Keep an eye on these Royal prospects in 2025

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

KANSAS CITY -- While the Royals brought the playoffs back to Kansas City this season, there were some important steps forward taken by young players down on the farm in the Royals’ system.

They got their first look at big-time prospect Jac Caglianone, a two-way player drafted No. 6 overall and baseball’s No. 17 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. The slugging Florida star got his first taste of professional ball in High-A Quad Cities during a whirlwind of a year, which has only continued because he’s playing in the Arizona Fall League right now.

The Royals underwent some big changes in the last year with their player-development processes, particularly on the pitching side, and the results are starting to come into focus -- although that doesn’t mean the work is done.

Here’s a snapshot of some prospects to know after 2024 -- and heading into ‘25:

3 players who forced their way onto the radar this year

Noah Cameron, LHP (Royals No. 12 prospect)
Cameron is likely going to find his way on the Royals’ 40-man roster this winter, because they need to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft held at baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. That means Cameron could see his debut in ‘25, although that might have been true regardless of his roster status. The 25-year-old lefty pitched very well in the upper levels of the Minors in ‘24, with a 3.08 ERA across 25 starts between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals’ seventh-round Draft pick in ‘21 out of Central Arkansas and a St. Joseph, Mo., native, Cameron was promoted to Omaha on July 28 and made nine starts in the second half of the season -- posting a 2.32 ERA. He struck out 62 and walked just 11 batters in 54 1/3 innings. If Cameron keeps throwing strikes, he’ll fit right in up in Kansas City.

Steven Zobac, RHP (No. 17)
The Royals’ fourth-round Draft pick in 2022, Zobac did not become a full-time pitcher until his junior year at Cal, so the Royals were a little more cautious with his innings last year in his first full pro season.

This year, they let him loose. And by the end of the season, Zobac was named the Royals’ Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year and not only gained recognition internally, but also interest from other organizations. Zobac just turned 24 and is a heavy strike-thrower. The righty posted a 3.64 ERA across High-A Quad Cities and Double-A this year. In 55 1/3 innings with the Naturals, Zobac walked just 14 batters while striking out 65. If he stays on his current trajectory, don’t be surprised if Zobac is knocking at the door of the Majors by the end of ‘25.

Blake Mitchell, C (No. 2/No. 51 overall)
It feels a little odd to say Mitchell, who opened the season as the Royals’ top prospect, forced himself onto the radar this year, but there were a lot of unknowns about how his first professional season would go. Now that it’s done? Pretty good.

Mitchell, who turned 20 in August, posted an .815 OPS in Single-A Columbia with 18 homers, 16 doubles and 25 stolen bases. He drew a 17% walk rate with a 30.5% strikeout rate.

There are things for Mitchell to work on, like his contact skills (.232 overall average) and that strikeout rate, but his season showed us that the foundation is there. That should be exciting when thinking about what the next couple of seasons might bring.

2 possible breakout players to watch in 2025

Blake Wolters, RHP (No. 4)
The Royals pushed Wolters, the prep pitcher they selected in the second round of the 2023 Draft, to Single-A right away in ‘24 instead of holding him back in extended spring training like they’d done with other young pitchers. It was warranted based on Wolters’ development already up to that point, but he went through some ups and downs throughout his first full season, resulting in a 4.20 ERA across 14 starts, ending his season on the development list in Columbia.

Wolters -- who turns 20 today! -- has an upper-90s fastball and a good breaking ball. His focus in ‘24 was his changeup. And reports about the righty are quick to mention his mental makeup and intelligence, both on and off the mound. Here’s thinking that will serve him well as he assesses his first full season and uses the experience to take a big step forward in ‘25.

Drew Beam, RHP (No. 9)
Everyone is understandably excited to see what Caglianone does in ‘25, as well as the Royals’ second-round pick in prep pitcher David Shields, but how about we add Beam to that conversation? The Royals’ third-round pick out of Tennessee last year was widely regarded to be a safe bet when he was taken in the Draft.

Beam will get his first taste of pro ball next spring, as he was not sent out to an affiliate following the Draft last year. As a college pitcher with three average pitches he can throw strikes with, Beam has had a good start to his development and could be a fast riser through the system.

1 big question for next season: Who’s next up?

The Royals took a huge step forward in 2024. A lot of that was the result of free agency and trade acquisitions. But most of their core remains homegrown players, and improvements from Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey, Brady Singer and others were just as important to the Royals’ step forward this year.

Who helps them take the next step?

Whether it’s any of the players listed above or others -- like outfielder Gavin Cross (No. 6), starters Chandler Champlain (No. 16) and Tyson Guerrero (No. 27) or relievers Eric Cerantola (No. 29) and Evan Sisk (unranked) -- the Royals will be looking for homegrown players to step up and keep helping the Major League team win.