Meet the Royals’ left-handed pitching prospect skyrocketing through the minors
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Justin Lamkin starred at Texas A&M and was drafted by the Royals in 2025 after college.
- Lamkin advanced rapidly through the minors and has reached Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
- Lamkin features a 91-93 mph fastball with four developing pitches, including a slider.
Justin Lamkin still remembers his prep days at Calallen High School. It was the place where he first met with Kansas City Royals scouts.
The Royals had interest in the Corpus Christi, Texas native. And there were a lot of positives around the 6-foot-4, 210-pound southpaw.
At times, Lamkin was dominant on the mound. He threw two no-hitters as a high school junior and finished with an 11-0 record. Opponents couldn’t touch his fastball as he posted an 0.76 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 83 ⅔ innings.
And as a senior, Lamkin was an out away from history. He threw a complete-game no hitter against Kerrville Tivy in a tournament game. It was a sensational performance where he recorded 21 of 22 outs via strikeout.
The special night drew national attention. MLB Network interviewed Lamkin after his start, and it generated momentum for his future.
“I definitely remember that game,” Lamkin said. “That was definitely one of my favorites of my career so far.”
Lamkin, 21, committed to Texas A&M after graduating from high school. He played three seasons with the Aggies before the Royals selected him in the Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall) in the 2025 MLB Draft.
The Royals acted on their previous interest. Lamkin developed four projectable pitches and had the makeup that impressed Royals scouting director Brian Bridges and others.
The decision has paid off. Lamkin has skyrocketed through the Royals’ minor-league system and recently made it to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
And it’s right where he wants to be.
“It’s been a lot of fun so far,” Lamkin said. “I’ve really enjoyed it. You know, getting to play straight out (of college) in High-A was pretty cool, and got to learn a lot there. And then getting promoted to Double-A about a month in is really cool.”
Breaking down his skillset
So, what makes Lamkin so impressive?
Well, the Royals like his mental makeup and physical presence on the mound.
Lamkin has a deceptive delivery. It’s a crossfire action with a little hitch that helps him hide his pitches during his windup. His fastball sits at 91-93 mph and can play up deeper into games.
He also has a gyro slider, changeup and curveball. Those pitches have gotten better under the tutelage of Royals senior director of pitching performance Paul Gibson.
“I think the slider is better than we originally got him late last summer,” Gibson said. “I think a lot of that has to do with the preparation and taking care of business in the weight room and arm care. But the breaking ball has definitely been a big weapon for him aside from the command of all four pitches.”
Lamkin has showcased all four pitches this season. He posted a 1.27 ERA in six starts with High-A Quad Cities before being promoted. Now in Double-A, Lamkin has a 3.97 ERA in 11 ⅓ innings.
In a recent start, Lamkin allowed one run and struck out eight against the Amarillo Sod Poodles — an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate. It was an efficient start where he threw 52 of 73 pitches for strikes.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned so far is just, you know, how to read some hitters and how to game plan before a start,” Lamkin said. “In college, I never really did any of that. It was kind of all on the coaches to set everything up and call the game for you. So I think being able to learn that right away and get a better feel for that has helped. And it’s why I’ve had the success that I’ve had so far.”
The Royals are optimistic Lamkin can keep things rolling. He grew up a big fan of former three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. He also profiles similarly to Royals lefty starter Kris Bubic.
“There’s a lot of similarities in the makeup, work ethic, deception and delivery,” Gibson said of the Bubic comparison. “... I think in my mind there’s a lot of similarities in what Kris Bubic did in college, in what he looks like on the mound and how he goes about his business.”
A learning experience
Lamkin continues to get better with each start. It’s a learning curve to pitch every fifth day, and he is thankful for the support of the organization.
In spring training, he watched closely as the Royals’ vets prepared for the upcoming season. And one major takeaway was the importance of arm care.
Specifically, he’s learned that if he can repeat his process, it will help him stay consistent.
“It’s very different and something I kind of learned in spring training,” Lamkin said. “Glad we get to go through spring training because you get to go through those reps.”
Lamkin is destined to keep climbing the organizational ranks. He will likely remain in Double-A for the remainder of the season. From there, he could put himself in a position to be ready for Kansas City in the next few years.
It’s a goal he keeps at the forefront of his mind. The Royals believe in him, and he’s found himself getting more comfortable in the organization.
“It’s just another learning step that’s part of the process,” Lamkin said. “You know, the end goal for me is wanting to be a big leaguer, so I think this is just another step in the right direction.”
