It was an on-brand draft for the Royals, who started off by going way under slot on a high schooler before spending big on prep arms later on, mixing in do-it-all college outfielders where they could. They spent a combined $9.2 million on just three preps, sliding the rest of the money around before spending their leftover bonus pool money on a couple collegians in the eleventh and twelfth rounds.
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Note that the number before a player's name indicates their draft position. "2-50" would indicate that a player was drafted in the second round with the fiftieth overall pick.
1-8: C Blake Mitchell, Sinton HS [TX] {video}
Slot value: $5.98 million. Signing bonus: $4.9 million ($1.08 million below slot value).
My rank: #20. MLB Pipeline: #14. Baseball America: #15. Prospects Live: #15.
As has begun to become customary for them, the Royals went well below slot and in this case saved over a million dollars on their first pick, signing Blake Mitchell away from an LSU commitment for money closer to the slot value of the #13 pick. Mitchell is a special athlete that stands out immediately on the diamond no matter his competition. He was a two-way player in high school that could have pitched at LSU if he went there, running his fastball up to 97 with a good curveball, and the fact that he won't be pitching in pro ball tells you just how talented he is. At the plate, he uses a rhythmic load and produces above average power to all fields with an explosive right handed swing that could upgrade to plus power in time. He takes great at bats and has a long track record of performing against high quality pitching, though he does show some swing and miss in the zone against higher velocity. It's something to watch as he ascends the ranks, but it's certainly no reason for alarm. Behind the plate, Mitchell has an absolute cannon for a right arm, earning plus-plus grades with the ability to completely shut down the opposing running game. Like most young catchers, he's still learning the finer aspects of blocking and receiving, but his athleticism helps him considerably in the meantime and he'll stick back there. The South Texas native is all quick twitch muscle at 6'1", more or less "what the look like" from a physical standpoint, though he is a well below average runner. Really, the only drawback in this profile is his position, as high school catchers are notoriously unpredictable. Many of today's best American catchers including Adley Rutschman, Will Smith, Sean Murphy, Mitch Garver, and Cal Raleigh all came through the college ranks, with J.T. Realmuto and Jonah Heim looking more like exceptions to the rule as high school draftees. Still, you won't find me betting against Mitchell's combination of strength, athleticism, and polish. He has the upside of a future star behind the plate. He showed off his patience but otherwise stumbled through his brief debut in the Arizona Complex League, slashing .147/.423/.176 with a 14/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 13 games.
2-44: RHP Blake Wolters, Mahomet-Seymour HS [IL] {video}
Slot value: $1.95 million. Signing bonus: $2.8 million ($848,400 above slot value).
My rank: #67. MLB Pipeline: #41. Baseball America: #50. Prospects Live: #38.
Few high school pitchers impressed evaluators more than Blake Wolters did this spring. Once the weather warmed up in central Illinois, and even beforehand at the PBR Super 60 showcase (in the linked video), he came out firing with increased velocity and maintained it through the spring. Wolters now sits in the mid 90's with his fastball and touches 99 at best, simply overpowering hitters on velocity alone. His slider flashes plus now with power and bite, though it's inconsistent and can flatten out on him. His changeup remains a distant third pitch. The 6'4" righty is extremely physical with arm strength galore, using his size to his advantage as he works down the mound with a balanced, low effort delivery that portends to a future in the rotation. He's much more physical than explosive, so I don't necessarily see more velocity coming, but he has plenty right now. Wolters pounds the strike zone by repeating his delivery naturally and consistently, further adding safety to his projection as a starter so long as he can stay healthy. The Royals will want to help him get more consistent with his secondary stuff going forward, and it would be nice as well if they can add some life to his fairly straight fastball. Still, the size, arm strength, and trajectory make for a very nice package, and it took almost all of the money Kansas City saved on Blake Mitchell to sign Wolters away from an Arizona commitment. His $2.8 million signing bonus was close to the slot value for the #29 pick.
CBB-66: OF Carson Roccaforte, Louisiana-Lafayette {video}
Slot value: $1.16 million. Signing bonus: $897,500 ($261,400 below slot value).
My rank: #100. MLB Pipeline: #129. Baseball America: #160. Prospects Live: #118.
