Here are the Royals’ 2024 Top 30 prospects
Anne Rogers
@anne__rogersSURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals only have one Top 100 prospect, but their system has increased its depth considerably the past couple years after graduating their homegrown core.
While the Royals are looking to make a competitive push at the Major League level, they’ve needed to retool their farm system. Tons of behind-the-scenes work has gone on in the last couple of years, and it’s imperative now to see that work translate to on-field performance and results.
With that, there are plenty of names on the rise to get to know. Some you’ll know from previous years, and some are newcomers who shot onto the radar last year.
Here’s a look at the Royals’ top prospects:
1. Blake Mitchell, C (MLB No. 94)
2. Nick Loftin, UTIL
3. Cayden Wallace, 3B
4. Ben Kurdna, RHP
5. Frank Mozzicato, LHP
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2023 preseason list to the 2024 preseason list:
Jump: Chandler Champlain, RHP (2023: 26 | 2024: 12)
Part of the package of young pitchers the Royals acquired when they traded Andrew Benintendi to the Yankees in 2022, Champlain put together one of the stronger ‘23 seasons with 25 starts at 135 1/3 innings between High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 24-year-old posted a 3.33 ERA with a 22.8 percent strikeout rate and a 7.8 percent walk rate. He spins the ball extremely well and has a low-to-mid-90s fastball, a curveball and slider, along with a changeup that he’s seeking consistency with this year. Champlain is a workhorse, and he and Mason Barnett (No. 6, who jumped 12 spots) are two young starters to keep an eye on in the next year or so.
Fall: Beck Way, RHP (2023: 11 | 2024: NR)
Part of the same package from the Yankees for Benintendi, Way struggled immensely in Double-A last season. He began the year as a starter before the Royals moved him to the bullpen in late June to give him shorter stint looks. In total, Way posted a 6.67 ERA across 79 1/3 innings and 28 appearances (17 starts) with 80 strikeouts and 63 walks. The Royals still like what he could bring as a reliever and will continue down that path with him; in August last year, he pitched in six games (17 2/3 innings) with a 1.02 ERA.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools – 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade and are listed in order of rank.
Hit: 60 -- Javier Vaz
Power: 60 -- Trevor Werner
Run: 65 -- Peyton Wilson
Arm: 70 -- Blake Mitchell
Defense: 55 -- Blake Mitchell (Nick Loftin, Cayden Wallace, Carson Roccaforte, Daniel Vazquez)
Fastball: 70 -- John McMillon (Will Klein)
Curveball: 60 -- Frank Mozzicato (Eric Cerantola)
Slider: 60 -- John McMillon (Will Klein, Hunter Owen, Hiro Wyatt, Tyson Guerrero)
Changeup: 60 -- Noah Cameron
Control: 55 -- Noah Cameron (Steven Zobac)
How they were built
Draft: 23 | International: 3 | Trade: 2 | Rule 5 Draft: 1 | UDFA: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2024: 7 | 2025: 12 | 2026: 5 | 2027: 3 | 2028: 2 | 2029: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 3 | 1B: 0 | 2B: 2 | 3B: 3 | SS: 2 | OF: 3 | UTIL: 1 | RHP: 11 | LHP: 5