This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The Royals have three players representing them on MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 prospects list, with catcher Blake Mitchell clocking in at No. 55, right-hander Kendry Chourio at No. 79 and infielder Josh Hammond entering the list at No. 96.
Those three reflect the young upside and talent the Royals have in their farm system right now on both sides of the ball, but it doesn’t stop with them.
With that in mind, let’s check in on a few pitching prospects:
Lamkin’s quick rise
The Royals had an idea they were getting a polished pitcher when they selected lefty Justin Lamkin at No. 71 overall last year out of Texas A&M, with a foundation, presence and understanding of who he is and what he can do on the mound. Because of that, the Royals started him in High-A Quad Cities and thought he’d earn a promotion by midseason.
Lamkin, the club’s No. 13 prospect, made six starts in Quad Cities before his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he debuted Thursday. He was tagged with four runs after departing with one out in the sixth inning, striking out seven and walking three.
Senior director of pitching Paul Gibson called Lamkin’s numbers in High-A “ridiculous,” and he’s right: 1.27 ERA, 28 1/3 innings, 38 strikeouts, 11 walks, 0.92 WHIP. Lamkin attacks hitters with a fastball, changeup, curveball and slider, and he receives comps to Kris Bubic because of the deception in his delivery from the left side, helping his 92-94 mph velocity play up. He gets swing and miss at the top of the zone and pitches inside to right-handers well. A strength-focused offseason has the Royals believing there’s more in the tank, too.
He’ll face more challenges at the next level against better hitters, but the Royals are thrilled with the type of pitcher they have in Lamkin. The organization won’t rush him, but it doesn’t hurt to have a fast-rising pitcher, given how the Royals are always looking for depth.
“The pitchability and the four-pitch mix, and I have to also note the mound presence, the maturity on the mound – he’s a classic college pitcher from a big program that has just taken off,” Gibson said. “When you watch him pitch, and you see the swing and miss, and you see the attack plan, it makes a lot of sense. He’s been really, really good.”
COMPLETE ROYALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Columbia’s rotation
The Royals have some good, young arms in Single-A Columbia with more on the way this summer. It starts with Chourio, who, at just 18 years old, continues to meet the hype that greeted him last year when he came stateside.
After finishing the 2025 season in Single-A, Chourio returned there this year and has a 1.82 ERA in six starts, with 26 strikeouts and five walks in 24 2/3 innings. The Royals had a lot of things for Chourio to work on, including the effectiveness of his breaking balls and the usage of his changeup, and he’s met those challenges head-on.
By the time the All-Star break rolls around, Chourio should be in High-A.
“This guy is ridiculous in terms of just about everything,” Gibson said. “He’s got work ethic like Lamkin and is [three] years younger.”
Chourio missed a turn in the rotation at the end of April after describing a tired arm, causing the Royals to press pause on his schedule. Chourio still got work in the bullpen, and there wasn’t any real injury concern. Allowing him to rest in April when he needed it pushed back the decision the Royals will have to make when Chourio reaches his innings limit later in the year.
Other pitchers who have stood out with Columbia include 2023 draftees Hiro Wyatt and Blake Wolters, who have both dealt with injuries to begin their careers. Wyatt has a 2.16 ERA in six starts, while Wolters – the club’s No. 22 prospect – posted a 1.65 ERA in six starts before his promotion to High-A last week.
Piggybacking starters in Single-A include Darwin Rodriguez, Michael Lombardi, Shane Van Dam, Jose Gutierrez and Jordan Woods, all hovering around 3-5 innings each outing to comply with innings considerations early in their careers. Woods, a 22-year-old lefty whom the Royals signed out of Canada as a prep pitcher in 2022, threw six perfect innings with 14 strikeouts last Sunday. Lombardi, the Royals’ second-round pick out of Tulane last year and their No. 14 prospect now, has a 3.16 ERA in 25 2/3 innings.
“He’s got an above-average fastball and plus curveball,” Gibson said. “And he attacks the zone pretty well. He’s got a lot to learn and develop with his secondaries, meaning a third and fourth pitch. But right now, where he’s at in a piggyback, where he’s two times through the order instead of three, it’s been a good start.”