Players
A.J. Causey
| A.J. Causey | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:November 19, 2002 Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Anthony Jordan Causey (born November 19,2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Causey attended Sparkman High School in Harvest,Alabama,where he played on the school's baseball team as a pitcher and infielder. [1] He earned All-State honors as a senior in 2021. [2] He went unselected in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at Jacksonville State University to play college baseball.
Causey played the 2022 and 2023 seasons with Jacksonville State,posting a 2.61 ERA as a reliever in 2022 and a 5.07 ERA as a starter in 2023. [3] In both the summers of 2022 and 2023,he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Falmouth Commodores. [4] [5] [6] After his sophomore season at Jacksonville State,he transferred to the University of Tennessee to play college baseball with the Tennessee Volunteers. [7] Over 19 apperances for Tennessee in 2024,Causey went 13-3 with a 4.43 ERA and 125 strikeouts over 91+1⁄3 innings, helping the Volunteers win the 2024 Men's College World Series. After the season, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. [8] [9] He signed with the team for $477,500. [10]
Causey made his professional debut in 2025 with the Quad Cities River Bandits. [11] In July, he was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. [12]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Eric Cerantola
| Eric Cerantola | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals – No. 87 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:May 2, 2000 Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left |
Eric Cerantola (born May 2,2000) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Cerantola was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 5th round,with the 139th overall selection,of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. [13] He made his professional debut with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Royals,posting a 5.71 ERA with 24 strikeoutsover 10 appearances. [14]
Cerantola split the 2022 campaign between the Single–A Columbia Fireflies and High–A Quad Cities River Bandits. In 10 starts split between the two affiliates,he posted a 1–3 record and 5.34 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 30+1⁄3 innings pitched. [15] Cerantola split 2023 between Quad Cities and the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals,accumulating a 3–4 record and 3.66 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 2 saves across 76+1⁄3 innings pitched. [16]
Cerantola split the 2024 campaign between Double–A Northwest Arkansas and the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers. In 37 total appearances for the two affiliates,he compiled a 3–4 record and 2.97 ERA with 101 strikeouts across 72+2⁄3 innings pitched. Following the season,the Royals added Cerantola to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. [17]
Cerantola was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2025 season. [18]
Chandler Champlain
| Chandler Champlain | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:July 23,1999 Mission Viejo,California,U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Chandler Jay Champlain (born July 23,1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
Champlain attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita,California. The Los Angeles Angels selected Champlain in the 38th round of the 2019 MLB draft,but he did not sign a contract with the Angels. [19] He enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. [20]
The New York Yankees selected Champlain in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB draft. [21] On July 27,2022,the Yankees traded Champlain,T. J. Sikkema,and Beck Way to the Kansas City Royals for Andrew Benintendi. [22]
Champlain's father,Jay,played for USC's football team as a wide receiver. His mother,Robyn,is a former competitive downhill skier. [23]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Kendry Chourio
| Kendry Chourio | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:October 1,2007 Maracaibo,Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Kendry Manuel Chourio (born October 1,2007) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Chourio signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in January 2025. [24] He made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Royals.
After five games he was promoted to the Arizona Complex League Royals. After three games he was promoted again,this time to the Columbia Fireflies. [25]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Ben Kudrna
| Ben Kudrna | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:January 30,2003 Shawnee Mission,Kansas | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Benjamin Michael Kudrna (born January 30,2003) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Kudrna grew up in Overland Park,Kansas and attended Blue Valley Southwest High School. As a senior,Kudrna was named the Gatorade Kansas Baseball Player of the Year and the Class 5A Pitcher of the Year after he went 9–1 on the mound with a 0.99 ERA and 100 strikeouts and 11 walks in 57+1⁄3 innings pitched. [26] Kudrna committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State prior to signing with the Royals. [27]
Kudrna was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals. [28] He signed with the team on July 19,2021,and received a $3 million signing bonus. [29] Kudrna began the 2022 season in extended spring training before being assigned to the Columbia Fireflies of the Single-A Carolina League. [30]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Hunter Owen
| Hunter Owen | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:January 30,2002 Portland,Maine | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left |
Hunter Scot Owen (born January 30,2002) is an American baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Owen attended South Portland High School in South Portland,Maine. [31] In 2019,he was named the Maine Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. [32]
After graduating in 2020,Owen enrolled at Vanderbilt University to play college baseball for the Commodores. In 2021 and 2022,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of Cape Cod Baseball League. [33] [34] As a junior in 2023,he started 12 games and went 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 64 innings while missing time due to fatigue and shoulder soreness. [35] After the season,he participated in the 2023 MLB Draft combine. [36] Owen was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft. [37] He signed with the team for $631,700. [38]
Owen made his professional debut in 2024 with the Quad Cities River Bandits,starting 22 games and going 6-7 with a 4.24 ERA and eighty strikeouts over 102 innings. [39] [40] He was assigned to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to open the 2025 season.
