Royals add upside to system with draft class headlined by a pair of prep bats

This draft provided a much-needed infusion of talent but comes with risk.

The 2025 MLB Draft promised to be intriguing for the Kansas City Royals. In a class light on college hitters, the top of the draft board was well-stocked with high-upside high school position players. The Royals were well-positioned to take advantage of the nature of this class, with five picks in the top 100 giving them a substantial bonus pool to work with. They did exactly that, selecting two exciting prep infielders with their first two picks and numerous interesting prep arms later in the draft.

The front office is enamored with the tools of Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond, their top two picks:

“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”

Their next two picks went to two very different types of college pitchers in Michael Lombardi and Justin Lamkin, before the Royals rounded out day one haul with a gamble on a prep righty in Cameron Millar:

The Royals spent most of day two taking the standard mix of college arms with a few bats, but they did take fliers on a couple interesting prep pitchers and one more prep position player in the later rounds, whom they will attempt to sign away from college commitments.

With their position player picks, it seems like the Royals really prioritized contact skills and guys that either play up the middle or otherwise offer defensive versatility. It’s a lot of left-handed, hit-over-power types. There didn’t appear to be an obvious archetype that they sought on the mound, but there are several tip-of-the-iceberg type pitchers that they’ve selected here — guys that were recently two-way players, JUCO or DII players with limited upper-level experience, pitchers whose collegiate careers have been interrupted by injuries, and even one that also played football in college. The Atlanta Braves, where current Royals scouting director Brian Bridges worked from 2007-2023, have a history of targeting these types of prospects. This sort of approach could be read as a vote of confidence in the organization’s pitching development infrastructure.

In all, the Royals selected six college position players, ten college pitchers, three prep position players, and three prep pitchers.

Round 1, Pick 23: OF Sean Gamble, IMG Academy (FL)

It’s no surprise to see Kansas City go with a prep player here, though Gamble is not a name I had specifically seen linked to the team. Originally from Iowa, Gamble moved to Florida to play baseball at IMG Academy after frequently spending summers there to play ball. Listed at 6’1”, 188, he sets up crouched with a square stance in the left-handed batter’s box. He has a simple hand load with a medium leg kick and stride, exploding into a top-handed swing. There’s not a ton of extraneous movement, but his swing has some length that can make him late on fastballs.

Gamble’s big bat speed gives him plus power despite not being the biggest guy. His swing is geared to lift the ball, but he hasn’t been able to consistently get to all his power in games due to some swing-and-miss tendencies. He’s shown the ability to hit the other way, but that may be a result of Gamble’s long swing making him tardy on fastballs. There is potential here for 20 homers with a high batting average, but plenty of development will be needed to get there.

For most of his senior spring, Gamble played second base for IMG after spending the prior summer manning the outfield. He was announced as an outfielder and many scouts believe that’s where he fits best. He’s a well above-average runner boasting a strong arm, with an arm action more conducive to throws from the outfield than the quick release needed on the dirt.

“We look at [Gamble] as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” said scouting director Brian Bridges. “He’s a 70 runner.”

The best outcome here is a five-tool center fielder, though Gamble is rawer than the typical first round prep player and will need time to develop. There’s a good chance he will take a deal below this pick’s slot value of $3.85 million. Gamble is committed to Vanderbilt.

MLB Pipeline: 27

Kiley McDaniel: 35

FanGraphs: 60

Baseball America ($): 45

Keith Law ($): 48

Prospect Promotion Incentive, Pick 28: SS Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC)

Two picks in the top 30 gave Kansas City the opportunity to pick up two high-upside prep players, and they did exactly that with Gamble and Hammond. Hammond was one of the best performers on the showcase circuit last summer as a two-way player and came into this spring as one of the top prep pitching prospects in the class. He still has a ton of potential on the mound — Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs prefers him as a pitcher — but he was announced as a shortstop.

Hammond sets his 6’1” frame in a relaxed stance in the right-handed batter’s box, keeping most of his 210 lbs over his back leg. His hands move a lot in his load and his swing can get long, but he hasn’t shown much in-zone swing-and-miss while demonstrating plus all-fields power.

His swing decisions need work as Hammond has a tendency to chase breaking balls, particularly from right-handed pitchers. It’s a power-over-hit profile right now but with potential to be a strong all-around hitter.

