Below is a partial list of minor league

baseball player Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding te ...

s in the Kansas City Royals system.

Players

CJ Alexander

Charles Joseph Wesley Alexander (born July 17, 1996) is an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...

third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...

for the Kansas City Royals organization. Alexander attended

Bishop Verot High School Bishop Verot High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Fort Myers, Florida. It is located in the Diocese of Venice, Florida. History Bishop Verot Catholic High School was established in 1962 as Fort Myers Central Catholic High Scho ...

in Fort Myers, Florida. He signed a National Letter of Intent with Ball State University to play

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...

for the

Ball State Cardinals The Ball State Cardinals are the athletic teams that represent Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana. The Cardinals are part of the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. Charlie Cardinal is the team mascot. The Ball State Uni ...

. He transferred to the

State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota (SCF) is a public college with campuses in the Manatee and Sarasota counties of Florida. Part of the Florida College System, it is designated a "state college" because it offers a greater number of ba ...

before committing to transfer to the

University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university whose main campus is in unincorporated Orange County, Florida. UCF also has nine smaller regional campuses throughout central Florida. It is part of the State University ...

. The

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...

selected Alexander in the 20th round of the 2018 MLB draft. On July 11, 2022, the Braves traded Alexander, Drew Waters, and Andrew Hoffmann to the Kansas City Royals for the 35th overall selection of the 2022 MLB draft. Alexander's brother, Blaze, is also a baseball player.

Tucker Bradley

Tucker Wade Bradley (born May 6, 1998) is an American

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to c ...

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Bradley attended Gordon Lee High School in

Chickamauga, Georgia Chickamauga is a city in Walker County, Georgia, Walker County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. The population was 2,917 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee, TN–GA Chattanooga metropo ...

. As a senior in 2016, he batted .552 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and 12 doubles alongside pitching to a 1.12 ERA over fifty innings and was named the Walker County Player of the Year. He signed to play

at Auburn University, but later switched his commitment to the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

. As a freshman at Georgia in 2017, Bradley started 41 games and hit .314 with ten RBIs. For the 2018 season, he started 53 games and batted .300 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. He played three games in 2019 before injuring his shoulder and missing the remainder of the season. Bradley played 18 games in 2020 in which he batted .397 with six home runs and 23 RBIs before the season was cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. He went unselected in the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball draft and signed with the Kansas City Royals as an undrafted free agent. Bradley made his professional debut in 2021 with the

Columbia Fireflies The Columbia Fireflies are a Minor League Baseball team based in Columbia, South Carolina, and are the Single-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. Their home stadium is Segra Park. The team was previously known as the ...

and was promoted to the

Quad Cities River Bandits The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, o ...

in mid-May. Over 94 games, he batted .285 with six home runs, 45 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. He played the 2022 season with the

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, whic ...

. Over 110 games, he slashed .293/.382/.455 with 12 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases.
Georgia Bulldogs bio

Jonathan Bowlan

Jonathan Bowlan (born December 1, 1996) is an American

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Bowlan attended Bartlett High School in

Bartlett, Tennessee Bartlett is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 57,786 at the 2020 U.S. Census. History Bartlett, originally called "Union Depot", first served as the last major Tennessean depot along the westward stagecoach rou ...

and played

at the

University of Memphis } The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The university maintains the Herff College of Engineering, the Center for Ea ...

. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Bowlan made his professional debut with the

Idaho Falls Chukars The Idaho Falls Chukars are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and play their home games at Melaleuca ...

, going 1-4 with a 6.94 ERA over 35 innings. He started 2019 with the

Lexington Legends The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball. The Legends ha ...

and was promoted to the

Wilmington Blue Rocks The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. ...

during the season. Pitching for Wilmington in July, he threw a no-hitter against the

Carolina Mudcats The Carolina Mudcats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Zebulon, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, and play their home games at Five County Stadium. ...

. Over 26 games (23 starts) between the two teams, Bowlan went 11-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 146 innings. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season, and appeared in only four games in 2021 due undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. Bowlan was added to the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.

Chandler Champlain

Chandler Jay Champlain (born July 23, 1999) is an American

for the Kansas City Royals. Champlain attended

Santa Margarita Catholic High School Santa Margarita Catholic High School (SMCHS) is a coeducational college preparatory Roman Catholic high school located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, United States. SMCHS is owned and operated by the Diocese of Orange, and was opened in ...

