Top Royals prospects took the field Friday. Here were the highlights & 3 observations
Kansas City Royals prospects took center stage Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Royals showcased most of their top-30 prospects in the second annual MLB Spring Breakout Game.
KC lost 5-2 against the Arizona minor-leaguers. But the Royals were able to give multiple prospects valuable experience. Top standouts Jac Caglianone (No. 1 in the Royals system), Carter Jensen (No. 3) and Noah Cameron (No. 5) headlined the exhibition roster.
Caglianone went 1-for-4. He recorded an RBI in the sixth inning and made a couple nice defensive plays. This spring, Caglianone has shined in big-league camp with three home runs in Cactus League play.
Cameron started the game and pitched three innings. He allowed two earned runs but featured his off-speed pitches. The Royals added Cameron to the 40-man roster this offseason and he could make his MLB debut in 2025.
Here are a few observations from the MLB Spring Breakout Game...
Royals use three pitchers
The Royals showcased Cameron alongside left-handed pitcher Frank Mozzicato and right-hander Luinder Avila. The trio each had bright moments, striking out a combined 10 batters.
The Diamondbacks collected 10 hits but there wasn’t much hard-hit contact. Arizona third baseman LuJames Groover accounted for much of the offense. He finished 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.
Cameron walked three batters as he settled into the game. He offset the walks with four strikeouts.
Avila broke a couple of bats in his relief appearance. He touched 97 mph with his fastball and was aggressive in the strike zone. In the fifth inning, Avila caught Diamondbacks prospect Ryan Waldschmidt looking with a 96.5 mph sinker.
Royals fans were excited to see Mozzicato in action. The 2021 first-round pick threw two innings Friday night. He sat between 92-94 mph with his fastball. A big question for his development will be maintaining velocity.
Mozzicato had a scoreless appearance. He recorded two strikeouts as he continues to progress in the Royals system.
Royals flash leather across the diamond
The Royals couldn’t quite find their offensive footing Friday. There were also some baserunning mistakes that proved costly.
Defensively, KC did produce some highlights. Royals outfielder Gavin Cross threw out Waldschmidt attempting to advance to third base. Cross gathered a line drive and fired a strike to third baseman Austin Charles for the outfield assist.
Later, shortstop Yandel Ricardo helped turn a nifty double play in the fourth inning. He ranged to his left and gathered a ground ball up the middle. He flipped to second baseman Daniel Vazquez to end the frame.
Caglianone added a defensive highlight. In the eighth inning, he ranged into shallow right field and hauled in an over-the-shoulder pop fly.
Daniel Vazquez turns in well-rounded performance
It seems like Daniel Vazquez is turning a corner. The talented shortstop made a few adjustments this offseason and it’s showing on the field.
Vazquez added two hits in Friday’s game. He showcased his speed with a triple down the right-field line in the sixth inning. Defensively, Vazquez played both second and short.
Multiple evaluators view Vazquez as a defense-first infielder. He spent the last three years with Single-A Columbia but has shown gradual improvement.
There is a chance for his power to develop as he gets older. But at 21 years old, Vazquez is trending in the right direction. Last fall, he hit .298 (14-for-55) and tallied seven walks to 13 strikeouts.
If those numbers are any indication, Vazquez could be ready to take the next step in his career with a chance to reach High-A Quad Cities in 2025.
This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM.
