{"id":2498671,"date":"2026-07-12T08:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2498671"},"modified":"2026-07-12T08:52:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:52:02","slug":"royals-take-prep-rhp-jack-slightom-56th-overall-in-mlb-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/royals-take-prep-rhp-jack-slightom-56th-overall-in-mlb-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Royals take prep RHP Jack Slightom 56th overall in MLB Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Kansas City Royals continue to reshape their pitching depth in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.<\/p>\n

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In the second round, the Royals took prep pitcher Jack Slightom<\/a> from Lyons Township High School in Willow Springs, Illinois. The 6-foot-5 right-hander is currently committed to the University of Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

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Slightom offers a projectable skill set. He has touched 98 mph with his fastball that also has some late carry in the strike zone. Additionally, Slightom has a slider and changeup in his arsenal that continues to develop.<\/p>\n

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The Royals can afford to take a chance on a high-school arm. Earlier in the draft, the club selected right-hander Taylor Rabe<\/a> in the Competitive Balance Round A.<\/p>\n

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Slightom could follow in the footsteps of Royals top prospect David Shields. In 2024, Shields was also taken in the second round<\/a>. He was originally committed to Miami but decided to join the Royals.<\/p>\n

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The Royals pick up RHP Jack Slightom in the second round of the MLB Draft \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n

Slightom has a starter look, keeping hitters off balance with a changeup that gets whiffs from both sides of the plate.<\/p>\n

The prep prospect touched 97 mph this year \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

(\ud83d\udcf8: Josh Nelson\/Sox Machine) pic.twitter.com\/SNvVozL6MP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

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In two seasons, Shields has grown into a high-caliber pitching prospect. There is a chance Slightom can do the same given his physical tools.<\/p>\n

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Slightom was a two-sport star. He was a high-school quarterback that led Lyons Township to the Class 8-A state playoffs. When he gets into the Royals\u2019s system, he will get a chance to focus purely on baseball going forward.<\/p>\n

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And the Royals hope it will unlock his full potential.<\/p>\n

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Slightom posted a 7-0 record with an 0.38 ERA in eight games as a senior. He posted 73 strikeouts and registered seven walks in 37 and 1\/3 innings, per MaxPreps.<\/p>\n

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The Royals now have a trio of teenage pitchers in their system. Slightom joins Shields and Kendry Chourio as high-upside prospects on the rise.<\/p>\n

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Chourio will pitch in the All-Star Futures Game<\/a> on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

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The Royals have selected three players in the 2026 MLB Draft so far. The club took University of Louisville outfielder Zion Rose<\/a> with the sixth overall pick. Then, KC drafted Rabe with the 30th selection.<\/p>\n

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This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 4:44 PM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Related Stories from Kansas City Star<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jaylon Thompson<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Kansas City Star<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jaylon Thompson covers the Royals for The Kansas City Star. He previously covered the 2021 World Series and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n