Royals 2022 Draft signings tracker
Below is a list of every player drafted by the Royals.
Each club has until 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT on Monday, Aug. 1, to come to terms with its Draft selections. If a player has exhausted his collegiate eligibility, he can sign at any time up until one week prior to the next year’s Draft.
Draft-and-follow picks -- high school and junior college players selected after the 10th round who attend a two-year college after the Draft -- can sign with their selecting teams for up to $250,000 up until a week prior to the following year’s Draft.
Total bonus pool: $9,471,200
MLB rank: 15
1 (9): Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech -- $5,202,900 (Pick value: $5,202,900)
Cross wasted little time getting to Kansas City after being selected No. 9 overall by the Royals by signing his contract on July 23. As reported by MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Cross signed for $5,202,900, the full slot value for the No. 9 pick. Cross, a left-handed power hitter, is the highest pick in Virginia Tech history and he can play all three spots in the outfield. More »
2 (49): Cayden Wallace, 3B, Arkansas -- $1,700,000 (Pick value: $1,584,900)
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis reported on July 29 that Wallace signed for $1.7 million, which is above the slot value for the No. 49 overall pick. The top prep player in the state of Arkansas in 2020, Wallace committed to the Razorbacks, and in two years there, he tied the freshman home run record with 14 and played with the son of Royals president of baseball operations Dayton Moore, Robert.
3 (87): Mason Barnett, RHP, Auburn -- $697,500 (Pick value: $724,600)
Barnett was No. 209 in MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospect rankings. His best pitch is an 85 mph slider with plenty of depth, and at his best, his arsenal includes a plus fastball and slider, and a solid curveball and changeup. He has kinks to work out in his delivery, which leads to command issues, but the Royals viewed him as an athletic starter with plenty of ceiling.
4 (115): Steven Zobac, RHP, California -- $500,000 (Pick value: $528,000)
Zobac, a two-way player until this past season at Cal, fills up the strike zone and leans heavily on his fastball and slider combination while showing an ability to throw a changeup. He might have the highest ceiling among the starters the Royals drafted this year, if only because he’s been a full-time starter for just a year.
5 (145): Hunter Patteson, LHP, Central Florida -- $394,500 (Pick value: $394,500)
Patteson recorded a 1.82 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings for UCF before undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this year, and the Royals are banking on that performance, as well as 93-96 mph fastball and swing-and-miss slider. He will rehab with Kansas City in Arizona and he won’t make his pro debut until next year.
6 (175): Hayden Dunhurst, C, Ole Miss -- $300,000 (Pick value: $298,800)
The reliable catcher was an integral part of Ole Miss’ championship year. Dunhurst has a well-above average arm and he grades as a solid receiver. He had a down year with the bat while battling a hamstring injury, but the Royals loved his raw pull power and they believe swing changes can unlock even more at the plate. He signed for a tick above slot value at $300,000.
7 (205): Mack Anglin, RHP, Clemson -- $231,100 (Pick value: $233,600)
Signed on July 25
8 (235): Wesley Scott, RHP, Walters State CC (Tenn.) -- $184,000 (Pick value: $186,500)
Signed on July 25
9 (265): Brandon Johnson, RHP, Ole Miss -- $47,500 (Pick value: $163,800)
The Royals saved some significant money with their ninth and 10th round picks, perhaps to make a push at some of their late prep picks in the Draft. Johnson recorded the final out of the College World Series as the Rebels' fiery closer -- and the pitch that gave Ole Miss the national title was caught by Johnson's new Royals teammate and eighth round pick, catcher Hayden Dunhurst.
10 (295): Levi Usher, OF, Louisville -- $72,500 (Pick value: $153,600)
Signed on July 25
11 (325): David Sandlin, RHP, Oklahoma -- $400,000
The Royals persuaded Sandlin away from returning to Oklahoma with $400,000 (only $275,000 counted toward their bonus pool). The right-hander came up big for the Sooners in the postseason and College World Series, possessing a nasty curveball that flashes plus. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and he will be the focus of his improvement now with the Royals. Kansas City views him as a future starter, but the club knows that he could be become a breaking ball-heavy reliever if he can’t make the necessary adjustments.
12 (355): Jack Pineda, SS, Baylor -- $147,000
13 (385): Ryan Ramsey, LHP, Maryland
Signed on July 25
14 (415): Ben Sears, RHP, Houston -- $125,000
Signed on July 25
15 (445): Javier Vaz, OF, Vanderbilt
Has not agreed to terms
16 (475): Cooper McKeehan, LHP, BYU
Signed on July 25
17 (505): Chazz Martinez, LHP, Oklahoma
Signed on July 25
18 (535): Milo Rushford, OF, Walden Grove HS (Ariz.)
Signed on July 25
19 (565): Tommy Szczepanski, RHP, Garber HS (Mich.)
Has not agreed to terms
20 (595): Austin Charles, SS/RHP, Stockdale HS (Calif.) -- $429,500
How bonus pools and pick values work
Each choice in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned value, with the total for a club's selections equaling what it can spend in those rounds without incurring a penalty. If a player taken in the top 10 rounds doesn't sign, his pick's value gets subtracted from his team's pool. Clubs near the top of the Draft often spend less than the assigned value for those choices and use the savings to offer more money to later selections.
Teams that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Clubs that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, clubs lose future picks: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent.
Bonus pools by club:
Orioles: $16,933,000
D-backs: $15,120,200
Mets: $13,963,000
Pirates: $13,741,300
Rockies: $13,667,800
Nationals: $11,013,900
Reds: $10,799,700
Marlins: $10,491,700
Braves: $10,229,600
Cubs: $10,098,100
Padres: $10,094,200
Twins: $10,041,500
Guardians: $9,986,200
Rangers: $9,646,000
Royals: $9,471,200
Blue Jays: $8,372,100
Athletics: $8,320,200
Red Sox: $8,082,600
Tigers: $8,029,300
Rays: $7,799,200
Mariners: $7,258,200
Brewers: $7,074,700
Angels: $7,028,100
Cardinals: $6,845,900
Astros: $6,840,600
Yankees: $6,428,600
Phillies: $6,310,400
White Sox: $6,292,500
Giants: $5,796,400
Dodgers: $4,223,800