Royals Top 10 Prospects For 2026

Today, we're unveiling the 10 best prospects in the Royals system entering 2026.

The top of the Royals system is headlined by Carter Jensen, a power-hitting catcher who turned enough heads in his MLB callup this past season to raise the stakes for a bigger role in 2026.

Baseball America correspondent Bill Mitchell is hosting a chat at 2 p.m. ET to discuss Jensen and the overall state of Kansas City's farm system.

Projected 2029 Royals Lineup

Catcher: Blake Mitchell (24)
First Base: Jac Caglianone (26)
Second Base: Josh Hammond (22)
Third Base: Maikel Garcia (29)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. (29)
Left Field: Carter Jensen (26)
Center Field: Carson Roccaforte (27)
Right Field: Sean Gamble (23)
Designated Hitter: Vinnie Pasquantino (31)

No. 1 Starter: Cole Ragans (31)
No. 2 Starter: Noah Cameron (30)
No. 3 Starter: David Shields (22)
No. 4 Starter: Kendry Chourio (21)
No. 5 Starter: Drew Beam (26)
Closer: Lucas Erceg (34)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Kansas City's Top 10, click here.

Royals Best Tools

Best Hitter: Carter Jensen
Best Power Hitter: Carter Jensen
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Blake Mitchell
Fastest Baserunner: Asbel Gonzalez
Best Athlete: Sean Gamble
Best Fastball: Dennis Colleran
Best Curveball: Luinder Avila
Best Slider: Steven Zobac
Best Changeup: Kendry Chourio
Best Control: David Shields
Best Defensive Catcher: Blake Mitchell
Best Defensive Infielder: Josh Hammond
Best Infield Arm: Josh Hammond
Best Defensive Outfielder: Carson Roccaforte
Best Outfield Arm: Henry Ramos

MLB Draft Lottery: Everything To Know

Each December, the MLB draft lottery is a must-see event for baseball fans.

After the initial draft lottery saw the No. 1 overall pick go to the team with the best odds (2023 Pirates), we've had back-to-back years with drawings resulting in upsets (2024 Guardians and 2025 Nationals). Will the lottery drawing for the 2026 draft have more surprises in store?

Here's everything to know.

When Is The MLB Draft Lottery?

This year's draft lottery is set to take place during the Winter Meetings in Orlando on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

How To Stream The 2026 MLB Draft Lottery?

The event will be broadcast on MLB Network and streamed live on MLB.com.

Which Teams Have The Best Odds?

After being ineligible for a lottery pick last year (more on this below), the White Sox come into the draft with the best odds for landing the 1-1 pick at 27.73%. The Twins have the second-best odds at 22.18% and the Pirates are third at 16.81%. The Astros have the lowest odds at just 0.34%.

You can find the complete odds here.

Why Aren't The Rockies, Nationals & Angels Included In The Lottery?

Here’s the full breakdown.

Who Are The Top Prospects Available For The 2026 Draft?

In October, Baseball America published its latest ranking of the top 100 draft prospects for 2026. The list is topped by UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who's continued to hold the No. 1 spot as one of the best college shortstop prospects we’ve seen in years.

Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson ranks second in the class and appears to be the clear leader in the prep ranks thanks to a polished hit tool and a solid toolset beyond it. 

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