With the 2018 season getting started, here's a look at where the Royals' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:
1. Khalil Lee, OF -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
2. Nick Pratto, 1B -- Lexington Legends (A)
3. Seuly Matias, OF -- Lexington Legends (A)
4. M.J. Melendez, C -- Lexington Legends (A)
5. Michael Gigliotti, OF -- Lexington Legends (A)
6. Nicky Lopez, SS/2B -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
7. Hunter Dozier, 3B/OF -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
8. Eric Skoglund, LHP -- Kansas City Royals (MLB)
9. Scott Blewett, RHP -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
10. Foster Griffin, LHP -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
11. Emmanuel Rivera, 3B -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
12. Josh Staumont, RHP -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
13. Carlos Hernandez, RHP -- Lexington Legends (A)
14. Trevor Oaks, RHP -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
15. Donnie Dewees, OF -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
16. Burch Smith, RHP -- Kansas City Royals (MLB)
17. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
18. Meibrys Viloria, C -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
19. Richard Lovelady, LHP -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
20. Daniel Tillo, LHP -- Lexington Legends (A)
21. Jeison Guzman, SS -- Lexington Legends (A)
22. Gabriel Cancel, 2B -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
23. Heath Fillmyer, RHP -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
24. Andres Machado, RHP -- Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
25. Evan Steele, LHP -- Extended spring training
26. Chase Vallot, C -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
27. Yefri Del Rosario, RHP -- Extended spring training
28. Janser Lara, RHP -- Extended spring training
29. Gerson Garabito, RHP -- Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv)
30. Samir Duenez, 1B -- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
• Royals prospect coverage | Royals Top 30 prospects stats
Team to watch
The Royals have high expectations for their 2017 Draft class and have assigned four of their top five picks to low Class A Lexington: sweet-swinging first baseman Nick Pratto (first round), standout defensive catcher M.J. Melendez (second), athletic left-hander Daniel Tillo (third) and speedy center fielder Michael Gigliotti (fourth). The fifth, lefty Evan Steele (supplemental second), could join them after some time in extended spring training. The Legends also have outfielder Seuly Matias, who has the highest ceiling in the system, and right-hander Carlos Hernandez, whom one club official said could be Kansas City's best mound prospect by the end of the season.
Where baseball's top prospects are starting the 2018 season
Teams on MiLB.TV
Omaha Storm Chasers
Northwest Arkansas Travelers
Lexington Legends
Idaho Falls Chukars
New faces
The Royals spent the offseason adding right-handers to our Top 30 Prospects list. In December, they signed Yefri del Rosario for $650,000 after he became a free agent as part of the fallout from the Braves' international scandal, and also acquired Burch Smith in the Rule 5 Draft from the Rays via the Mets. In January, they grabbed Trevor Oaks in a three-team trade that sent Scott Alexander to the Dodgers and Joakim Soria to the White Sox, then picked up Heath Fillmyer as part of a deal that shipped Ryan Buchter and Brandon Moss to the Athletics
On the shelf
Everyone on Kansas City's Top 30 Prospects list is healthy to start the season.