Kansas City Royals Top Prospects to Know

You are reading the free version of the Kansas City Royals Top Prospects. In this version, you will get the full writeups on the top prospect in the system, the biggest sleeper, and a player I could see breaking out in 2025.

In this edition, you will see what I offer in the full team reports. For every farm system, you will get my top 50 ranked players and detailed reports on the top 30. Each report includes advanced player data, traditional scouting thoughts from live and video looks, plus thoughts from scouts around the league.

Let’s dive in on what you get in the full report!

Glossary:

FFG = Future Fantasy Grade - essentially, what is the likely long-term outcome for the prospect? This is always going to be more conservative. Handing out ace tags is not something I like to do. So, this is a realistic outcome.

90th Peak = If the player hits their best-case outcome, what does it look like?

Variance = How risky is this player’s profile, and how likely are they to hit their likely outcome? Low variance is good; high means more risky.

Format for report: Name/Position/Age on 2025 Opening Day/Height/Weight/Highest Level

Kansas City Royals Top Prospect

1. Jac Caglianone, 1B, 22, 6’5”/250, A+

Caglianone has received some interesting nicknames, such as Jactani, for his ability to hit and pitch. Having some of the best power in the 2024 draft class, Caglianone also pitched 148 innings over the last two seasons, during which he posted a 4.55 ERA. The issue with him on the mound is not stuff but rather command. Caglianone could work out of a bullpen with a pro club, but he is likely to slide over to just the hitting side, where he stands the best chance to make a significant league impact.

After mashing 33 home runs in 2023, Caglianone followed it up with an impressive 35 in 2024 while improving all significant metrics. The slash line ended at .419/.544/.875, and he improved his walk rate from 5.3 percent in 2023 to 18.4 percent in 2024. All the while, he cut his strikeout rate from 18 percent to 8.2 percent.

The gains were real. Caglianone made contact at a near 80 percent mark, with an impressive 91 percent in-zone rate. He covers the plate exceptionally well with his long levers and fights off pitches with ease. The biggest knock is a 38 percent chase rate. While it is very high and one of the highest marks in the draft, Cagalinone will naturally run higher chase rates with his long levers. If he swings less, we may see some improvements there, but that remains the biggest question in his profile.

The power is undeniable. Surprisingly, his average exit velocity is 93.8 mph, not as high as Bazzana or Condon's. However, he also has fewer games in front of a TrackMan, as Florida uses Yakkertech. The 90th percentile, still incredibly impressive at 111.7 mph, and his max exit velocity of 121.7 was among the best in college baseball.

Caglianone will be a first base or DH-only type profile, so if you can stomach it for fantasy, the power is tremendous and worth having on your roster. Factor in the improved contact skills, and you have the makings of a very fun hitter.

FFG: Power Hitting 1B

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.325/35 HR/5 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

Kansas City Royals Sleeper Prospect

28. Callan Moss, 1B, 21, 6’3”/225, A

This is my favorite kind of story. Moss was an undrafted free agent out of St. Leo College, a Division 2 school in the Sunshine State Conference. Moss posted a strong season there, slashing .360./.473/.634 with nine home runs and 25 extra-base hits. He also walked more than he struck out. Moss then played in the Appalachian League this summer, where he was the league’s MVP while playing with the Danville Otterbots.

In 33 games with Danville, Moss posted an impressive .371/.531/.724 slash with eight home runs and 20 extra-base hits. Not only was the performance good, but so was his underlying data with wood bats. Moss ranked first in the league with an average exit velocity of 92.8 mph. He also topped out in hard-hit rate at a strong 44.8 percent and a gaudy 24.1 percent barrel rate.

Moss stepped right into pro ball and hit. He has shown a good feel for pitch recognition, walking more than he has struck out, a theme his entire career. Moss slashed .339/.488/.452 with two home runs in 22 games in Single-A.

The underlying data was also eye-popping. Moss made contact on 81 percent of pitches he swung at while posting a 90th percentile exit velocity near 106 mph. Topping out at 111 mph shows the big power from someone who just turned 21.

Moss has good plate discipline, running a chase rate below 20 percent. He has a strong frame, standing at 6’3”/225, and he certainly has the physical appearance when you see him. Moss just turned 21 years old, and I think there is some intrigue here with his bat. Keep a close eye on Moss.

FFG: Power Hitting 1B

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.340/25 HR/2 SB

Variance: Very High

Buy/Sell: Buy

Kansas City Royals 2025 Breakout Prospect

21. Jordan Woods, LHP, 21, 6’3”/183, CPX

Woods was an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of Canada, but the Royals gave him a max signing bonus for a UDFA. Unfortunately, he went down with a UCL injury and had Tommy John Surgery shortly after. He made his pro debut at the complex in 2024 and put together a solid performance, striking out 30 percent of batters faced while having a 4.65 ERA.

Having a fastball that sits around 90 mph, Woods has a projection to add more velocity as he continues to build up from Tommy John. The pitch plays above the velocity, though, due to great life at the top of the zone.

Woods’s changeup is a plus pitch, having late tumble and fade, and he sells it well due to his arm speed. A mid-to-upper 70s curveball still needs refinement but has the potential to be an average offering.

Heading into 2025 and another offseason removed from Tommy John, I expect Jordan Woods to take a huge step forward. The frame is good, and there is still plenty of projection to add.

FFG: SP/RP

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 120 IP/4.00 ERA/125 K

Variance: Extreme

Buy/Sell: Buy