Better know a Royals prospect: David Shields

Over the last two years, the Royals organization has undergone a complete transformation, largely thanks to one of the best pitching development staffs in baseball. The most recent examples of this development have come from players like Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and Noah Cameron, who have taken significant steps forward and become key components of one of the American League’s best pitching staffs. But down in the depths of the minor leagues, Paul Gibson and the rest of the Royals staff have been hard at work… and it is paying off.

In 2024, the Royals were making their first playoff push in almost a decade, and when draft day came around, there was a lot of excitement about what the Royals would do with the 6th overall pick. After years of the Royals disappointing fans on draft day with underslot selections in the first round, a new management brought fans hope for a change. JJ Piccolo and his staff eagerly awaited their opportunity to pick, and when Florida superstar Jac Caglianone fell into their lap, he was left with no other choice.

The Caglianone pick was a complete change of pace and garnered so much excitement from Royals fans that many did not care about the rest of the draft. While many fans felt like the Royals “got their guy” and tuned out the rest of the draft, JJ Piccolo and Brian Bridges (Royals amateur scouting director) were still hard at work with 19 more picks to go over the next 36 hours. While many fans were celebrating the sixth pick, the Royals came up at pick 41, shocked that one of their favorite prep pitchers was right in front of them… David Shields.

Shields was a two-sport star, playing as both a football quarterback and a baseball pitcher at Mount Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania. When Shields started seeing he had MLB interest, he decided to give up football and reclassify into the 2024 class. A 17-year-old left-hander who was able to touch 95 and had a well-developed sense of control caught the attention of the Royals, who did not let him make it any further than pick 41.

Shields fell some in the draft due to a slow start to the 2024 season, but with a bounce back at the end of the year, Piccolo and Bridges were confident that they had gotten a star. Standing at 6’2”, 210 pounds, Shields had the build of an MLB starting pitcher and already had the power and command of someone well beyond his years. His solid sweeping slider showed signs of being a plus pitch, and he had developed a decent changeup that showed signs of being a plus pitch in the future.

The Royals let Shields go to development camps rather than pitching him in 2024, and this year, he made his professional debut. He has spent almost the entire season with Low A Colombia, where he has arguably been the best pitcher in the Carolina League this season.

Since the start of July, Shields has only allowed two earned runs in 28 innings and has not allowed a run in each of his last five starts. Overall, he has a 2.04 ERA in 15 starts and has put up 72 strikeouts vs. just 11 walks, showing an ability to attack hitters and be effective while staying in the zone. Shields’ dominance in his first professional season has been eye-popping and is even more impressive when you realize he has yet to turn 19 years old.

In nearly every facet of the game, Shields is well beyond his years and has shown an ability to do things that few teenagers are ever able to do on the mound. His fastball sits low to mid-90s, peaking at 95, with great carry, but normally sits closer to 92-93. He has a massive slider, which is a plus-plus pitch and has wreaked havoc on the Carolina League this year. He also has a changeup that has been a plus offering this year, especially when he can land it down and away against righties.

He has a high leg kick that some have compared to the likes of Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet, some of the best left-handers in baseball. Shields may not have the power fastball (yet), but mid-90s is a good spot for an 18-year-old prospect, and even if he does not add velocity, his deception and carry with the pitch will make him successful.

His command had some concerns when he was drafted, but he has flipped the script entirely and has proven he can locate each of his three offerings. His mentality on the mound is maybe the most impressive thing you will see from Shields. He never backs down from a hitter, he is not afraid to attack, and even when he does get in a pinch, he has shown an ability to execute his pitches with precision. His mentality is reminiscent of current Royals rookie Noah Cameron, whose composure has helped him become one of the best young pitchers in baseball.

Shields still has a ways to go, and it is fair to say you don’t want to jump to conclusions about an 18-year-old pitcher in Low-A ball. He still needs to refine his changeup, and adding a sinker or cutter to offset his fastball will later become a priority. But when you watch him pitch, it is hard not to get excited about what he will bring to the Royals in a few years.

With all that said, Shields has risen to the top of my board of pitching prospects in Kansas City, and with the Royals’ incredible development staff, it is only up from here. This offseason, there will be discussions about Shields being one of the 3 best prospects in the organization, and with how he is playing right now, it is hard to say otherwise.