Here are the Royals' 2025 Top 30 prospects

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- It was only a couple of years ago that the Royals were trying to gather as many prospects as they could in moves, whether they came from trades or the Rule 5 Draft or waiver claims.

Last year, they traded prospects away to acquire Major League players who helped them win.

It helped them to a 30-win turnaround in Kansas City, and the Royals want to keep taking steps forward there in 2025. But their emphasis on player development hasn¡¯t changed and they¡¯re expecting several of their prospects to help out this season. That includes three pitchers added to the Major League roster over the offseason in Noah Cameron, Luinder Avila and Eric Cerantola.

More could hit or pitch their way to the big leagues in 2025, from local Kansas City product, catcher Carter Jensen, to fast-rising pitcher Steven Zobac.

And yes, that might even include last year¡¯s first round Draft pick Jac Caglianone, who has done nothing but impress so far in his first big league Spring Training.

The point is, there are plenty of names to know in the Royals' farm system, even with the big league club in a contention window. The Top 30 prospects list released each spring is a look at who those names might be based on evaluation from the club, scouts and officials around the industry.

Here¡¯s a look at the Royals¡¯ top prospects:

1. Jac Caglianone, 1B (MLB No. 22)
2. Blake Mitchell, C (MLB No. 48)
3. Carter Jensen, C
4. Ben Kudrna, RHP
5. Noah Cameron, LHP
   Complete Top 30 list ?

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2024 preseason list to the 2025 preseason list:

Jump: Steven Zobac, RHP (2024: 25 | 2025: 7)
It¡¯s been a steady incline for Zobac since he was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft -- now he¡¯s one of the Royals¡¯ top prospects. A two-way player at Cal before fully focusing on pitching his junior season, Zobac is still relatively new to the mound and the Royals pushed him along cautiously in terms of innings in his first full pro season. But in 2024, they let him loose and he responded with a 3.64 ERA between High-A and Double-A across 126 innings. Zobac can really throw strikes and has great command of his three pitches with a smooth, athletic delivery. The 24-year-old will probably head back to Double-A, but a quick jump to Triple-A wouldn¡¯t be surprising -- and if he pitches like last year, perhaps he¡¯s knocking on the door to Kansas City by the end of the year.

Fall: Peyton Wilson, 2B/OF (2024: 24 | 2025: Unranked)
Wilson was the club¡¯s Competitive Balance Round B pick in 2021 out of the University of Alabama and fits the mold of a typical Royals utilityman: Versatile, speedy, contact-oriented and a fundamental player. But he repeated Double-A and regressed slightly in 2024, slashing .228/.338/.380, although he popped 14 homers, which was back in line with his ¡®22 number. Wilson played more left field than second base last year, so if he can show he can move around more, he¡¯ll create more value for himself.

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Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 55 -- Javier Vaz
Power: 70 -- Jac Caglianone
Run: 60 -- Asbel Gonzalez (Carson Roccaforte, Javier Vaz)
Arm: 70 -- Blake Mitchell
Defense: 65 -- Carson Roccaforte
Fastball: 70 -- L.P. Langevin
Curveball: 60 -- Frank Mozzicato (Eric Cerantola)
Slider: 60 -- Hiro Wyatt (Hunter Owen, Tyson Guerrero)
Changeup: 60 -- Noah Cameron (Felix Arronde)
Control: 60 -- Steven Zobac

How they were built
Draft: 21 | International: 8 | Trade: 1 | Waivers: 0 | Rule 5: 0

Breakdown by ETA
2025: 8 | 2026: 5 | 2027: 9 | 2028: 5 | 2029: 3

Breakdown by position
C: 4 | 1B: 1 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 2 | SS: 2 | OF: 5 | RHP: 10 | LHP: 5