“[Hammond] can really swing the bat,” Bridges said. “He can get to that power. The kid can hit the ball as far as anybody I’ve scouted.

“… The one thing our analytics department liked was his ability to make contact in the zone on several different pitches. There’s stuff there to build with. You hit enough with his strength and power, he’s going to hit homers.”

Where Hammond fits on defense remains a question. He should get the chance to play shortstop and has generally looked good out there, showing solid actions and a plus arm. He’s not especially rangy, however, leading some evaluators to think his future is at third base. He profiles as a prototypical power-hitting third baseman. Money saved on Gamble’s deal could be used here for an overslot deal. Hammond is committed to Wake Forest.

MLB Pipeline: 26

Kiley McDaniel: 17

FanGraphs: 65

Baseball America: 38

Keith Law: 28

Round 2, Pick 61: RHP Michael Lombardi, Tulane

A two-way player throughout his three seasons at Tulane, Lombardi played every infield position plus center field but will enter pro ball as a pitcher. He got plenty of innings out of the bullpen in both of his first two seasons and posted a 3.89 ERA as a sophomore but struggled with free passes. Lombardi served as the Green Wave’s primary closer in 2025 and dominated, posting a 2.14 ERA while striking out 43.5% of batters and allowing just 20 hits in 42 innings.

Lombardi’s fastball velocity took a jump this spring as he sat in the mid-90s with his four-seamer, touching 97. It plays well at the top of the strike zone coming out of his over-the-top arm slot. He pairs it with an upper-70s 12-6 curveball that tunnels well with the heater. Lombardi also throws a low-80s changeup that he’s shown some feel for, but it wasn’t a pitch that he used much in college.

“[Lombardi]’s really a good athlete,” says Bridges. “At Tulane, he had the ability to help those guys on both sides of the ball. Later in the year, he started, because they needed him to start. But that’s ultimately what he wants to do. He’s a very driven young man, and he knows what he wants. I wouldn’t bet against him.”

For most of the season Lombardi pitched in short stints of an inning or two at a time, but he did get some starts late in the season, including a seven-inning, 11-strikeout gem against Florida Atlantic in the AAC Tournament. He will go out as a starter but will need some development. Lombardi’s command is below average, and he’ll need to work on the changeup or else find some other pitch to get lefties out and turn over a lineup. With a foundation of athleticism and two plus pitches, the Royals will hope Lombardi can blossom into a mid-rotation starter with full-time focus on pitching.

MLB Pipeline: 75

Kiley McDaniel: 93

FanGraphs: 94

Baseball America: 101

Keith Law: 35

Competitive Balance Round B, Pick 71: LHP Justin Lamkin, Texas A&M

A workhorse for the Aggies, Lamkin tossed 209.1 innings across three seasons at Texas A&M, making 41 starts in his 53 appearances. He consistently posted strikeout rates near 30% but took a big step forward as a junior with his pitchability, walking just 5.4% of batters en route to a 3.42 ERA. In the last weekend of the regular season, he dominated a strong Georgia lineup on the road with a 15-strikeout complete game shutout in which he surrendered just three hits.

Lamkin pounds the strike zone with a low-90s four-seamer that relies on deception and location to beat hitters. His out pitch is a low-80s slider that plays up due to his delivery. He also has a low-80s changeup that he used exclusively against right-handed batters. He has a funky arm action with a three-quarters arm slot and comes way across his body with plenty of effort. It’s an atypical look for a starter, but it helps him hide the ball and he hasn’t had issues throwing strikes. Though his delivery adds some risk, Lamkin profiles as a back-end starter.

Bridges sees Lamkin as similar to some other successful Royals pitchers.

“That’s one thing [Royals vice president of research and development] Daniel Mack said, when we were talking about [Lamkin] before we selected him; he said, ‘I see a lot of Kris Bubic in him. Some Noah Cameron in him.’ There’s still stuff that can be done with him.”

MLB Pipeline: 111

Kiley McDaniel: 154

Baseball America: 109

Keith Law ($): HM

Round 3, Pick 97: RHP Cameron Millar, Alhambra HS (CA)

A stock right-handed prep prospect last summer, Millar rose up draft boards this spring as his velo spiked. At 6’2”, 180, Millar has a clean right-handed delivery with a three-quarters arm slot. The moving parts in it can get out of sync at times, leading to some inconsistency with his release point.