Rancho Santa Margarita, California Rancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California, United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master-planned community. The population was 47,853 at the 2010 census, up from 47,214 at the 2000 ...

. The

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...

selected Champlain in the 38th round of the

2019 MLB draft The 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft was held from June 3 to 5, 2019. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2018 MLB season standings. In additi ...

, but he did not sign a contract with the Angels. He enrolled at the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

(USC) and played

for the

USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Southern California (USC), located in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the ''Trojans'', the women's athletic teams are referred ...

. The

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...

selected Champlain in the ninth round of the

2021 MLB draft The 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft took place on July 11–13, 2021. In conjunction with the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the draft was held in Denver. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The ...

. On July 27, 2022, the Yankees traded Champlain, T. J. Sikkema, and Beck Way to the Kansas City Royals for Andrew Benintendi. Champlain's father, Jay, played for USC's football team as a wide receiver, and his mother Robyn, is a former competitive downhill skier.

Austin Cox

Austin Cox (born March 28, 1997) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Cox attended

First Presbyterian Day School First Presbyterian Day School (FPD) is a private, college-preparatory Christian day school in Macon, Georgia, United States. FPD was founded in 1970 by Macon's First Presbyterian Church and has been described at the time of its founding as a se ...

in Macon, Georgia, where he played

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

and football. For his high school career, he went 15–6 with a 2.19 ERA. Undrafted in the

2015 Major League Baseball draft The 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft was held from June 8 through June 10, 2015, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2014 MLB season standings. As the Diamondbacks f ...

, he fulfilled his commitment to play

Mercer University Mercer University is a private research university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia. Founded in 1833 as Mercer Institute and gaining university status in 1837, it is the oldest private university in the state and enrolls more than 9,000 s ...

. In 2016, Cox's freshman year at Mercer, he pitched 24 innings, compiling a 2–2 record and a 10.13 ERA. As a sophomore in 2016, he started 15 games, going 4–2 with a 5.69 ERA. In 2018, his junior season, he was named Mercer's Friday night starter. Over 17 starts, Cox pitched to a 7–4 record with a 4.52 ERA, striking out 124 batters over innings. After the season, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Cox signed with the Royals and made his professional debut with the

Burlington Royals The Burlington Royals were a minor league baseball team in Burlington, North Carolina, United States. They were a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians from 1986 to 2006 as the Burlington I ...

of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, pitching to a 1–1 record and a 3.78 ERA over nine starts. In 2019, he began the year with the

of the Class A

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...

, with whom he was named an All-Star alongside earning Pitcher of the Week honors in early June. He was promoted to the

of the

Class A-Advanced High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...

in June, and finished the season there. Over 24 games (23 starts) between the two teams, he went 8–6 with a 2.76 ERA, compiling 129 strikeouts and 38 walks over innings. He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the

. To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the

of the

Double-A Central The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

, and was promoted to the

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, and play their home games at We ...

of the

Triple-A East The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

in late September. Over 17 games (16 starts) between the two clubs, Cox went 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 63 innings. He returned to Omaha for the 2022 season. Over 29 games (24 starts), he went 7-7 with a 4.21 ERA and 105 strikeouts over innings.

Clay Dungan

Anthony Clay Dungan (born June 2, 1996) is an American

infielder in the Kansas City Royals organization. Dungan attended Yorktown High School in

Yorktown, Indiana Yorktown is a town in Mount Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,548 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Geography According to the 2010 census, Yorktown ...

, where played baseball. He batted .488 with 13 steals as a senior in 2015. After graduating, he enrolled at

Indiana State University Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was founded in 1865 and offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 75 graduate and professional programs. Indiana State is classified among "D/PU: Doctor ...

where he played

and batted .305 with nine home runs, 38 RBIs, and ten doubles over 61 starts as a senior in 2019. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the ninth round of the

2019 Major League Baseball draft The 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft was held from June 3 to 5, 2019. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2018 MLB season standings. In additi ...

