Nine Royals prospects head to the Arizona Fall League, where a few of them have a lot to make up for after injuries cut into their seasons.
The big league season is over for Kansas City, but the work is not done for some of the organization's top young players.
The Arizona Fall League opens its 34th season on Saturday, and nine prospects from the Kansas City Royals will suit up for the Surprise Saguaros, a club that also includes players from the Guardians, Mets, Phillies and Rangers.
Surprise opens against Scottsdale on Saturday.
The Royals sent outfielder Angeibel Gomez, outfielder Zion Rose, left-hander Justin Lamkin, right-hander Steven Zobac, catcher Brooks Bryan, infielder Austin Charles, right-hander Josh Hansell, left-hander Frank Mozzicato and right-hander Hiro Wyatt, according to the rosters released by MLB.com.
Making Up for Lost Time
For a few of these players, this trip is about getting back the innings and at-bats they lost this year.
Rose is the name most fans will know, since the former Louisville star was the sixth overall pick, but ankle and hamstring injuries slowed him down in the spring, and MLB.com called the fall a good chance to get him more at-bats.
Lamkin is in the same boat.
The 71st overall pick in 2025 had 53 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A before a left shoulder strain shut him down in late May.
Charles was limited to 45 games with Quad Cities because of a core injury, and he is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so a strong fall could push the Royals to protect him.
Then there is Gomez, who has played just 47 games at the Rookie level.
He is the Royals' No. 2 prospect, and MLB.com says he is set to become the second-youngest player in league history at just 17 years old.
He also made MLB.com's latest list of the Top 100 prospects, so plenty of people will be watching his at-bats.
What This Means for Kansas City
The Royals finished 69-93 and last in the American League Central, 16 games behind the Cleveland Guardians.
A season like that leaves a front office looking for help anywhere it can find it, and the lessons from those 162 games point to a team that needs more of its young talent to arrive soon.
Zobac is the closest of the group.
The right-hander, who is the Royals' No. 14 prospect, was recalled to Kansas City from Northwest Arkansas on Sept. 28, but he has not made his major league debut.
A good showing in Arizona could help him push for a bullpen spot next spring.
I would not read much into a few weeks of fall numbers, but the league still gives players coming off injuries a real chance to compete against good talent before a long winter.
For Rose and Lamkin, just staying healthy and building up their work over the next few weeks would be a big win.
What Comes Next
The fall schedule also includes a Home Run Derby on Nov. 7 and the Fall Stars Game on Nov. 8.
I will be watching Rose and Zobac the closest, because those two have the best shot at turning a good fall into a real role in Kansas City next year.
