Royals' top two prospects team up for big night in High-A
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Royals’ No. 1 prospect Blake Mitchell didn’t wait long to extend his on-base streak to 20 games for High-A Quad Cities on Friday night, crushing a three-run homer in the top of the first inning. Then, he took his spot behind the plate and let No. 2 prospect Kendry Chourio go to work.
Making his second start for Quad Cities, Chourio (MLB’s No. 73 prospect) fired six innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts, allowing just two hits and two walks in the River Bandits’ 4-3 loss to South Bend at Four Winds Field.
It was a much better showing than Chourio had on June 19 as he made his High-A debut, becoming the first pitcher to appear at that level before his 19th birthday since Eury Pérez in 2021. Chourio struck out 10 batters with no walks in that game but allowed seven runs (five earned) over 4 2/3 innings.
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The 18-year-old earned the promotion to High-A after recording a 1.88 ERA with 44 strikeouts and nine walks over 48 innings for Single-A Columbia. The Venezuela native made his professional debut last year after joining the Royals as part of the 2025 international signing class.
Mitchell, meanwhile, has seen his power return this season after he fractured his hamate bone during Spring Training in 2025 and recorded only three homers with a .320 SLG over 60 games in the Minors a year ago.
MLB’s No. 50 overall prospect, Mitchell has swatted 13 homers in 65 games for the River Bandits in 2026. He’s hitting just .217 on the year but has reached base at a .421 clip with 40 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 15 steals.
The 21-year-old catcher is approaching the three-year mark since the Royals took him eighth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Sinton High School in Texas.