. Dungan signed with the Royals and made his professional debut with the

with whom he was named an All-Star. Over 65 games, he hit .357 with two home runs, 38 RBIs, and 19 doubles. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season. In 2021, he played with the

and slashed .288/.357/.405 with nine home runs, 56 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases over 108 games. He was assigned to the

for the 2022 season. Over 127 games, he compiled a .208/.294/.334 slash line with nine home runs, 52 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.
Indiana State Sycamores bio

Josh Dye

Joshua Dye (born September 14, 1996) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Dye attended

DeLand High School DeLand High School is a public high school in DeLand, Florida, established in 1922, with an enrollment of 3,616 students, a student/teacher ratio of 16.5, and a graduation rate above 90%. Special programs International Baccalaureate DeLand Hig ...

DeLand, Florida DeLand is a city in central Florida. It is the county seat of Volusia County. The city sits approximately north of the central business district of Orlando, and approximately west of the central business district of Daytona Beach. As of the 2020 ...

, where he helps guide the Bulldogs to the Class 8A semifinals as a senior in 2014. He went unselected in the

2014 Major League Baseball draft The 2014 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June ...

and enrolled at

Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the ...

where he played

. He underwent elbow surgery after his freshman year in 2015, where he posted a 3.70 ERA over innings. After not pitching in 2016, he returned from the injury in 2017, starting 16 games and going 8-5 with a 3.23 ERA and 76 strikeouts over innings. For the 2018 season, he started 14 games and went 8-4 with a 2.40 ERA. Following the season's end, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 23rd round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Dye signed with the Royals for $60,000, and made his professional debut with the

before he was promoted to the

. Over 12 games (eight starts) between the two teams, he went 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA and forty strikeouts over innings. Dye split the 2019 season between the

and Wilmington and went 5-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 81 strikeouts over innings pitched in relief. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season. He split the 2021 season between the

and the

, making forty relief appearances and compiling a 4-2 record, a 2.60 ERA, and 73 strikeouts over innings between the two teams. He returned to Omaha for the 2022 season. Over 48 games (six starts), he went 5-3 with a 4.48 ERA and 58 strikeouts over innings.
Florida Gulf Coast bio

Tyler Gentry

Tyler Jackson Gentry (born February 1, 1999) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Gentry attended Arlington High School in

Arlington, Tennessee Arlington is a town in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,569 at the 2000 census, 11,517 at the 2010 census, and 14,549 at the 2020 Census. From 2010 until 2020 the town's population grew by 26.326%. It is one of the se ...

, where he played baseball. As a junior in 2016, he batted .341 with 33 RBIs. As a senior in 2017, he earned all-state honors. He went unselected in the

2017 Major League Baseball draft The 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft began on June 12, 2017. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first 36 picks, including the first round and compensatory picks, were broadcast on MLB Network on J ...

, and enrolled at

Walters State Community College Walters State Community College (abbreviated as WSCC, and commonly known as Walters State) is a public community college based in Morristown, Tennessee. It was founded in 1970 and is operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The college was ...

where he played one season of

. During Gentry's first and only season at Walters State in 2018, he batted .379 with 18 home runs over 64 games. Following the season's end, he transferred to the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the publi ...

where he played for the

Alabama Crimson Tide baseball The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Alabama athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. ...

team. Over 56 games in 2019 with the Crimson Tide, Gentry hit .310 with a team-high 13 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 37 runs scored. That summer, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the

Brewster Whitecaps The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Whitecaps play their home games at Stony Bro ...

where he was named a league all-star. During his junior season in 2020, he batted .429 over 17 games before the season was cancelled due to the

. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the third round with the 76th overall selection of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. He signed for $750,000. Gentry made his professional debut in 2021 with the

. His season ended in mid-July due to knee injuries. Over 44 games prior to the injury, he batted .259 with six home runs and 28 RBIs. He opened the 2022 season with Quad Cities and was promoted to the

in early June. Over 108 games between the two teams, he slashed .326/.422/.542 with 21 home runs, 86 RBIs, 22 doubles, and ten stolen bases. He was selected to play in the

Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are fille ...

for the

Surprise Saguaros The Surprise Saguaros are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Surprise, Arizona, at Surprise Stadium. The ballpark is also the spring training facility of the Kansas City Royals ...

after the season.
Alabama Crimson Tide bio

Robbie Glendinning

Robert Glendinning (born 6 October 1995) is an Australian

for the Kansas City Royals organization. Glendinning is from

Scarborough, Western Australia Scarborough is a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located approximately 14 km northwest of the city centre in the City of Stirling local government area. Located along the coast of the Indian Ocean, it was named after the Engli ...