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Vanderbilt Commodores bio
David Shields
| David Shields | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:September 9,2006 Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania,U.S. | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Left |
David Shields (born September 9,2006) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Shields attended Mt. Lebanon High School in Mt. Lebanon,Pennsylvania,where he played on the school's baseball team as a pitcher and football team as a quarterback. [41] Originally set to graduate in 2025,he reclassified to the class of 2024. [42] In 2024,he went 5-1 with a 0.51 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 35 innings and was named the Gatorade Pennsylvania Baseball Player of the Year. [43] For his high school career,he compiled an 11-3 record,a 1.26 ERA,and 211 strikeouts. [44] Shields was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round with the 41st overall pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. [45] He signed with the team for $2.3 million,forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at the University of Miami. [46]
Shields was assigned to Kansas City's Spring Breakout roster during 2025 spring training. [47] He made his professional debut that year with the Arizona Complex League Royals. After one start,he was promoted to the Columbia Fireflies. [48]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Luca Tresh
| Luca Tresh | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:January 11,2000 Clearwater,Florida | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Luca Tresh (born January 11,2000) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Tresh attended Clearwater Central Catholic High School in Clearwater,Florida and played college baseball at NC State University. [49] He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. [50]
Tresh played his first professional season in 2021 with the Arizona Complex League Royals and Columbia Fireflies. After the season,he played in the Arizona Fall League. [51] He started 2022 with the Quad Cities River Bandits before his promotion to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. [52]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Javier Vaz
| Javier Vaz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kansas City Royals –No. 88 | |
| Outfielder / Second baseman | |
| Born:September 22,2000 Huntsville,Alabama,U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right |
Javier Rafael Vaz (born September 22,2000) is an American professional baseball outfielder and second baseman in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Vaz attended Huntsville High School in Huntsville,Alabama and played college baseball at Louisiana State University at Eunice before transferring to Vanderbilt University. [53] In 2022,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [54] Vaz was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 15th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. [55]
Vaz spent his first professional season with the Arizona Complex League Royals and Columbia Fireflies. He started 2023 with the Quad Cities River Bandits before his promotion to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. [56]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Beck Way
| Beck Way | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:August 6,1999 Harrisburg,Pennsylvania | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Beck Michael Way (born August 6,1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Way attended Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg,Pennsylvania and played college baseball at Belmont Abbey College and Northwest Florida State College. [57] In 2019,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [58] He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. [59]
Way played his first professional season in 2021 with the Tampa Tarpons and Hudson Valley Renegades. [60] [61] He started 2022 with Hudson Valley.
On July 27,2022,the Yankees traded Way,T. J. Sikkema,and Chandler Champlain to the Kansas City Royals for Andrew Benintendi. [62]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Henry Williams
| Henry Williams | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:September 18,2001 Darien,Connecticut | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Henry Alexander Williams (born September 18,2001) is an American baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Williams grew up in Darien,Connecticut and attended Darien High School,where he played baseball and basketball. [63]
Williams played college baseball for the Duke Blue Devils. As a sophomore he went 3–3 with a 3.65 ERA 45 strikeouts over 37 innings pitched before suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. [64] Williams underwent Tommy John surgery and missed both the rest of the season and all of his junior season. [65]
Williams was selected in the third round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres. [66] He signed with the team on July 27,2022,for an over-slot signing bonus of $800,000. [67] Williams was assigned to the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm in May 2023 to begin his professional career. [68]
Williams was traded along with Jesus Rios to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Scott Barlow on August 2,2023. [69] The Royals assigned him to the Columbia Fireflies of the Single-A Carolina League. [70]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Duke Blue Devils bio
Peyton Wilson
| Peyton Wilson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born:November 1,1999 Hoover,Alabama | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right |
Peyton Thomas Wilson (born November 1,1999) is an American baseball second baseman in the Kansas City Royals organization. He played college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Wilson grew up in Hoover,Alabama and attended Hoover High School. He committed to play college baseball at Alabama after his sophomore year. [71] Wilson also played football at Hoover until giving up the sport as a junior to focus on baseball. [72]
Wilson played both catcher and center field as a true freshman for the Alabama Crimson Tide and batted .333 over ten games before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He moved to second base as a sophomore and was named second team All-Southeastern Conference after batting .290 while leading the Crimson Tide with 72 hits and 46 runs scored while also hitting 13 doubles,a triple and nine home runs with 31 RBIs. [73]
Wilson was selected in the second round with the 66th overall pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals. [74] He signed with the team on July 24,2021,and received a $1,003,300 signing bonus. [75] [76] Wilson began his professional career with the Arizona Complex League Royals before being promoted to the Columbia Fireflies. [77] Wilson began the 2022 season on the injured list before being assigned to the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. [78]
Wilson's older brother,John Parker Wilson,played quarterback for Alabama and in the National Football League. Another brother,Ross,played baseball at Alabama and in the Chicago White Sox,Miami Marlins,and Atlanta Braves organizations. [79]
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Alabama Crimson Tide bio
Steven Zobac
| Steven Zobac | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:October 14,2000 San Jose,California,U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right |
Steven Reed Zobac (born October 14,2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Zobac attended Valley Christian High School in San Jose,California and played college baseball at the University of California,Berkeley,where he was a pitcher and outfielder. [80]
The Kansas City Royals selected Zobac in the fourth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. [81] He spent his first professional season in 2023 with the Columbia Fireflies and Quad Cities River Bandits. He started 2024 with Quad Cities and was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. [82] [83] The Royals named him their Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year. [84]
- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference (Minors)