“I’m just as excited about [Millar] as I am anybody,” said Bridges. “He’s got swagger to him, not in a bad way. He just looks like he’s already on TV. The way he competed and went after hitters, you don’t see young prep pitchers anymore with that type of mentality. He’s definitely one that gets after it. We’re very, very, very happy he’s a Royal.”

After sitting in the low-90s last summer, Millar was regularly touching 97 this spring while sitting in the mid-90s with his riding fastball. He throws a plus-flashing changeup that’s around 80 with plenty of dip, though his arm slot is noticeably lower when he throws it. He also flashes a low-80s slider that’s he’s shown some feel for spinning. His delivery needs some work and breaking ball quality is a question, but there is mid-rotation potential here. Millar is committed to Arizona.

MLB Pipeline: 138

Kiley McDaniel: 190

Baseball America: 121

Round 4, Pick 128: OF Nolan Sailors, Creighton

An Omaha native and starter for the Blue Jays since his freshman year, Sailors racked up 952 plate appearances across four seasons. He has raked each of the last two years with an OPS over 1.000 in each. In 2025, he batted .389/.485/.584 with 18 doubles and 27 stolen bases in 30 attempts. He was the everyday center fielder for Creighton as an underclassman but has played more in left the past two seasons.

Sailors sets up with an open stance in the left-handed batter’s box. Standing 6’0”, 190, he has a simple and shallow load with his hands with no leg kick and a short stride. It’s hit-over-power as he struck out just 14.9% of the time this season but only hit six homers, though that may in part be due to playing his home games at Charles Schwab Field, which is one of the bigger ballparks in Division I. He can really go get it in center field and used that speed to great effect on the basepaths, though he ceded the position to a rangier defender as a senior. If he can play center at the next level, Sailors could reach the majors as a reserve outfielder.

Round 5, Pick 158: RHP Aiden Jimenez, Arkansas

Hailing from the Sacramento area, Jimenez began his collegiate career at Oregon State in 2023. Pitching out of the bullpen, he showed great pitchability and got plenty of groundballs but didn’t miss a ton of bats and posted a 5.68 ERA in 38 innings. He followed that with a very strong summer in the Cape Cod League and was expected to be Oregon State’s Friday night starter entering 2024. But Jimenez blew out shortly before the season began and underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his year. He transferred to Arkansas for the 2025 season and had a solid year, posting a 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings in a multi-inning relief role.

Jimenez, who stands 6’3”, 210, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a simple, smooth delivery. His fastball sits 92-94, touching 97 with sink. His putaway pitch is a low-80s slider that generated a ton of chase this spring. He mixed in an upper-80s cutter and changeup as well but was primarily a two-pitch guy for the Hogs. He throws tons of strikes with a 5.9% walk rate across his two collegiate seasons. Jimenez isn’t the greatest athlete and has already had Tommy John, but with fewer than 100 innings pitched in games over the last three years, he may be just scratching the surface of his potential.

Round 6, Pick 188: SS Tyriq Kemp, Baylor

A native of the Netherlands, Kemp debuted in the Dutch Major League when he was just 16 years old. He began his stateside career at Western Oklahoma State College in 2022 and played there for two seasons. He transferred to Baylor ahead of the 2024 season and played shortstop in every game for the Bears across the last two years. Kemp struggled offensively in his first look at Division I arms but improved across the board as a senior, batting .358/.446/.542 with more walks than strikeouts in 242 plate appearances and earning First Team All-Big XII honors.

A left-handed hitter standing at a compact 5’7”, 156, Kemp crouches low in the box with a wide-open stance. He doesn’t have much raw power, but he swings hard and gets to all of it, popping seven homers this spring. He’s shown good awareness of the strike zone with a 13.1% walk rate across the last two seasons. Where Kemp really stands out is on defense. He’s a very rangy, low-to-the-ground defender with big league quality actions. His arm is stronger than you’d expect given his size and he’s capable of making accurate throws from numerous different platforms. He profiles as a glove-first utility infielder.