. He enrolled at

North Iowa Area Community College North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is a public community college in Mason City, Iowa. History NIACC began as Mason City Junior College in 1918, becoming the first public two-year college in Iowa. The college was located in the high school ...

and played

there for two seasons. He transferred to the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU was founded in ...

and continued his college baseball career with the

Missouri Tigers The Missouri Tigers intercollegiate athletics programs represent the University of Missouri, located in Columbia. The name comes from a band of armed Union Home Guards called the Fighting Tigers of Columbia who, in 1864, protected Columbia fro ...

. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the

Wareham Gatemen The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Gatemen play their home games at Clem Spillane Fie ...

of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Glendinning in the 21st round, with the 628th overall selection, of the

. He did not play in the United States in 2020 after the season was cancelled due to the

, but played for the

Perth Heat The Perth Heat is a baseball team in the current Australian Baseball League and a foundation member of the Australian Baseball League. It is now the most successful team in ABL, winning 15 Claxton Shields. Australian Baseball League (1989–19 ...

in the 2020-21

Australian Baseball League The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it ...

season. Glendinning became a free agent after the 2021 season, and he signed with the Kansas City Royals. Glendinning's brother, Cameron, played college baseball for the

University of New Orleans The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a member of the University of Louisiana System and the Urban 13 association. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High rese ...

Diego Hernández

Diego Hernández (born November 21, 2000) is a Dominican professional

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Hernández signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in July 2017. He made his professional debut in 2018 with the Dominican Summer League Royals. The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2022 season.

Andrew Hoffmann

Andrew Michael Hoffmann (born February 2, 2000) is an American professional

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Hoffman attended Plainfield East High School in

Plainfield, Illinois Plainfield is a village in Will and Kendall counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 44,762 at the 2020 census. The village includes land in Will County's Plainfield and Wheatland townships, as well as Na-Au-Say and Oswego tow ...

and played

at Oakland University,

John A. Logan College John A. Logan College is a public community college in Carterville, Illinois. It is part of the Illinois Community College System. As of 2016, it had a total enrollment of 4,424 students: 1,990 full- and 2,434 part-time.University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Univers ...

. He was drafted by the

in the 12th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. Hoffman made his professional debut with the

Augusta GreenJackets The Augusta GreenJackets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at SRP Park in North Augusta, South Carolina, which opened in April 2018. They previo ...

and started 2022 with the

Rome Braves The Rome Braves are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They are located in Rome, Georgia, and play their home games at AdventHealth Stadium. From 2003 to 2020, the team serve ...

. On July 11, 2022, the Braves traded Hoffmann, Drew Waters, and CJ Alexander to the Kansas City Royals for the 35th overall selection of the 2022 MLB draft.

Will Klein

William Boone Klein (born November 28, 1999) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Klein attended

Bloomington High School North Bloomington High School North (often referred to as BHSN or simply North) opened in the fall of 1972, is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in the northern part of Bloomington, Indiana, United States. The school is accredited by ...

Bloomington, Indiana Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the central region of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is the seventh-largest city in Indiana and the fourth-largest outside the Indianapolis metropolitan area. According to the Mo ...

. As a senior in 2017, he pitched only innings after breaking his thumb, but still struck out thirty batters and compiled a 1.98 ERA. Unselected in the

, he enrolled at Eastern Illinois University where he posted a 6.62 ERA over innings as a freshman, a 5.11 ERA over innings as a sophomore, and a 3.33 ERA with 33 strikeouts as a junior in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the

. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round with the 135th overall pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. He signed for $200,000. Klein made his professional debut in 2021 with the

of the

High-A Central The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

. Over 36 relief appearances, he went 7-1 with a 3.20 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and 44 walks over innings pitched. MLB Pipeline named Klein the Royals' Pitching Prospect of the Year following the season's end. He missed the beginning of the 2022 season due to

shin splints A shin splint, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, is pain along the inside edge of the shinbone (tibia) due to inflammation of tissue in the area. Generally this is between the middle of the lower leg and the ankle. The pain may be dull ...