The Royals tend to favor do-it-all college outfielders in this range of the draft, and Carson Roccaforte certainly fits that profile. He brings an interesting profile at that, and not just because he has an elite baseball name. Roccaforte had a massive sophomore season in 2022 (.374/.435/.671, 16 HR, 25 SB) then came back down to earth a little in 2023, slashing .318/.426/.538 with eight home runs, 22 stolen bases, and a 54/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 65 games. Very skinny at 6'1", he quietly produces above average exit velocities and can turn on the ball for average power, though that's not really his game. Instead, he employs more of a slasher approach, looking to shoot line drives from gap to gap with more of a loose, free and easy left handed swing. That plays well with his plus speed, helping him hit 26 doubles in 2023 to finish tied for fourth in all of Division I. The Southeast Texas native was a bit overmatched on the Cape last summer (.182/.241/.234 in 22 games) and did strike out 18.7% of the time in 2023 despite not playing in a power conference, so there are questions about his ability to make the most of his tools in games against more advanced pitching. Defensively, Roccaforte continues to provide value with his plus speed, strong route running ability, and solid arm. That should keep him in center field, taking some pressure off his bat initially and giving him a nice projection as a fourth outfielder should he not hit for enough impact to start. The power hasn't shown up yet, but he has otherwise impressed by slashing .295/.391/.393 with 15 stolen bases and a 31/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 30 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.
3-75: RHP Hiro Wyatt, Staples HS [CT] {video}
Slot value: $960,000. Signing bonus: $1.5 million ($540,000 above slot value).
My rank: #152. MLB Pipeline: #234. Baseball America: #142. Prospects Live: #170.
When the Royals see a prep arm they like, they get him and pay him no matter what the national boards say. That was the case here, when they took Hiro Wyatt well ahead of where he ranked on national boards and proceeded to go well above slot value, giving him close to the slot value for the #55 pick to sign away from a Southern Cal commitment. Wyatt is certainly not short on arm talent. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and touched 97 this spring, playing up with a lower release point. He shows great feel for his above average slider, which he can also work into a cutter to provide a different look off his fastball. The changeup isn't really there yet, but that's not a huge issue for a kid his age. The skinny 6'1" righty moves very well on the mound with an athletic delivery and improved strike throwing, though he's still fringy in that regard. If Wyatt can figure out a changeup and his skinny frame can hold up to starting, he's got great upside with his arm strength and athleticism. He's also trending hard in the right direction, something you always like to see.
4-106: LHP Hunter Owen, Vanderbilt {video}
Slot value: $634,200. Signing bonus: $631,700 ($2,500 below slot value).
My rank: #76. MLB Pipeline: #56. Baseball America: #58. Prospects Live: #106.
Hunter Owen is another guy who really boosted his stock with a strong 2023. After seeing moderate usage as a reliever over his first two seasons in Nashville, he broke out as a starter this spring with a 3.52 ERA and a 76/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 64 innings, highlighted by an eleven strikeout, two hit, complete game shutout of Ole Miss. Owen is a big, strong lefthander listed at 6'6", 260 pounds, attacking hitters with arm strength more than anything else. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90's and tops around 97, much like Hiro Wyatt, coming in from a higher release point. His best pitch is a hard, diving slider that looks plus at its best and misses bats in bunches, while he can also offer hitters a different look with a bigger curveball and works in a firm but solid changeup. The Portland, Maine native pounds the strike zone with above average command from a simple delivery, not trying to do too much and just letting his natural strength provide the power. The upside might be a little bit limited because he's more strong than explosive, but he looks like a safe bet #4 starter.
5-142: OF Spencer Nivens, Missouri State {video}
Slot value: $446,700. Signing bonus: $472,500 ($25,800 above slot value).
My rank: #80. MLB Pipeline: #119. Baseball America: #87. Prospects Live: #91.
I love this pick for the Royals, one that's a little reminiscent of Tyler Gentry a few years ago. Spencer Nivens is a local kid who grew up just down I-70 in Columbia, Missouri, where he attended Rock Bridge High School before continuing on to Missouri State about 150 miles southeast of Kansas City. He didn't play as a freshman, but he's been a one-man wrecking crew for the Bears the last two seasons with 25 home runs, a .343/.440/.594 slash line, and an 89/78 strikeout to walk ratio over 116 games combined. Nivens will never chase a fastball, though he's not quite as comfortable against high quality breaking balls and did strike out a little more than you'd like against MVC competition despite his extremely patient approach. The raw power may be fringy, but he effectively elevates the ball with authority and maximizes his in-game power, so he could project as average or even above average in that regard if he gets a little stronger. It's not exactly a standout offensive profile, but he does a lot well between his patience and natural loft and could grow into an impact hitter. He's an above average runner but may not be able to stick in center field, and his fringy arm could push him to left. There's nice upside here if the Royals can get creative in unlocking it and overall he projects as a strong fourth outfielder or a decent regular. So far, he is slashing .193/.336/.312 with two home runs and a 21/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 31 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.
