Here's where all of the Royals' Top 30 prospects will begin 2026 season

With the Minor League season kicking off, here's where the Royals’ Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. Carter Jensen (MLB No. 16), C -- Kansas City (MLB)
2. Blake Mitchell (MLB No. 72), C -- Quad Cities (High-A)
3. Kendry Chourio, RHP -- Columbia (Single-A)
4. David Shields, LHP -- Quad Cities (High-A)
5. Sean Gamble, OF/2B -- Columbia (Single-A)
6. Josh Hammond, SS/3B -- Columbia (Single-A)
7. Angeibel Gomez, OF -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
8. Ramon Ramirez, C -- Quad Cities (High-A)
9. Luinder Avila, RHP -- Omaha (Triple-A)
10. Ben Kudrna, RHP -- Omaha (Triple-A)
11. Yandel Ricardo, SS -- Columbia (Single-A)
12. Drew Beam, RHP -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
13. Steven Zobac, RHP – Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) injured list
14. Felix Arronde, RHP -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
15. Justin Lamkin, LHP -- Quad Cities (High-A)
16. Michael Lombardi, RHP -- Columbia (Single-A)
17. Asbel Gonzalez, OF -- Quad Cities (High-A)
18. Carson Roccaforte, OF -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
19. Ramcell Medina, SS/3B -- Extended spring training
20. Warren Calcaño, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
21. Shane Panzini, RHP -- Omaha (Triple-A)
22. Freddy Contreras, RHP -- Extended spring training
23. Cameron Millar, RHP -- Extended spring training
24. Blake Wolters, RHP -- Columbia (Single-A)
25. Dennis Colleran, RHP -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
26. Daniel Vazquez, SS -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
27. Gavin Cross, OF -- Omaha (Triple-A)
28. Josh Hansell, RHP -- Quad Cities (High-A)
29. Frank Mozzicato, LHP -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
30. Hunter Patteson, LHP -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)

Team to watch
Mitchell’s second crack at Quad Cities highlights Kansas City’s High-A roster. The Top 100 prospect was coming off a preseason hamate injury when he batted just .207 with a 32.9% strikeout rate over 49 games in the Midwest League last year. He started to show more of his trademark power in the Arizona Fall League with the hand fully healed, and he continued to pop big exit velocities this spring, including a 109 mph home run in the Spring Breakout game.

Ramirez gives the River Bandits another big bopper behind the plate after slugging 11 homers in 70 games with Columbia last season. Shields (owner of a 2.01 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings at Single-A in 2025) and Lamkin lead the pitching staff. Many have circled the latter as a potential breakout candidate after the 71st overall pick in last summer's Draft showed improved velocity and a whiff-heavy slider in his first Spring Training.

Players we could see in MLB in 2026
Jensen has already opened the season back in the Majors after debuting in 2025, and despite a slow start, he should continue to get time at catcher and DH because of his power and on-base potential. Avila made all 13 of his MLB appearances out of the bullpen last year, but he’s starting -- albeit in limited-inning outings -- for Triple-A Omaha to preserve that path back to KC. Kudrna is on the 40-man roster but will need to show something beyond his plus changeup to push for an MLB debut in his age-23 season. Keep an eye out for Colleran, who can touch triple-digits with his fastball and has shown a promising cutter and sweeper, as another relief option by the second half.

New faces
Gamble and Hammond were the 23rd and 28th overall picks in last year’s Draft, respectively, and they head to the Carolina League for their professional debuts. Their positionality will be worth following with the Fireflies. Hammond, who has the advantage between the two in power and arm strength, could see time at both shortstop and third base, while Gamble -- the faster of the pair and the one with the better hit tool -- will likely flip between center field and second base.

On the shelf
The Royals protected Zobac from the Rule 5 Draft in November, despite the fact that he was limited to 36 1/3 innings at Double-A in 2025 due to knee injuries. He made a pair of Cactus League appearances in February before being optioned to Northwest Arkansas, and he’ll open the 2026 campaign on the Naturals’ injured list with an undisclosed injury. When healthy, the 25-year-old has two above-average pitches in his fastball and slider, and he has a history of throwing strikes, which aided Kansas City’s belief he was worth keeping away from the Rule 5 process.

How to watch
Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLB Network and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.