. He returned to play in mid-May with the

of the Double-A

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

as a member of their starting rotation, but was later moved to the bullpen. Over thirty games (three starts), he went 1-1 with a 10.51 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 51 walks over innings.
Eastern Illinois bio

Ben Kudrna

Benjamin Michael Kudrna (born January 30, 2003) is an American professional

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Kudrna grew up in

Overland Park, Kansas Overland Park ( ) is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas. Located in Johnson County, Kansas, it is one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the most populous suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As ...

and attended

Blue Valley Southwest High School Blue Valley Southwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Overland Park, Kansas, United States, and one of five currently operated high schools in the Blue Valley USD 229 school district. The school opened in August 20 ...

. As a senior, Kudrna was named the Gatorade Kansas Baseball Player of the Year and the Class 5A Pitcher of the Year after he went 9-1 on the mound with a 0.99 ERA and 100 strikeouts and 11 walks in innings pitched. Kudrna committed to play

at Louisiana State prior to signing with the Royals. Kudrna was selected in the 2nd round of the

by the Kansas City Royals. He signed with the team on July 19, 2021, and received a $3 million signing bonus. Kudrna began the 2022 season in extended spring training before being assigned to the

of the

Single-A Class A, also known as Single-A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams classified at the Single-A level, one for each ...

Alec Marsh

Alec Tylar Michael Marsh (born May 14, 1998) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Marsh was born and grew up in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

and attended Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School. Marsh played college baseball for the

Arizona State Sun Devils The Arizona State Sun Devils are the athletic teams that represent Arizona State University. ASU has nine men's and eleven women's varsity teams competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member ...

for three seasons. As a freshman, he appeared in 11 games with one start and had an 8.14 ERA. In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the

Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox The Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox, or Y-D Red Sox, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Red Sox play thei ...

of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Marsh became a starter during his sophomore season and went 3-3 with a 3.89 ERA. He was named first team All- Pac-12 Conference after going 9-4 over 17 starts with a 3.46 ERA on the mound and 99 strikeouts in innings pitched. Marsh was selected in the Competitive Balance section of second round of the

by the Kansas City Royals. He signed with the team he was assigned to the

of the Pioneer League, where he started 13 games and posted a 4.05 ERA in innings pitched. After the 2020 minor league season was canceled, Marsh played in the temporary independent

Constellation Energy League The Constellation Energy League was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas during 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions limiting travel, and as a way to create opportunities for minor league players. History The league consisted of ...

for the Eastern Reyes del Tigre. Marsh was named to the Royals' 2021 Spring Training roster as a non-roster invitee. He was assigned to the

, but pitched only innings due to injury. In 2022 in the minor leagues he was 2-16 with a 6.88 ERA in 27 starts, and led the minor leagues in losses.
Arizona State Sun Devils bio

Seuly Matias

Seuly Matias (born September 4, 1998) is a Dominican professional

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Matias signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in July 2015. He spent his first professional season in 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Royals and

Arizona League Royals The Arizona Complex League Royals are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. The team is compos ...

, batting a combined .235/.333/.439 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs in 53 total games between both clubs. In 2017, Matias played for the

where he hit .243 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs in 57 games, and in 2018 he played with the

where he batted .231 with 31 home runs and 63 RBIs in 94 games, earning

All-Star honors. Matias spent 2019 with the

,https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article228822374.html but missed time due to injury; over 54 games, he hit .148 with four home runs and 22 RBIs. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022. He re-signed a minor league deal on December 14, 2022.

Evan Sisk

Samuel Evan Sisk (born April 23, 1997) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Sisk attended

Lewisville High School Lewisville High School is a public high school in Lewisville, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The oldest of five high schools in the Lewisville Independent School District, it was opened in 1897, making it the only school in the district to ...

Richburg, South Carolina Richburg is a town in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 275 at the 2010 census, down from 332 at the 2000 census. History The Elliott House and Landsford Plantation House are listed on the National Register of His ...

and played

at the

College of Charleston The College of Charleston (CofC or Charleston) is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, it is the oldest university in South Carolina, the 13th oldest institution of higher learning in the Unit ...

. As a junior in 2018, he went 10-3 with a 2.96 ERA over innings. After his junior season, he was selected by the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

in the 16th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Sisk signed with the Cardinals and made his professional debut with the

Johnson City Cardinals The Johnson City Cardinals were a Minor League Baseball team based in Johnson City, Tennessee. The team was affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 1975 through 2020 and played in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. The team wo ...

