From teenage power hitters to a flame-throwing starter, discover the elite trio offering a glimmer of hope for Kansas City’s future following a challenging 2026 campaign.
The Kansas City Royals had a disappointing 2026 season, finishing 69-93 and last in the AL Central, a relatively open division, while the Cleveland Guardians won the division at 85-77.
The Royals were 41-40 at home and 28-53 on the road. Three players provided solid offense. Bobby Witt Jr. hit .281 with 18 home runs and 45 stolen bases. Power-hitting left-hander Jac Caglianone had a great second year in the league, hitting .289 with 23 home runs, while Michael Massey burst onto the scene with a .272 average and 13 home runs.
However, players who had higher expectations disappointed. Namely Vinnie Pasquantino, part of a larger group of players who played in the World Baseball Classic and posted shockingly poor numbers in 2026. He hit .249 with 17 home runs in a 32-home-run season in 2025.
Unfortunately, the Royals' farm system doesn't have much talent expected to join the fight soon. Kansas City had only three players on MLB.com’s final top 100 prospects list, with their highest-ranked at No. 50 and an ETA to MLB of 2029.
Let’s break them down and look at how they performed this season.
50. RHP Kendry Chourio
The 19-year-old right-handed pitcher posted a 2.48 ERA in 90.2 innings pitched. He has a 2.85 ERA in his minor league career, spanning 34 starts. Chourio had a 91-17 K-BB ratio this past year.
His 4-seam fastball sits 94-97 and pairs well with a knee-buckling 12-6 curveball. He is still likely multiple seasons from joining the Royals major league roster, but he very well could make his first start before turning 22.
76. OF Angeibel Gomez
Gomez is just 17 years old, but in his first stint in rookie ball, he played 47 games and hit .361 with nine home runs and a 1.120 OPS. He has great speed with a 70-run tool and stole 15 bases in his first professional season.
After a strong season, he was invited to the Arizona Fall League, where he will compete with some of baseball's best prospects. Gomez will turn 18 before the end of the year.
82. SS/3B Josh Hammond
20-year-old SS/3B Josh Hammond hit .286 in his first professional season after being a prospect promotion incentive pick just after the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. Like Gomez, Hammond has a great run tool, hitting just five home runs but stealing 25 bases across 110 games.
Hammond struggled to end the season, hitting .132 in his final 10 games.
