SURPRISE, Ariz. -- In 2023, the Royals lost 106 games, winning just 56. They experienced a 30-game turnaround a year later and those 86 wins earned them a playoff spot for the first time since their 2015 run to a World Series title.
That big league about-face has a trickle down effect on the farm system. Those on their way up know this is no longer a rebuilding franchise. It¡¯s one that relies on production from those called up to Kansas City, from top picks like Bobby Witt Jr. to finds like Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey. Based on the buzz around Royals' camp this spring, the prospects coming seem to grasp the assignment.
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¡°I think the next wave understands the importance of the expectations, when they get to the Major Leagues and get that opportunity,¡± Royals farm director Mitch Maier said. ¡°Here¡¯s how we need to develop, here¡¯s how we need to help a team win baseball games within their individual tool sets. We continue to emphasize that message so when they go up there, they understand how they¡¯re going to help us win on any given night.
¡°It¡¯s not a ¡®just get our feet wet¡¯ type mentality. It¡¯s, ¡®We need to go up there and help and be a positive contributor to that Major League team.¡¯¡±
While many eyes will understandably be on 2024 first-round pick Jac Caglianone¡¯s bat and how quickly it can get to Kansas City, perhaps the biggest thing pointing to potential prolonged success is the pitching depth massing in this system. We¡¯re not talking big-time elite prospect names, but the Royals are quietly building a large stable of future big league pitchers.
Noah Cameron, the 2021 seventh-rounder, could be the first to contribute after reaching Triple-A. But there¡¯s more behind him, with guys like Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac, both top 10 prospects on the Royals¡¯ Top 30, having reached Double-A last year, and No. 19 Luinder Avila spending most of 2024 at that level as well. In back of them are intriguing young arms like Blake Wolters, Frank Mozzicato (more on him later) and Felix Arronde.
¡°Building that depth from here at the complex to Columbia in A ball up to the Triple-A group is important,¡± Maier said. ¡°If we¡¯re going to sustain the success, we have to continue to have arms ready to help supplement and help us win baseball games at the Major League level.¡±
Maier and the player development crew are particularly appreciative of the job the scouting department did in 2024, headed up by Brian Bridges in his first year as the scouting director. Sure, it started with Caglianone at No. 6 overall, but Bridges oversaw a Draft that added five arms that were on MLB Pipeline¡¯s Draft Top 250, a list led by second-rounder David Shields, a high schooler from the Pittsburgh area, who has already shown off an exciting combination of athleticism and feel for pitching, and third-round pick Drew Beam, fresh off helping Tennessee win the College World Series, who the Royals think might have more success than the steady consistency he showed with the Volunteers may have indicated.
¡°It¡¯s been awesome,¡± Maier said. ¡°Cags at the top highlights the level of talent we were able to bring in. Shields, Beam, L.P. Langevin, A.J. Causey¡ The quality of arms, the depth that Brian and his group were able to go out, we¡¯re excited for them in their first professional full seasons.¡±
Camp standout: Yandel Ricardo
When the 2024 international signing period opened in January, Ricardo was ranked No. 17 on MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 50 list. The Royals jumped in to sign the Cuban infielder for $2.4 million. He didn¡¯t set the world on fire during his Dominican Summer League debut, slashing .213/.330/.366 over 45 games, but this is neither the first time, nor will it be the last, that a reminder not to put too much weight on a DSL debut is written.
The 18-year-old middle infielder is in the United States for the first time, and the club¡¯s No. 11 prospect has not seemed overwhelmed in his first Spring Training, something Maier feels bodes well for his highly-anticipated stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League.
¡°He really stands out with his tools, the ability to play shortstop, the switch-hitting,¡± Maier said. ¡°He¡¯s had some really great at-bats against some older pitchers. You see the ability to run and play defense. I think he has the potential to come here to Arizona and do a really nice job. I think he¡¯ll come here and display why he¡¯s one of our top infield prospects.¡±
Breakout candidate: Daniel Vazquez
Signed for $1.5 million back in 2021, Vazquez went straight to full-season Columbia for his U.S. debut in 2022¡ and hasn¡¯t left. His defense at shortstop has always been good, but the bat has lagged far behind. He carries a .219/.313/.270 career line into the 2025 season, but there are some signs of life. He made moderate gains in his third season with Columbia last year, finishing with a career-high .642 OPS. There was more encouragement during his time in the Arizona Fall League. He still isn¡¯t truly tapping into the raw power some saw when he was an amateur, but he did hit .298/.382/.362 over 14 games against largely older competition, perhaps a sign that he¡¯s ready to finally take a step forward.
¡°He¡¯s always been a good defender, but I think he¡¯s going to continue [getting better offensively],¡± Maier said. ¡°He went to the Fall League last year and really started driving the ball. I think he¡¯s someone that¡¯s primed to have a good season this year.¡±
Something to prove: Frank Mozzicato
By some measurements, Mozzicato had a perfectly fine 2024 season. His 3.45 ERA would have been third in the High-A Midwest League had he thrown enough innings to qualify and he would have topped the circuit with his .203 batting average against, while topping 100 innings for the first time.
But the 21-year-old also saw his strikeout rate plummet, from 12.6 per nine in 2023 to 8.1 per nine last year. Some of that can be tied to a drop in velocity, with his fastball sitting in the 87-90 mph range more often than not, a pitch he didn¡¯t command particularly well.
The good news is that this spring, Mozzicato¡¯s stuff has bounced back so much so that Maier thought the left-hander could be a strong breakout candidate.
¡°I think he¡¯s going to have a great year,¡± Maier said. ¡°The way he¡¯s continued to clean up the mechanics, making sure he¡¯s getting the ball in the strike zone and the stuff has continued to trend in the right direction. He was 93-95 mph with the great breaking ball and changeup recently and the pitch profile is still the same. It¡¯s a riding, 20-plus vert fastball.
¡°We have to continue to get into the season and have success. But I think you look at a kid from the Northeast, with his development, if you¡¯re not patient you¡¯re going to mess it up. I think Frank¡¯s going to continue to be a big arrow up guy going into this year.¡±