Minor League Catchers: Royals' Farm System Riches

It’s no secret by now the amount of backstop riches the Kansas City Royals currently have in the farm system. Even throughout the league, teams have begun to take note of the team’s depth in that department. There were whispers the Royals may consider trading away some of that catcher depth this offseason but a trade never came to pass. While it’s stronger than ever, this isn’t new territory for Kansas City. In August 2023, the Royals reportedly discussed trades involving All-Star Salvador Perez. At the time, the Major League team was far from successful. Behind Perez, they had the depth that included Freddy Fermin, Logan Porter, and Luca Tresh.

A year prior, the team was at a similar crossroads to what we see today. Back then, they of course still had Salvador Perez in the big leagues. Cam Gallagher was a fantastic backup, with Fermin in the system. MJ Melendez was a top 100 prospect and some up-and-comers — Luca Tresh, Kale Emshoff, and Carter Jensen — had recently joined the system. Now into 2025, the outlook has cooled for Tresh and Emshoff. Gallagher was traded in 2022 for a fringe prospect named Brent Rooker. Fermin has settled in as a great MLB backup, Jensen remains an impressive prospect, and Perez chugs along as strongly as ever. Yet, the Royals still maintain impressive depth at catcher system-wide.

With so many promising names, how do they all stack up with one another? Are there certain prospects the Royals should hold in higher regard than some others?

Drafted: 2023, Round One (Pick 8)

Age: 20

Strengths: Power (55), Arm (55), Glove (55)

Concerns: Contact (45), Consistency

If you asked me who on this list is the most likely to become an All-Star, it’s Mitchell without question. Some of the questions about Mitchell’s arm last season are warranted. He was strong but inaccurate at times. However, don’t look at his caught stealing numbers (110 SB allowed in 129 attempts) and take much from them. The Columbia League saw more than 2,700 stolen bags in 2024. That’s up from fewer than 1,000 in 2019.

The ability is loud, the power is legitimate, and Mitchell doesn’t chase all that much relative to his strikeout rate. The strikeout rate should fall as he moves up the system, facing better arms who will challenge him in the zone more. Mitchell should develop into an above-average defensive backstop with 25+ home run pop. His ability to hit for average isn’t terrible, but he’s a bit below average there, just not enough to drop his stock thanks to some elite tools elsewhere.

Drafted: 2021, Round Three (78)

Age: 21

Strengths: Power (50), Arm (50), Glove (55)

Concerns: Contact (45)

Mitchell offers a higher ceiling, but Jensen is much further along in his development. That’s expected, of course, with Jensen two years ahead of Mitchell in terms of the professional timeline. Jensen was signed away from a commitment to LSU in 2021. Had he gone to Campus, there’s a strong chance he would’ve played his way into a first-round selection. Like Mitchell, Jensen has a strong arm and great power potential. He offers many of the same traits just with a lower ceiling. Jensen, long known for his ability to walk, has flourished as a power hitter in the last 12 months.

The increase in power following a promotion to Double-A was great to see in 2024 but did come with a notable uptick in strikeouts. That trend is worth watching and came with some alarming underlying numbers. With the Naturals, Jensen posted a 76.9% zone-contact rate and a 28.6% whiff rate. Both marks were well worse than the league average. While that’s concerning, Jensen was also in just his age-20 season playing against more advanced competition.

Acquired: 2023 Amateur Free Agent (Venezuela)

Age: 19

Strengths: Contact (50), Power (50)

Concerns: Glove (45), Arm (45), Batted Ball

Ramirez burst onto the scene in his first professional season. He was dominant, slashing .344/.440/.615 in the 2023 Dominican Summer League. That showing put him on the map everywhere and earned him a trip to the Complex League as a 19-year-old. Many of his offensive metrics came down to earth some in what was still a strong 2024 season. He finished with a 115 wRC+. The long-term offensive profile is a solid one, he should offer average contact and power as he continues to develop. Despite the strong showing thus far, some concerning underlying metrics need to change in 2025.

Ramirez posted a 44.8% groundball rate alongside a 46.5% pull rate in 2024. That came together into a 12% drop in fly ball rate compared to the 2023 debut for Ramirez. It will be important for him to continue hitting the ball in the air and reverse that trend to maintain offensive impact. Defensively, while he’s fairly athletic, Ramirez profiles as a tick below average long-term. Of all the players on this list, he may be the least likely to stick at catcher. Instead, a move to first base makes sense, although his bat would need to be far more impactful there than if he were to remain behind the dish. Questions about his defensive ability and the batted ball data move him down this list some. There’s a clear tier break between Jensen and Ramirez here.

Acquired: 2022 Amateur Free Agent (South Korea)

Age: 20

Strengths: Raw Power (50), On-base Ability

Concerns: Game Power (45), Contact (40), Glove (40)

Um would become the first Korean-born player to appear for the Royals if he ever makes it that far. He had a strong showing this winter in the Australian Baseball League but has yet to truly shine over a full season in affiliated ball. 2024 saw Um make his way to Low-A where he split time with Blake Mitchell behind the dish. He’s a below-average defender and offensively, Um leaves a lot to be desired. His raw power is his best tool, but that raw power doesn’t translate into game power nearly enough. That stems mostly from a very below-average hit tool.

With the Fireflies, Um posted a 36.3% whiff rate and a 74.4% zone contact rate. Both marks are, frankly, abysmal, and a 31.7% chase rate doesn’t do much to find hope for future improvements. It all comes together in a backup catcher’s profile at best. Um doesn’t have the glove to play behind the dish every day. Offensively, he needs to take some serious strides forward very quickly to remain in any sort of prospect discussion.

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