Gavin Cross went from dominating in the ACC for Virginia Tech to playing in a hotly contested South Atlantic League pennant chase in the span of a few months in 2022. That experience – which he asserted as “meaningful baseball” – lit a fire under the Royals' No. 6 prospect, as he deemed his contributions to that run his proudest moment in baseball thus far.

Then not much went right for Cross offensively in 2023. Having been one of the best hitters in the country the previous calendar year, the move from Single-A to High-A – along with the general rigors of pro ball – proved to be a stout challenge for the ninth overall pick from the 2022 Draft.

“Going from college, three, four games a week to six [in the Minors] … just trying to find that inner drive,” Cross said. “And I think throughout the year I really learned that, and I think, looking back, this year will be really important for my success going forward.

“Baseball, mechanically, some things sort of [get out of whack or] whatever, you work on that stuff. But more so mentally, I learned a lot this year.”

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Just as Cross was preparing for his first extended foray into the upper levels of the Minors with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, an illness hit in early August that wound up sidelining him for the remainder of the year. He played just two games for the Naturals, his last in-game action before arriving in Arizona.

“[Royals director of player development/field coordinator] Mitch Maier [and I] talked about it.” Cross said. “And we both sort of thought it would be a good idea [to play in the AFL]. I didn't want to end the season with an illness and sort of how it ended. So I actually came out here – I guess I've been here for three weeks now just at our facility – trying to get my legs under me, get the swing back and everything.”

Early returns have been promising, as Cross has four hits in his first 14 at-bats in the Fall League. Long a proficient base stealer, he's also gone 4-for-4 on stolen-base attempts for Surprise through the first two weeks. He was successful on 87.5 percent of his stolen-base attempts in college and swiped 23 bags for Quad Cities this year.

The Royals’ youth movement at the big league level has presented talented prospects with an opportunity to move quickly. Last season, Samad Taylor utilized his time on the premier prospect circuit to propel him toward his big league debut, while outfielders Tyler Gentry and John Rave both elevated their prospect stock during their time with Surprise.

‘I’m just looking forward to it as a new opportunity, kind of a fresh start for a new mini season and build off of the Fall League into the offseason and next Spring Training,” Cross said. “So that's sort of how I'm looking at it. Just going out and competing and try to learn some things from the different coaches, different guys and just pick their brains and go out and enjoy and have a good time.”

Royals hitters in the Fall League

Peyton Wilson, 2B (No. 26): A switch-hitter, Wilson makes considerable impact with his line-drive approach from both sides of the dish. Taken in the second round of the 2021 Draft out of the University of Alabama, the Yellowhammer State native spent nearly all of ‘23 getting acclimated to the keystone with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His 140 hits ranked second among the club’s Minor Leaguers, and he has carried his hot bat into the first two weeks of Fall League action for the Saguaros, which included his first multihomer game since high school.

CJ Alexander, 1B: An in-season replacement for Nick Loftin (KC No. 5) on the Surprise roster, Alexander has a big power profile due to his 6-foot-5 frame. Acquired alongside outfielder Drew Waters and right-hander Andrew Hoffmann from Atlanta, the 27-year-old swatted 17 homers across 92 games in his first full season in his new organization. Although his 29.9 K rate at Triple-A needs some refining, he made a fan in high places during Spring Training, getting the stamp of approval from Royals legend George Brett.

Royals pitchers in the Fall League

Eric Cerantola, RHP: Equipped with a high-octane arm, the Fall League stands to be a huge proving ground for the club’s fifth-round selection in 2021. He utilizes his 6-foot-6 frame well, ramping his heater up into the mid-90s on a consistent basis. The 23-year-old recorded 11.7 K/9 between High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, which ranked sixth among all Royals Minor Leaguers (minimum of 60 IP). He also amassed a 3.66 ERA with just three homers allowed in 76 1/3 innings.

Rylan Kaufman, LHP: The Royals nabbed Kaufman from the junior college ranks in the 12th round in 2018 and handed him a $722,500 signing bonus to begin his pro career. Injuries have limited him to just 241 2/3 innings over his first five pro seasons, as his command wavered across three levels this year (30 walks in 29 innings). He has a low-90s heater that he complements well with a looping 75-77 mph curveball.

Jacob Wallace, RHP: Acquired from the Red Sox in December, the 2019 third-round pick spent all of this past season repeating Double-A, where he struck out better than a batter per inning but also walked a whopping 7.4 per nine. Armed with a fastball that sits in the 96-97 mph range with a mid-80s slider, Wallace enjoyed pockets of success while yielding just one homer across 49 1/3 innings.

Beck Way, RHP: In terms of raw stuff, Way is one of Surprise’s more exciting hurlers. But after walking 63 batters in 79 2/3 innings during the regular season, he’ll need to prove that the 6.67 ERA he accumulated at Double-A was a blip on the radar. Equipped with a true power arsenal, the 6-foot-4 righty’s mid-90s heater and low-80s slider can both flash as plus offerings. Acquired from the Yankees as part of the return package for Andrew Benintendi in July 2022, the ‘20 fourth-rounder is expected to work in shorter stints in the AFL to see if his pitch mix can help him trend in the right direction.

Angel Zerpa, LHP: Zerpa has made big league appearances for the Royals every year since 2021, making him an outlier in the AFL in terms of experience. Known as a natural strike-thrower, the Venezuela native gets good sink on both of his fastballs and has a mid-80s slider that can dart out of the zone. A left shoulder injury sidelined the southpaw until June, and he’ll be looking to utilize his time with Surprise to aid his candidacy for the Royals’ 2024 starting rotation.