Round 7, Pick 218: RHP Bryson Dudley, Texas State

Whichever Royals affiliate Dudley is sent to will be the first team he’s pitched for that’s not based in Texas. After graduating from high school in Round Rock, Dudley pitched for two seasons at Blinn College, a JUCO powerhouse in Brenham. He posted strong strikeout numbers there before transferring to Texas State for the 2025 season. He began the season in a multi-inning relief role but worked in short stints for most of the spring. He finished his collegiate career with a bang, tossing a 10-strikeout complete game shutout and allowing just two baserunners against Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Tournament. He finished the season with a 3.93 ERA in 50.1 innings.

Dudley’s limbs fly all over the place as he rocks back his 6’3”, 220 lb frame and fires from a high three-quarters arm slot. After walking 14.4% of batters this spring, it may help to simplify his delivery. He throws a four-seamer in the mid-90s with armside run — he absolutely pounded the zone with this pitch against App State, hitting every quadrant of the box. He also features a bullet slider with tight break in the upper-80s and a seldom-used lower-80s changeup. Until Dudley can demonstrate a useable third pitch and better command, he’s a pure relief prospect.

Round 8, Pick 248: C Brooks Bryan, Troy

Staying close to home after graduating from Opelika HS, Bryan traveled 70 miles southwest to play college ball at Troy. He played sparingly as a freshman but was in the lineup every day as a sophomore, starting half of the Trojans’ games behind the plate while also logging time in both corner outfield spots and as the DH. After impressing with Team USA in the summer of 2024, he took over as Troy’s primary catcher for the 2025 season. His offensive numbers took a slight step back in his junior season, but Bryan still hit a robust .279/.399/.533 with 18 doubles and 12 homers in 276 plate appearances. He earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2024 and Second Team in 2025.

Bryan looks downright nonchalant in the lefty batter’s box, standing square with his feet about shoulder-width apart and his hands down around the top of the strike zone. It naturally takes a lot of movement to get his hands into hitting position as he takes a big leg kick and stride. There’s bat wrap in his load, which might explain his issues with velo (it can make his bat late to the zone) but it could also aid his power, which is comfortably plus to all fields. Even when he’s late on a fastball he can park it beyond the left field wall. He’ll take his walks, but he also whiffed in zone a lot and struck out 25.6% of the time at Troy. Bryan improved considerably behind the plate this season, to the point that he seems viable back there despite lacking any standout defensive traits. If he can make enough contact to get to his power, he could reach the majors as a bat-first backup catcher.

MLB Pipeline: 185

Kiley McDaniel: 209

Baseball America: 135

Round 9, Pick 278: RHP Shane Van Dam, NC State

After a strong freshman season at DIII-SUNY Cortland in which he also played quarterback for the football team, Van Dam transferred to NC State ahead of the 2024 season. He emerged throughout the season as one of the Wolfpack’s better multi-inning relief arms, but he got blown up a couple times down the stretch and was soon revealed to have torn his UCL. He underwent surgery that ended his season and kept him out for most of 2025 as well. He returned to make a handful of appearances late in the season but wasn’t especially sharp.

A lanky 6’6”, 198, Van Dam has a high-effort delivery with a high three-quarters arm angle and head whack at release. At his pre-injury best, he sat in the mid-90s and bumped 97 with a high-spin four-seamer, pairing that with a tight low-80s slider. In a recent summer league outing, his heater was 92-95 with reduced spin rates (2300-2400 rpm, down from around 2700). He threw a few sinkers at 89-91 and no sliders, but rather an upper-70s curveball. He’s still not that far removed from elbow surgery, but it’s interesting to see the change in pitch mix. Van Dam didn’t show great pitchability even before the injury and is a relief project.

Baseball America: 448

Round 10, Pick 308: RHP Max Martin, UC Irvine

Not to be confused with Maximus Martin, Boston’s tenth-round selection out of Kansas State, Martin racked up 84.1 innings across three seasons pitching out of UC Irvine’s bullpen. He struggled in his sophomore season but posted a 3.81 ERA as a freshman and topped that with a 3.29 ERA this season while serving as the Anteaters’ go-to high-leverage arm. He walked just 4.9% of opposing batters working in stints of up to a couple innings at a time.

Martin takes the mound with a 6’5”, 195 lb frame with projection. He brings the funk with an abbreviated windup and nearly sidearm arm slot, working east-west with a sinker that sits 92-95 and a low-80s sweeper. He also has a low-80s changeup with some fade that he almost exclusively throws to lefties. There’s not bat-missing stuff here, but Martin throws plenty of strikes and posted a 50% groundball rate each of the past two seasons. He projects as a righty groundball specialist out of the bullpen.