6-169: RHP Coleman Picard, Bryant {video}
Slot value: $345,500. Signing bonus: $343,000 ($2,500 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #195. Baseball America: #324. Prospects Live: #461.
Coleman Picard began his career at Hartford, but wasn't very effective and transferred to Bryant after one year. He found his footing a bit as a sophomore reliever in 2022 then jumped to the rotation in 2023, where he had a 3.43 ERA and a 59/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 42 innings. He then went on to the Cape Cod League briefly before the draft, where he showed well with a 1.92 ERA and a 13/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 14 innings. Picard sits in the low 90's with his fastball and gets up to about 95 with a fair amount of carry. His main out secondary is a big, deep curveball with tight spin that he'll use to steal strikes in pro ball, while his cutter/slider brings tighter, more lateral break. Both project as average pitches at this point, and he doesn't use his changeup much. The 6'2" righty has some projection remaining and repeats his loose, athletic delivery well enough to show average command, leading to some potential as a starting pitcher. To get there, he'll have to build up his durability as he has never thrown extended innings and did deal with shoulder fatigue in 2023, so hopefully that will come as he fills out that frame a little more in a pro conditioning program. If he moves to the bullpen, he can work between his fastball and two breaking balls while likely seeing a bit of a bump in velocity, which could help his stuff tick up a half grade across the board. He looked good in a pair of Arizona Complex League appearances, allowing one run over three innings while striking out five and walking three.
7-199: 3B Trevor Werner, Texas A&M {video}
Slot value: $269,200. Signing bonus: $350,000 ($80,800 above slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: unranked.
This is already looking like a scouting win for the Royals, as Trevor Werner went unranked on virtually every major public board but is already off to a torrid start in the Royals' system after signing for sixth round money in the seventh round. He started off his time at Texas A&M as a two-way player but didn't take off until he gave up pitching as a junior in 2022, then continued his ascent with a strong 2023 in which he slashed .252/.349/.514 with 14 home runs and a 68/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games. Those aren't particularly loud numbers, but the Royals saw something and so far they look like they were right. A big dude at 6'3", 225 pounds, he uses his size to generate above average power to all fields, flinging the barrel at the ball from the right side with a simple swing that taps his power naturally. His long levers do lead to some swing and miss, with an elevated 26.1% strikeout rate in 2023 that was significantly higher than you'd like to see from a college senior. The Royals have been using him as a third baseman so far, but his size may make it difficult to stick there in the long term if he slows down at all. He has been one of the most impressive draftees in the minors so far, slashing .355/.452/.718 with nine home runs and a 35/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 34 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.
11-319: OF Jared Dickey, Tennessee {video}
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $572,500 ($422,500 against bonus pool).
My rank: #166. MLB Pipeline: #115. Baseball America: #129. Prospects Live: #110.
I'm a bit lower on Jared Dickey because I'm not entirely certain how his profile translates to impacting games at the MLB level, but that doesn't mean I don't find this to be a very interesting profile. Dickey redshirted his freshman year then came off the bench as a redshirt freshman in 2022, but he put up such great numbers in his small sample (.380/.484/.690) that he was ready to take over as the centerpiece of the Tennessee offense in 2023. The numbers took a slight step back but were still very solid, as he hit .328/.392/.525 with twelve home runs and a 34/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games. Dickey lacks big tools, but you can't deny he knows how to play the game at a high level. Starting in a crouch, he straightens up during his load before pausing just before his swing, which is a simple left handed hack geared towards line drives to all fields. The Nashville-area native isn't looking to walk, going up to the plate hacking at the first pitch he likes while making contact at a high rate both inside and outside the zone. Though his approach is aggressive, he still strikes me as a very professional hitter that knows how ot handle high level pitching. He has slugged .573 over two seasons at Tennessee but the raw power is fringy, and I'm not convinced that it will play up as he transitions to wood bats and gets out of that hitter-friendly park in Knoxville. He projects as a high average type that doesn't walk much or hit more than 10-15 home runs a year, though I do think he'll continue to hit for contact as he works his way up. Dickey caught some at Tennessee but he was drafted as an outfielder by the Royals, where his fringy speed and arm may limit him to left field in the long run. I'm not sold on the upside, but I'm certainly interested to see how this high baseball IQ profile works out. He hasn't homered yet, but he's slashing .330/.423/.447 with an even 13/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 31 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.
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