drop in strikeout rate, were extremely alarming. Mozzicato has rounded out his pitch mix since being drafted, adding a slider that’s shown to be effective. The fastball, however, remains all shape and no velocity which limits his long-term ceiling. There’s not much margin for error with the low velocity and poor command. Tweaks to the heater, or even implementing a cutter or sinker could do wonders for Mozzicato’s continued development. As of now, it’s started to stall.

Ryan Ramsey, LHP: Ramsey was one of the very best arms in the entire farm system for 2024, but remains behind the curve relative to his age. If he were 23 years old and reaching those same results at Double-A or Triple-A, Ramsey would be firmly in the Top 30. That isn’t entirely his fault, as Ramsey missed time in 2023 with an injury that slowed his overall progression. He commands a four-pitch mix, generating some of the very best zone contact metrics in the entire minor leagues. Ramsey is certainly a name to monitor into 2025 and beyond as he progresses through the system.