Baseball America: 298

Round 11, Pick 338: RHP Hunter Alberini, Arizona

The oldest player drafted by Kansas City this year, Alberini started his collegiate baseball career in 2021 at Umpqua Community College. He didn’t get much playing time there and transferred to College of Southern Nevada ahead of the 2023 season. He excelled in two seasons there before making his way to Arizona for his fifth season. He was quite effective for the Wildcats, posting a 3.48 ERA with elite peripherals (33 strikeouts to seven walks in 20.2 innings).

Standing 6’2”, 205, Alberini has a simple drop-and-drive delivery with a high three-quarters arm slot. He throws a mid-90s four-seamer with riding life at the top of the zone, pairing that with an upper-80s slider with good tilt. Although his track record above the JUCO level is short, Alberini’s performance has been rock solid. This is what a modern middle-relief starter kit looks like.

Round 12, Pick 368: RHP Matthew Hoskins, Georgia

A Georgia native, Hoskins has had his collegiate baseball career interrupted by injury. He was effectively wild as a freshman reliever but blew out in the middle of the season and needed Tommy John surgery, wiping out most of his sophomore year as well. He returned late for a handful of outings in 2024 and went to the Northwoods League that summer to get some more innings. Hoskins was one of many power arms in Georgia’s bullpen in 2025, striking out 39 batters but walking 23 in 27.1 innings while producing a 5.93 ERA.

Hoskins brings physicality to the mound in his 6’2”, 229 lb frame. It’s a tall-and-fall type of delivery with a true three-quarters arm slot. He sits upper-90s with a four-seamer that has touched triple digits. That’s paired with a mid-80s slider that flashes plus. He’ll also scarcely mix in a mid-80s changeup. Hoskins has high-leverage relief potential with his stuff, but his command has a long way to go to get there.

Baseball America: 496

Round 13, Pick 398: SS Tyson Moran, F.E. Madill HS (ON)

The Royals looked north of the border for this one. Standing 6’0”, 180 with room to grow, Moran is a plus athlete who will turn 20 early next year. It’s a noisy operation at the plate as he doesn’t sit still in the lefty batter’s box. There’s plenty of movement to get into hitting position, but that hasn’t limited his ability to put the bat on the ball. He’s also shown emerging pull-side power.

Moran has played both the infield and the outfield in addition to some pitching. He’s got a strong arm and good range and should get a chance at shortstop, but he should fit well at second base if he can’t cut it there. Moran is committed to North Dakota State.

Round 14, Pick 428: 1B JC Vanek, Chipola College

In his second season at one of the nation’s premier JUCO programs, Vanek hit a massive .395/.512/.631 in 207 plate appearances with more walks than strikeouts. That came on the heels of a .345/.487/.470 line as a freshman. He was originally committed to LSU as a pitcher but went the JUCO route after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Vanek is a big presence in the left-handed batter’s box at 6’3”, 205 lb. He doesn’t need much movement or a long swing to get his bat going, using his strength to drive the ball to all fields. He’s more of a pure hitter than a power bat at the moment, so perhaps some adjustments can help him unlock another grade of power. He was announced as a first baseman but has played some outfield, and being able to passably roam the pasture would take some pressure off his bat. Regardless, Vanek profiles as a bat-first corner guy that likely won’t provide much defensive value in the best case scenario. He will transfer to Florida State should he not sign.

Baseball America: 481

Round 15, Pick 458: SS Connor Rasmussen, Tulane

A teammate of Lombardi’s at Tulane, Rasmussen began his collegiate career at East Carolina but transferred after receiving scant playing time as a freshman. He played every day for Tulane for two seasons and put up remarkably similar offensive numbers in both. In 552 plate appearances across those two years, he batted .321/.418/.485 with more walks than strikeouts.

Rasmussen, standing 5’11”, 195, sets up in a crouched, square stance from the left side. He chokes up slightly on the bat and uses a very simple load with no stride or leg kick. He’s got enough raw juice to run into one every so often but it’s a very slappy swing, with most of his power going to the gaps. He has a solid understanding of the strike zone and is not easy to beat inside it. Defensively, he played almost exclusively at second base for Tulane but was announced as a shortstop. Should Rasmussen prove rangy enough to handle short in a pinch, that would go a long way to giving him a shot to make it as a contact-oriented utility guy.

