Team to watch
Any team that got 2024 sixth overall pick Caglianone was going to command the industry’s attention, and that happens to be Double-A Northwest Arkansas. After making loud contact in Major League camp this spring, the former Florida star will set his sights on the Texas League and could take off now that he’s fully focused on hitting. He won’t be the only Top 100 prospect there, with backstop Jensen (a teammate in last year’s Arizona Fall League) bringing a well-rounded skillset to the Naturals. Five of Kansas City’s top seven prospects will be in Northwest Arkansas, with Kudrna, Cross and Zobac also in on the party, and even keep an eye on Nivens, who hit 13 homers in August alone last year with High-A Quad Cities. Players we could see in MLB in 202 5
If Caglianone’s power plays like it could, he may be a real possibility for Kansas City by the second half. The Royals have even been open to the possibility of him moving from first base to the outfield to ease his route to the bigs, so if you see him getting time on the grass, start getting excited. More immediate help might come in the form of pitching. Cameron posted a 2.32 ERA in nine Triple-A starts last year, and his above-average curveball, plus changeup and 55-grade control could play meaningful roles for KC when it’s in need of rotation help this summer. Avila was added to the 40-man roster in November, and his mid-90s fastball and low-80s curveball have already proven effective with Omaha. Cerantola was another 40-man add from the bullpen but was slowed this spring by back issues and an illness. He is close to rejoining Omaha after being built back up in Arizona, and his plus fastball-curveball combo could be useful for KC’s relief corps. New Faces
The Royals have a history of slow-rolling their high-school arms to begin their first full seasons, so it might be a bit until 2024 second-rounder Shields breaks out of the complex with Single-A Columbia. Meanwhile, third-rounder Beam has won even more fans in the organization this spring with his deep pitch mix, above-average control and history of winning from Tennessee. He begins his age-22 season at High-A. On the shelf
Mitchell suffered a broken right hamate bone in late February as a non-roster invitee in MLB camp and didn’t break with a club as he continues his recovery. Vaz fractured two fingers in his right hand in early March and similarly wasn’t assigned to a team out of the gate while he recovers. Langevin -- Kansas City’s fourth-rounder from last year out of Louisiana-Lafayette -- was placed on the 60-day injured list with a lat strain.
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Any team that got 2024 sixth overall pick Caglianone was going to command the industry’s attention, and that happens to be Double-A Northwest Arkansas. After making loud contact in Major League camp this spring, the former Florida star will set his sights on the Texas League and could take off now that he’s fully focused on hitting. He won’t be the only Top 100 prospect there, with backstop Jensen (a teammate in last year’s Arizona Fall League) bringing a well-rounded skillset to the Naturals. Five of Kansas City’s top seven prospects will be in Northwest Arkansas, with Kudrna, Cross and Zobac also in on the party, and even keep an eye on Nivens, who hit 13 homers in August alone last year with High-A Quad Cities. Players we could see in MLB in 202 5
If Caglianone’s power plays like it could, he may be a real possibility for Kansas City by the second half. The Royals have even been open to the possibility of him moving from first base to the outfield to ease his route to the bigs, so if you see him getting time on the grass, start getting excited. More immediate help might come in the form of pitching. Cameron posted a 2.32 ERA in nine Triple-A starts last year, and his above-average curveball, plus changeup and 55-grade control could play meaningful roles for KC when it’s in need of rotation help this summer. Avila was added to the 40-man roster in November, and his mid-90s fastball and low-80s curveball have already proven effective with Omaha. Cerantola was another 40-man add from the bullpen but was slowed this spring by back issues and an illness. He is close to rejoining Omaha after being built back up in Arizona, and his plus fastball-curveball combo could be useful for KC’s relief corps. New Faces
The Royals have a history of slow-rolling their high-school arms to begin their first full seasons, so it might be a bit until 2024 second-rounder Shields breaks out of the complex with Single-A Columbia. Meanwhile, third-rounder Beam has won even more fans in the organization this spring with his deep pitch mix, above-average control and history of winning from Tennessee. He begins his age-22 season at High-A. On the shelf
Mitchell suffered a broken right hamate bone in late February as a non-roster invitee in MLB camp and didn’t break with a club as he continues his recovery. Vaz fractured two fingers in his right hand in early March and similarly wasn’t assigned to a team out of the gate while he recovers. Langevin -- Kansas City’s fourth-rounder from last year out of Louisiana-Lafayette -- was placed on the 60-day injured list with a lat strain.
