Royals first-rounder gambled on his talent -- and won big

KANSAS CITY -- Sean Gamble was just 14 years old when he left his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, to pursue his dream in baseball.

The love for the game took him over 1,000 miles away to IMG Academy in Florida, where he spent the next four years working on his craft and learning from the best to chase his big league aspirations. On Sunday, that bet on himself paid off when the Royals selected him No. 23 overall in the 2025 MLB Draft with his mom, dad and brother, and later his friends, by his side.

Gamble, who was ranked No. 27 on MLB Pipeline’s 2025 Draft Prospects list, didn’t mince words when asked what the Royals were getting out of the 19-year-old infielder/outfielder.

“I think I bring a person that the teammates beside me, and the manager in the dugout, can trust. I work my tail off every day, and I’m dedicated and passionate to being a good teammate and to winning ballgames,” Gamble said.

“Everyone in the league and in this game that is a professional has talent, and everyone can go hit and field and throw. It’s the mindset and the dedication and willingness to never give up and always strive for more. That’s what I’m going to bring most. Everyone knows that I can hit and run and throw. But it’s the little things that matter most that can take you a long way.”

Those little things are what the Royals picked up on when they invited him to a pre-Draft workout at Kauffman Stadium in June. It was there Gamble met with the front office and built a connection to those inside Kansas City’s organization.

“Them and I really see eye to eye, they really care about you as a person and not just a player,” Gamble said. “It’s a great group of individuals who really care about my success on and off the field, and I just thought it would be a great relationship from the start.

“ … When they called me and told me I was going No. 23, I was thrilled.”

Gamble attributes his advanced maturity and mindset to the time spent at IMG Academy, where he was around future greats such as 2025 All-Star James Wood. He also had to live on his own while far away from family at a young age, which helped him off the field, but on it as well.

“It was a big sacrifice, but sacrifice takes greatness,” Gamble said. “And for the past four years I’ve been playing the best high school competition.

“When you’re around the best, you get to see their mindset, you get to see their work ethic, you get to see what works, you get to see what doesn’t work. … Staying true to who I am at the end of the day, but also having people like that around me is great for my game.”

There is a lot of upside with Gamble, who the Royals view as a potential leadoff bat down the road because of his speed, bat-to-ball skills and emerging power. He could one day hit in front of Josh Hammond, who the Royals took at No. 28 and believe has high potential in the power department.

Scouting director Brian Bridges also praised Gamble’s defensive ability, claiming the Vanderbilt recruit has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the field.” The Royals drafted him as an outfielder but believe in his ability to play second base as well.

And Gamble, who said it’s “looking like” he will sign with the Royals this coming week, prides his multifaceted skill set on both sides of the ball.

“Versatility is the name of my game, both offensively and defensively,” Gamble said. “If they need me in the leadoff spot to generate runs and steal bags, that’s what I want to do.

“My ability to play both infield and outfield is what makes me the player that I am. That came from just growing up doing both. I never stopped wanting to do both. … It’s always given the teams I’ve been on a lot of flexibility.”

That could one day include the Royals, who play closer to Des Moines than any other in the league. Gamble won’t have to travel far to sign in Kansas City, and as he eyes his big league debut down the road, he’ll be pretty close to home.

He’s already willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

“If there is an All-Star shortstop like Bobby Witt Jr., and they need me in right field or they need me in center field or they need me at second base, I have that ability,” Gamble said. “I have the ability to do it all. It’s really about the team and it’s about sending the best nine guys out there to most effectively win a baseball game. That’s the name of my game, and I’ve just stayed polished at that over my time at IMG. … If it makes the ballclub better, that’s what I want to do.”