The MLB draft is a month away, to be held during All-Star week in Philadelphia beginning on July 11. The Royals benefitted from the draft lottery, moving them up to the #6 overall pick. This is considered a fairly strong draft class with good impact talent, with a terrific class of college hitters at the top and a deep pool of talented high school pitchers.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the consensus best player in this class, likely to go #1 to the White Sox. Prep shortstop Grady Emerson is the top high school player with Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey also likely to go in the first few picks.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel writes that the “next grouping after the clear top three players” includes high school shortstop Jacob Lombard, high school outfielder Eric Booth Jr., and college pitcher Jackson Flora. The Royals should be positioned to grab one of these six players, but they also have the sixth-largest bonus pool, which could allow them to be flexible. There is typically a surprise in the first ten picks, and McDaniel thinks it could come with the Royals’ pick. They could cut an under-slot deal with the #6 pick, to grab a first-round talent in later rounds that fell due to high bonus demands.
What are the top draft observers saying about who the Royals might take? While mock drafts remain an inexact science, many of the game’s top draft writers keep connecting Kansas City to the same handful of names, most notably Lombard, Booth, and left-hander Gio Rojas.
Jacob Lombard is a right-handed bat whose father George was a big leaguer, and whose brother is a top prospect with the Yankees. The Miami-area product is a five-tool player widely lauded for his baseball IQ and coachability. The last time the Royals selected a toolsy, mature high school shortstop whose dad played in the big leagues, it seemed to work out for them. In a mock draft back in early May, Keith Law of the Athletic had the Royals going chalk and grabbing Lombard. Most other mocks also report the Royals prefer Lombard, although they don’t think he will be available when the Royals select at #6.
Eric Booth Jr. is a 70-grade runner with good bat speed that some evaluators think will translate to decent power numbers in the big leagues. MLB Pipeline notes that Booth’s left-handed swing can look choppy at times, but evaluators are encouraged by his excellent exit velocities. He also won the home run derby at the Perfect Game All-American Classic. Joel Reuter at Bleacher Report has the Royals taking Booth, citing his potential as a “20-homer, 40-steal everyday center fielder.” Law reports that the Royals’ plan is to take either Lombard or Booth if one is available. McDaniel and Carlos Collazo at Baseball America each write that the Royals prefer Lombard to Booth.
Gio Rojas could be the option if both Lombard and Booth are off the table. Jim Callis at MLB Pipeline wrote the Royals will “sort through the consensus top six players, at least one of whom will get to them, along with left-hander Gio Rojas, the consensus top prep pitcher.” The Miami-area lefty can run his fastball up to 98 mph and complements it with a sweeping slider and a changeup. MLB Pipeline writes he has the makings of a frontline starter, and with “outstanding presence on the mound” and an ability to “fill up the strike zone.” McDaniel writes that Rojas is the backup option if Lombard and Booth are both off the table, possibly as a “cut-rate option” that could sign underslot. Collazo reports the Royals have heavily scouted Rojas.
Jackson Flora is the top college pitcher on the board, and could be an option if the top prep players are off the board. Peyton Sower at Just Baseball writes that Royals scouting director Brian Bridges has done well with college pitching selection in recent years, so he has the UC-Santa Barbara pitcher going to the Royals. He writes that Flora has a “fascinating arsenal” with “above-average command” including a kick-change he uses against left-handers. Flora had a 1.06 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 102 innings this season for the Gauchos.
Other names that could be possibilities for the Royals include high school pitcher Carson Bolemon, who Keith Law calls one of the top prep arms. He writes that the Royals prefer Lombard or Booth, but pitching could be a “fallback option” with the South Carolina lefty a possibility.
California high schooler Jared Grindlinger is an intriguing two-way player that most teams see as a hitter, but Callis reports the Royals like him better as a pitcher. At 17, he’s one of the youngest players in the draft, but has a fastball that sits 90-93 mph that could tick up as he grows.
Collazo reports there is some buzz about Florida right-hander Liam Peterson, although he might be a reach at #6. The Royals have gone with Gator pitchers before – notably Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar. Peterson stands 6’5” with a mid-90s fastball that could increase in velo in shorter stints. He had a 4.59 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 84.1 innings this year for the Gators.
The Royals could look to college hitters, with McDaniel suggesting Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick is an option. A right-handed slugger, Helfrick hit .283/.417/.562 with 18 home runs in 62 games for the Razorbacks and 55 walks. Mark Powell at FanSided has the Royals going with Drew Burress, who hit .358/.473/.657 with 16 home runs and 10 steals in 61 games for Georgia Tech. Burress is a more polished hitter, but standing at 5’9”, he lacks imposing physical tools. Powell writes that Burress has rising stock, and would likely be an underslot signing.
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