Round 16, Pick 488: RHP Randy Ramnarace, University of New Haven

One of the younger college players to go in this draft, Ramnarace is still a couple months shy of 21. He spent three seasons pitching in a variety of roles for DII-New Haven, culminating in a 2.51 ERA in 32.1 innings this spring. He struck out 45 batters while walking 18.

I’ve met my match with this one. I have been unable to find any information regarding what Ramnarace throws, nor can I find any video of him throwing that’s newer than 2020. He’s listed at 6’1”, 195. He hit 92 with his fastball as a senior in high school, according to his Perfect Game page, and it’s not unreasonable to think he could have added velo since then. I imagine he also throws a pitch that bends. He racked up strikeouts in his three seasons for New Haven but also walked entirely too many batters. I don’t have any batted ball data, but he only allowed 3 homers in 117.2 innings, so maybe he’s a groundball guy.

Round 17, Pick 518: OF Luke Nowak, University of Illinois at Chicago

Hailing from Wisconsin, Nowak spent his first three collegiate seasons at East Carolina. He got plenty of playing time but couldn’t put things together offensively. He transferred to UIC for the 2025 season and found his footing for the Flames. Primarily playing left field while moonlighting in center, Nowak batted .387/.455/.559 in 257 plate appearances with 17 doubles and 28 steals in 30 attempts. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Co-Newcomer of the Year.

An athletic 5’10”, 190, Nowak sets up with a slight crouch from the left side. He uses a small leg kick and stride with very little movement in his hands. The swing is compact and bottom-hand dominant. Without much raw power, he sprays line drives to the gaps. He doesn’t whiff much, but he is a fairly aggressive hitter who will expand the zone, and he has had struggles with lifting the ball. He’s a plus runner who stole 56 bases in 64 attempts in college. Defensively, Nowak is a strong left fielder, but his bat is likely too light to play the position full time. If he can handle himself in center, he could have a path to big league playing time as an extra outfielder.

Round 18, Pick 548: RHP Grayson Boles, St. Augustine HS (CA)

Now here’s an intriguing late-round pick. Boles has a prototypical starter’s frame at a projectable 6’5”, 200 lb. His fastball mostly sat in the low-90s this spring but was up to 95. His primary breaker is a low-80s slider that flashes plus with two-plane tilt. He’s also at times shown feel for a mid-80s changeup.

He throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a repeatable delivery and has shown solid control. Boles likely made it this deep into the draft due to signability concerns. He is committed to Texas.

Kiley McDaniel: 239

Baseball America: 155

Round 19, Pick 578: RHP Dylan Wood, Franklin HS (CA)

Another intriguing late-round prep arm, Wood is a spindly 6’2”, 185 lb. There are a lot of moving parts in his delivery, he throws with effort and some head whack, and his arm angle varies between a low and true three-quarters on any given pitch. Despite all that, he has demonstrated good control of his arsenal.

His fastball is a low-90s sinker that’s been up to 95 and plays up thanks to the deception in his delivery. He also throws a slurvy breaking ball in the upper-70s with variable shape and a Bugs Bunny changeup in the low-70s. Wood’s profile is atypical for a prep righty, with unremarkable stuff augmented by deception and feel to pitch. He is committed to Arizona.

Baseball America: 203

Round 20, Pick 608: RHP Kamden Edge, Northern Oklahoma JC

The Royals evidently did their due diligence with local prospects here as Edge first popped up in the Jayhawk Collegiate Summer League in 2024, when he struck out 37 batters in 20 innings but also walked 18. He pitched in the rotation for Northern Oklahoma the following season, tossing 52.2 innings across 14 appearances (these games often finished in fewer than nine innings). He pitched to a 3.25 ERA and struck out 74 batters while walking 36.

Edge has a live arm attached to his 6’1”, 195 lb frame. Five different pitches come out of his high three-quarters arm slot, with a mid-90s four-seamer and high-80s cutter being his top offerings. He’ll also mix in a low-80s slider, a mid-70s curveball, and a low-80s changeup. The pitch mix is exciting, but Edge’s command is nowhere close to high-leverage relief quality right now, never mind starting. Turning a prospect like this into a viable big leaguer would be a feather in the cap of Kansas City’s pitching dev staff. He will transfer to Austin Peay should he not sign.