SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Ben Kudrna just wants to go home. Okay, not in the way of a kid who¡¯s sick at camp and wants out. More in the way that will take a few years, several Minor League stops and lots of player development.
See, Kudrna (pronounced Kooter-nuh) is a Kansas native who, as it happened, was the Royals¡¯ second-round pick in last year¡¯s Draft. Ranked as the No. 46 Draft prospect in the 2021 class by MLB Pipeline, the 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher went 43rd overall to Kansas City and signed for $3 million, roughly equivalent to the slot value of a late first-round pick. He¡¯s yet to make his Minor League debut, appearing on the mound in instructs and early workouts this spring instead.
Speaking to MLB Pipeline early Sunday morning from Royals camp in Surprise, Kudrna discussed his early impressions of pro ball, the growth of his arsenal and his role as de facto Kansas City tour guide.
Sam Dykstra: Last year around this time in the morning, you probably would have been in first or second period. What¡¯s it like going through this and learning the rhythms of being a pro?
Ben Kudrna: It's exciting. There are definitely a lot of things to learn and things you have to adapt to. Like you said, we would be in first period, and now we're getting ready for meetings and practice. But Spring Training, I think, has been a nice, nice little wake-up call to pro ball. I've loved every second of it. It¡¯s been super exciting, just the day in and day out of it and working on the small things.
Dykstra: What was your true welcome to pro ball moment?
Kudrna: I'd probably say the first game of instructs. When we were throwing bullpens throughout the summer, it hit me, but it was a little nonchalant. You get in that first game with your first pro hitter you're facing, and it kind of hits you. It's like, wow, this is my job. This is cool. It¡¯s awesome. I¡¯m here, and I'm throwing baseballs for a living. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing.
Dykstra: Going back to the Draft, you are a Kansas kid who was taken by Kansas City. How much were the Royals on your radar?
Kudrna: Oh, they were definitely up there from day one [from] growing up in the area and getting to play for their scout team in the fall, which had a good amount of Draft guys and good college guys. I obviously got to meet quite a few of the front-office members and talked with them throughout junior and senior year, which was pretty nice.
Dykstra: On Draft Day itself, what was that specific day like?
Kudrna: It was exciting. I was so nervous waking up that day because I knew the chances were pretty high that's when I was going to go, so I didn't get much sleep the night before. Then for about 20 minutes right when it started, everything went silent, which for a guy not going through it yet I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. I was just waiting. And then my name got called, and everything from there just went bonkers.
Dykstra: Do you feel like their knowledge of you as a local kid helped?
Kudrna: I think it did.?I think just being from that area, they got probably more chances just watch me than they would some other guys. But I think the biggest thing was, they probably just got to sit down and talk with me more than they do other guys that are halfway across the country. So I think it helped out a little bit, in terms of getting to know me and know what kind of kid I am.
Dykstra: Who were you most excited to meet?
Kudrna: That's tough. It¡¯s weird because as a kid, you get so excited and you have your favorite players. Now, I always joke with my dad and my parents when I call them, like ¡®It¡¯s weird. I grew up watching Whit Merrifield. Now, I walk in and say hi to him when we¡¯re both lifting in the gym.¡¯
It was cool to get down here and meet some of the big league guys and introduce myself. Whit was one of them just because I grew up watching him and his Minor League story was cool. Guys like Salvy [Salvador Perez] who I've seen a couple times and some of the pitchers like Brady Singer and Brad Keller that I've just said hi to It's a weird feeling. You go from watching them, and now it's [asking them], ¡®Are you guys lifting today too? Are you guys using the squat rack? Ah, sweet, I'll take it when you're done.¡¯
Dykstra: Going back even further than the Draft, the last actual game you pitched in was the state 5-A championship game for Blue Valley Southwest High School. What do you take away from that game?
Kudrna: Oh, it was a surreal moment. I go back through it sometimes and the competitiveness and how I approached that game. Obviously, I was facing high school hitters, but I think the mindset I had going into that game has carried over a lot into pro ball now. That game I was locked in for every pitch. Obviously, the adrenaline was going, but the execution, the command, everything was there that day because it was such an important game. Against pro hitters, you have to be locked in every pitch, you've got to execute and you've got to command well.
It¡¯s surreal, it's fun to go back and look on just because it¡¯s probably been one of my best, if not the best, baseball moments so far, in terms of games.
Dykstra: And when you look forward now, you are going to pitch in your first Minor League game at some point this season. What do you imagine that moment will be like?
Kudrna: I think the adrenaline's going to be pumping, I think that the butterflies are going to be rolling in the stomach. But it's a moment I've waited for forever. I don't know if I'll sleep the night before, just because it's a pretty cool experience. You only pitch your first Minor League game once. But I think the second I get on the mound and then I throw the first pitch, I'll sink back into what I've always known and what I've always done as a pitcher. That's just to compete, to get guys out, to throw strikes, to dominate. I think it'll be nice to take a breath and sit back and see my first ever Minor League game and say, that's pretty cool.
Dykstra: In terms of what you¡¯ll need for that day, you mentioned your changeup earlier. Where are your fastball and slider right now?
Kudrna: Good. Both have gotten a lot better. The fastball command has gone up exceptionally well. Working the ball in on a lot more on hitters and being able to throw inside a lot more. Fastball command is definitely gone up a lot.
Then slider, it's gotten sharper, just because of how much I've thrown it. You can't get away with the little spinners down the middle anymore. Now, it's got to be tight and a good pitch. So everything's trending in the right direction. Obviously, there are a lot of fine points that you still have to develop and your body's got to develop. But for where I am right now, we're in a really good spot.
Dykstra: I¡¯m sure you and [2021 Draft pick] Carter Jensen are getting this a lot, but are you guys the de facto Kansas City tour guides in the clubhouse now?
Kudrna: It's funny because a lot of the guys in orientation for our Draft class, that was the first time they'd ever been to Kansas City. [I¡¯d say] I can point out every building right here if you want. We always get random questions like ¡®What¡¯s the weather like right now in Kansas City? What¡¯s Opening Day like? Is it warm there?¡¯ We¡¯ve been the go-to guys if anyone wants to learn anything about Kansas City or has any questions. But they joke with us too now, saying ¡®You guys are never getting out.¡¯ They¡¯re always funny ... we¡¯re known as those Kansas City guys.
Dykstra: So what¡¯s the barbecue spot you¡¯re telling everybody to go to?
Kudrna: I grew up a huge Jack Stack guy. I love Joe's. Joe's is really good. You can't go wrong in Kansas City. That's what I always tell them. I say you look up a barbecue place, and you can't go wrong. It'll be good. But if you're with me, we're probably going be end up at Jack or Joe¡¯s. So, deal with it.