Kansas City's catching depth shines as Carter Jensen and Blake Mitchell represent the organization's future.
The Kansas City Royals may have missed the playoffs in 2025 after finishing with an 82-80 record, but their farm system continues to produce exciting talent that could shape the franchise for years to come.
MLB Pipeline released its 2026 preseason Top 100 Prospects list this week, and the Royals landed two names on the prestigious ranking, with both coming from the same position.
Catcher Carter Jensen checks in at No. 18 overall while fellow backstop Blake Mitchell comes in at No. 75, giving Kansas City a rare pair of top-tier catching prospects in the same system at the same time.
Jensen made one of the biggest jumps on this year's list after an impressive MLB debut last September that turned heads across the league.
Jensen Emerges as One of Baseball's Best Catching Prospects
The 22-year-old Kansas City native was as good as any September call-up in baseball, and his numbers back that up.
Jensen slashed .300/.391/.550 with three home runs and six doubles in just 60 at-bats after getting called up on September 2nd, posting a 159 wRC+ that ranked 22nd among all MLB hitters during the final month of the season.
What makes Jensen's rise even more remarkable is how quickly he climbed through the minors and then dominated at the big league level.
He crushed 20 home runs combined between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha before earning his promotion, and scouts praised his improved defense behind the plate along with his powerful left-handed bat.
Jensen is expected to compete for a roster spot in spring training and could split catching duties with veteran Salvador Perez in 2026, especially since Perez has been spending more time at first base and designated hitter to ease his workload at 35 years old.
Mitchell Rebounds After Injury-Shortened Season
Blake Mitchell's ranking at No. 75 comes after a 2025 season that was cut short by a broken hamate bone, but the 21-year-old showed plenty of promise when healthy and then absolutely mashed in the Arizona Fall League to close out the year.
He posted top-end exit velocities and displayed the kind of bat speed that made him a first-round pick in 2022, and his defense behind the plate remains a strength with excellent strike-zone discipline and a strong arm.
Mitchell's development has been encouraging despite the setback, and he projects to reach the majors around 2027 if he stays healthy and continues to refine his approach at the plate.
What This Means for the Royals' Future
Having two catchers in the Top 100 is unusual for any organization, and it speaks to Kansas City's ability to develop talent at a position that has historically been one of baseball's hardest to fill.
The Royals finished third in the AL Central behind the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers last season, but the front office believes the pieces are in place to contend again soon.
With Bobby Witt Jr. anchoring the lineup and a deep rotation featuring Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and breakout performer Noah Cameron, adding Jensen's bat to the everyday mix could provide the offensive boost that Kansas City desperately needs after posting just a 93 wRC+ as a team in 2025.
The future looks bright in Kansas City, and it starts behind the plate.