, posting a 1.76 ERA over innings. He spent the 2019 season with the

Peoria Chiefs The Peoria Chiefs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The team was established in 1983 as the Peoria Suns. They are located in Peoria, Illinois, and are named for the Peor ...

where he went 3-6 with a 3.25 ERA over 61 innings pitched in relief. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season. He opened the 2021 season with Peoria and was promoted to the

Springfield Cardinals The Springfield Cardinals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. They compete as a member of the Texas League's North Division. The Cardinals began play in 2005. The team is owned by the 11-time Major League Baseball ...

during the season. On July 30, 2021, the Cardinals traded Sisk and John Gant to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for J.A. Happ and cash. He was assigned to the

Wichita Wind Surge The Wichita Wind Surge are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Wichita, Kansas, and began play in 2021 at Riverfront Stadium. The Wind Surge were supposed to b ...

where he finished the season. Over 39 relief appearances between Peoria, Springfield and Wichita, he went 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 53 innings. After the season, he played in the

for the

Scottsdale Scorpions The Scottsdale Scorpions are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Scottsdale, Arizona, at Scottsdale Stadium, which is also the spring training facility of the San Francisco Gia ...

. He opened the 2022 season with Wichita and was promoted to the St. Paul Saints in mid-June. Over fifty relief appearances between the two teams, he went 5-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 63 innings. On January 23, 2023, Sisk was traded to the Kansas City Royals alongside Steven Cruz in exchange for Michael A. Taylor.
College of Charleston bio

Samad Taylor

Samad Jahad Taylor (born July 11, 1998) is an American

second baseman in the Kansas City Royals organization. Taylor attended

Corona High School Corona (from the Latin for 'crown') most commonly refers to: * Stellar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun or another star * Corona (beer), a Mexican beer * Corona, informal term for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 dis ...

in his hometown of Corona, California. He committed to play

for the Arizona Wildcats. He was selected in the 10th round of the

2016 Major League Baseball draft The 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks will be di ...

by the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

, signed, and was assigned to the Rookie-level

Arizona League Indians The Arizona Complex League Guardians are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The team is c ...

after signing. In 32 games, Taylor recorded a .293

batting average Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. Cricket In cricket, a player's batting average is ...

, one

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...

, and 14

runs batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the ba ...

(RBI). He was assigned to the Short Season-A

Mahoning Valley Scrappers The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Niles, Ohio, a city in the valley of the Mahoning River, and play their home games at Eastwood Field. From 1999 to 2020, they were ...

to begin the 2017 season. On July 31, the Indians traded Taylor and

Thomas Pannone Thomas Edward Pannone ( ; born April 28, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays. High school and college Pannone attended Bi ...

to the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

for reliever Joe Smith. The Blue Jays assigned Taylor to the Rookie Advanced

Bluefield Blue Jays The Bluefield Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. The team played their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a hist ...

for five games before promoting him to the Short Season-A

Vancouver Canadians The Vancouver Canadians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Northwest League and are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Canadians play their home games at Nat Bailey Stadiu ...

for the remainder of the season. In 54 total games played in 2017, Taylor hit .294 with six home runs and 30 RBI. Taylor was assigned to the Class-A

Lansing Lugnuts The Lansing Lugnuts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Lansing, Michigan, and play their home games at Jackson Field. The Midwest League came to Lans ...

for the 2018 season. In 121 games, he batted .228 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, and 44 stolen bases. He was promoted to the Advanced-A

Dunedin Blue Jays The Dunedin Blue Jays are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and are the Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club. They are located in Dunedin, Florida, and play their home games at TD Ballpar ...

in 2019, where he appeared in 108 games and hit .216 with seven home runs, 38 RBI, and 26 steals. During the

-cancelled 2020 season, Taylor played 25 games for the

Canberra Cavalry The Canberra Cavalry (nicknamed Cavs) is a professional baseball team from Canberra, ACT, Australia. Established in 2010, the team is a founding member of the Australian Baseball League (ABL). The Cavs home ground is Narrabundah Ballpark, kno ...

of the

. He played the entire 2021 season for the Double-A

New Hampshire Fisher Cats The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a Minor League Baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major league club. During the team's first seaso ...

