Royals

SportsBeat KC: Did Royals’ position on paying minor-leaguers help land top free agent?

Baylor’s Nick Loftin, the second 2020 draft pick for the Royals
Baylor’s Nick Loftin, the second 2020 draft pick for the Royals Instagram/nickloftin2

Baseball has wrapped up the strangest of drafts and begun an undrafted free-agent signing period over the past few days. And the Royals like where they stand. College pitching again was the emphasis, as three of their six drafted players and three of the undrafted free agents they signed were college pitchers.

Also, the Royals appeared to have benefited from their position, announced last month, that all of their minor-leaguers would be paid this year in spite of the COVID-19 shutdown. One undrafted free agent shares his story with Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy on this episode of The Star’s daily SportsBeat KC podcast.

Story links:

Asa Lacy, the Royals’ top draft pick, was dubbed a first rounder at the ripe old age of 8

Royals’ Whit Merrifield embraces potential return of baseball as MLB and MLBPA trade barbs

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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