How will the Royals attack 2026 MLB Draft? A look at some potential targets
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals pick sixth overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, held July 11, 2026.
- KC’s director of amateur scouting, Brian Bridges, prioritizes ability and makeup.
- Team may consider high-school arms, college hitters or an underslot strategy.
The Kansas City Royals can add a blue-chip prospect to their organizational system in a couple of weeks.
The Royals will pick sixth in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft — which is a two-day event beginning July 11. It’s an advantageous spot considering the club made a significant leap during the MLB Draft Lottery last December.
KC jumped 10 spots to procure the sixth selection. Now, the Royals can redefine their future with more young talent.
In recent years, the Royals have selected well inside the top 10. The club drafted Jac Caglianone in 2024 (also sixth overall) and Bobby Witt Jr. (second overall) in 2019.
Caglianone has quickly emerged as a future star. And Witt is already among the best players in franchise history.
The Royals have a chance to hit on another star. It’s why director of amateur scouting Brian Bridges is exploring different scenarios leading into the MLB Draft.
“We’re obviously trying to build this thing and it’s taken time because it’s from the ground up,” Bridges told The Star. “But nothing’s off the table, absolutely.”
The Royals could look to improve their offense. In the last four years, the club has taken five position players in the first round. The group included outfielder Gavin Cross, catcher Blake Mitchell, Caglianone, Sean Gamble (infield/outfielder) and Josh Hammond (infielder).
The last first-round pitcher — excluding Caglianone, who did pitch some in college — was left-hander Frank Mozzicato in 2021.
The Royals have struggled to hit on first-round pitchers. Mozzicato owns an 8.39 ERA with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Other notable first-rounders include Asa Lacy, Jackson Kowar, Brady Singer, Daniel Lynch IV and Kris Bubic.
Only Lynch and Bubic remain on the 40-man roster. However, Bridges isn’t afraid to consider a high-level pitching prospect, if available.
It’s the same mindset he had when the Royals selected Caglianone as a two-way player out of the University of Florida.
“You can’t walk by the obvious when you have someone like that,” Bridges said.
So how will the Royals attack the 2026 MLB Draft? Well, Bridges has a checklist that he considers with any potential selection.
“Ability that separates player A from player B,” Bridges said, “and makeup.”
Bridges said he’ll consider the best player available. It doesn’t matter which position as the club can ultimately figure it out in the minors.
“We’re always looking for championship bats,” Bridges said. “Athletes, guys that can play the game, and we’re always looking for difference-making bats.”
The 2026 draft class features a core of top position players. Eight of the consensus top-10 prospects field spots across the diamond. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is considered to go first overall by many MLB Draft evaluators.
Other names in the discussion include high-school shortstop Grady Emerson (Fort Worth Christian High School), catcher Vahn Lackey (Georgia Tech) and right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora (UC Santa Barbara).
It’s possible all four players are gone when the Royals are on the clock. This opens the door for Bridges to explore the next tier of prospects.
A few guys to monitor include: shortstop Jacob Lombard (Gulliver Prep HS), outfielder Eric Booth Jr. (Oak Grove HS) and outfielder Drew Burress (Georgia Tech) among others.
“You know, like a lot of classes, there’s some really good college hitters,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “There’s some depth in the high-school pitching. ... But when you look, there’s a good collection of college hitters. There’s a solid group of college pitchers. And there’s always some high-end high school kids.”
The Royals could also decide to operate with an underslot selection. That gives the club more flexibility to potentially select higher-upside players later in the MLB Draft.
“I always have that in my mind,” Bridges said.
As constructed, the Royals have additional picks at No. 30 (Competitive Balance Round A), No. 56 (Second Round), No. 91 (Third Round), No. 119 (Fourth Round) and No. 151 (Fifth Round) before finishing out the remaining 20-round draft.
How the Royals evaluate No. 6 and No. 30 will define their draft process.
Some notable names that could be available in the Competitive Balance Round A include: RHP Coleman Borthwick (South Walton HS, Florida), third baseman Bo Lawrence (Christ Church Episcopal, South Carolina) and LHP Mason Edwards (South Carolina).
The Royals still have time to construct their final draft board. As recent history suggests, the club values high-upside athletes who complement their desire for baseball IQ and defense.
On the pitching side, the club values prospects with projectable traits. In recent years, the club has fast-tracked some guys, such as 2025 selection Justin Lamkin, and traded others.
“The strength is probably the depth of the high-school arms,” Picollo said. “And then, there’s some college hitters at the top.”
The 2026 MLB Draft is considered a bit top-heavy with true future stars. Still, the Royals are in a strong position to acquire a talented player who can help down the line.
“I’m really trying to take the best players that we can for the organization,” Bridges said.
Here are a few prospects who could make sense for the Royals:
SS Jacob Lombard (Gulliver Prep | Pinecrest, Florida)
Jacob Lombard has an MLB pedigree as the son of former MLB standout George Lombard. His brother, George Jr., is also a top prospect in the New York Yankees organization.
Jacob offers an intriguing skill set. He has elite 6-foot-3 size at the shortstop position and power that should translate from the right side. This season, he hit .477 with 10 home runs, 42 hits and 25 RBIs.
Additionally, he worked out with Witt alongside Team USA in the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic.
OF Eric Booth Jr. (Oak Grove HS | Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
Booth checks all the boxes with elite athleticism. He offers track speed and an improving offensive game as a 17-year-old prospect.
This season, Booth hit .481 with 37 hits, 31 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. And defensively, he logged a 1.000 fielding percentage and three outfield assists.
There are still some areas that need developing — mainly his arm strength and overall power — but he has difference-making speed that could appeal to the Royals.
LHP Gio Rojas (Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS | Parkland, Florida)
If you are looking for a guy with transferable traits, Rojas is among the top prospects with a higher projectable ceiling. The 6-foot-4 left-hander posted 11 wins and a 0.58 ERA as a senior this season.
Additionally, Rojas hit .312 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. However, teams want him on the mound and he has the skillset to be the best prep pitcher available. Rojas possesses an upper-90s fastball alongside a sweeping slider and curveball.
Given the Royals’ recent success with prep starters — such as top pitching prospect LHP David Shields — it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rojas in the mix at sixth overall.
LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger (Huntington Beach HS | Huntington Beach, California)
The Royals could play the long game here. Grindlinger is a 17-year-old prospect but offers a lot of promise down the line.
There are a lot of projectable traits. Grindlinger can touch the upper 90s with his fastball and has a kick-changeup. Additionally, teams will want Grindlinger to develop his slider moving forward.
Grindlinger also features as a two-way player. He is more advanced as a pitcher — at the moment — but did produce well at the plate. This season, Grindlinger hit .376 with 41 hits, 22 RBIs and a .560 slugging percentage.
The Royals could go underslot with Grindlinger. He has shot up MLB Draft boards in recent weeks and could be an intriguing selection at sixth overall.