, batting .294 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 87 games, and was named a MiLB.com Organization All-Star. Taylor played with the

Tigres del Licey Tigres del Licey (English: Licey Tigers) is a professional baseball team in the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). The team was founded in 1907 and based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is one of two LIDOM franchises based in ...

of the

Dominican Winter League Dominican may refer to: * Someone or something from or related to the Dominican Republic ( , stress on the "mi"), on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, in the Caribbean ** People of the Dominican Republic ** Demographics of the Domi ...

during the offseason, and was assigned to the Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...

to begin 2022. On August 2, 2022, Taylor and Max Castillo were traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for

Whit Merrifield Whitley David Merrifield (born January 24, 1989) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals. He is a ...

Luca Tresh

Luca Tresh (born January 11, 2000) is an American

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the ca ...

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Tresh attended

Clearwater Central Catholic High School Clearwater Central Catholic High School is a private college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12 and located in Clearwater, Florida, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. Founded in 1962, the school enrolls approximately 500 st ...

in Clearwater, Florida and played

NC State University North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university ...

. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. Tresh played his first professional season in 2021 with the Arizona Complex League Royals and

. After the season, he played in the

. He started 2022 with the

before his promotion to the

Beck Way

Beck Michael Way (born August 6, 1999) is an American

in the Kansas City Royals organization. Way attended Cumberland Valley High School in

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The borough is eight miles (13 km) west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 8,981. ...

and played

Belmont Abbey College Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic liberal arts college in Belmont, North Carolina. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey. The school is affiliated with the Catholic Church and the Order of Saint Benedict. I ...

and

Northwest Florida State College Northwest Florida State College is a public college in Niceville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Northwest Fl ...

. In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the

Cotuit Kettleers The Cotuit Kettleers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in the village of Cotuit, Massachusetts, which is in the southwest corner of the town of Barnstable. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the lea ...

of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was drafted by the

in the fourth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. Way played his first professional season in 2021 with the

Tampa Tarpons The Tampa Tarpons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Tampa, Florida. The Tarpons play their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which is ...

and

Hudson Valley Renegades Hudson may refer to: People * Hudson (given name) * Hudson (surname) * Henry Hudson, English explorer * Hudson (footballer, born 1986), Hudson Fernando Tobias de Carvalho, Brazilian football right-back * Hudson (footballer, born 1988), Hudson R ...

. He started 2022 with Hudson Valley. On July 27, 2022, the Yankees traded Way, T. J. Sikkema, and Chandler Champlain to the Kansas City Royals for Andrew Benintendi.

Peyton Wilson

Peyton Thomas Wilson (born November 1, 1999) is an American baseball second baseman in the Kansas City Royals organization. He played

for the

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I as a me ...

. Wilson grew up in

Hoover, Alabama Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby counties in north central Alabama, United States. Hoover is the largest suburban city in Alabama and the 6th largest city in Alabama. The city had a population of 92,606 as of the 2020 US Census. Hoove ...

and attended Hoover High School. He committed to play college baseball at Alabama after his sophomore year. Wilson also played football at Hoover until giving up the sport as a junior to focus on baseball. Wilson played both catcher and center field as a true freshman for the

and batted .333 over ten games before the season was cut short due to the

. He moved to second base as a sophomore and was named second team All-

Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American college athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central and Southeastern United States. Its fourteen members include the flagship public universities o ...

after batting .290 while leading the Crimson Tide with 72 hits and 46 runs scored while also hitting 13 doubles, a triple and nine home runs with 31 RBIs. Wilson was selected in the second round with the 66th overall pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals. He signed with the team on July 24, 2021, and received a $1,003,300 signing bonus. Wilson began his professional career with the Arizona Complex League Royals before being promoted to the

. Wilson began the 2022 season on the injured list before being assigned to the

High-A High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...

. Wilson's older brother, John Parker Wilson, played quarterback for Alabama and in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

. Another brother, Ross, played baseball at Alabama and in the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...

Players

CJ Alexander

Tucker Bradley

Jonathan Bowlan

Chandler Champlain

Austin Cox

Clay Dungan

Josh Dye

Tyler Gentry

Robbie Glendinning

Diego Hernández

Andrew Hoffmann

Will Klein

Ben Kudrna

Alec Marsh

Seuly Matias

Evan Sisk

Samad Taylor

Luca Tresh

Beck Way

Peyton Wilson

Full Triple-A to Rookie League rosters

Triple-A (Omaha)

Double-A (Northwest Arkansas)

High-A (Quad Cities)

Single-A (Columbia)

Rookie (Arizona)

Foreign Rookie (Dominican)

References