2026 MLB Draft Review: Kansas City Royals

The players

Kansas City started the draft by taking Zion Rose, one of the best outfielders in the NCAA and one of the best speedsters available. Rose stole 24 bases over 36 games, in what was a weird season for him, as he missed the first month of 2026, plus two months later in the spring.

But he hit, as Rose batted .417 with six home runs and 20 extra-base hits, proving he’s more than just a runner. And Rose did that aplenty over his three college seasons, including in 2024, when he batted .380 as a freshman.

The Royals, with their other first-rounder, went with Taylor Rabe, part of a very deep Ole Miss pitching staff from 2026. Rabe was able to gun it into the upper-90s. Fastball/sinker that sat in the mid-90s, coupled with a slower changeup and a slider. Deep arsenal, as we’ve come to expect out of college pitchers taken high in the draft. Plus, a groundball-heavy righty.

Kansas City wasn’t done with the pitching by any means. The Royals spent nearly $3MM, late first-round money, on Illinois high schooler Jack Slightom. Tall right-hander at 6’4” who hit the mid-90s on the high school showcase circuit.

The Royals went back to the Illinois high school scene, spending almost $800,000 on outfielder Dominic Battista.

Maxx Yehl was the Royals’ third-rounder. Yehl missed all of 2025 and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in 2023 and 2024. As a senior, the left-hander was a pivotal piece for a West Virginia team that had a lot of pitching talent. He struck out 112 batters over 97 innings and can mix things up in a variety of ways. Low-90s fastball with cut, coupled with a sinker, curveball, and changeup.

The Royals haven’t been shy about taking high-floor college relievers in recent years, and the club did it again in 2026. Ethan McElvain was nearly pristine as a reliever with Arkansas. After two seasons with Vanderbilt, McElvain struck out 55 over 38 innings and allowed just two home runs. Fastball that ran into the mid-90s, as well as a cut slider.

Kansas City took another primary college reliever one round later with Justin LeGuernic, who improved his MLB Draft stock after a run in the Cape Cod League this past summer. A left-hander from Clemson, LeGuernic struck out 50 over 40.1 IP. Heavy fastball that ran into the mid-90s, as well as a slider.

Their run on college players also brought them to two players who starred in Omaha this past year. Dylan Vigue had to shake off some early-inning command problems against Texas in the last start but that outing also showed what he’s capable of, as the right-hander struck out eight Longhorns.

Vigue struck out 77 over 63 innings with Georgia in 2026 after two seasons in Michigan. Mid-90s fastball and loves to use his mid-80s slider with depth.

Camden Johnson hit over .320 in two seasons with the Wichita State Shockers. Johnson only hit .298 with Oklahoma this season but showed more home run power. After four homers in his first two college seasons, he belted nine for the now-reigning DI baseball champions.

Aside from those players, the only other Royals draft pick to receive a signing bonus over $200,000 was Hunter Possehl. A heavy groundball pitcher who struck out 65 over 67 innings this season for FGCU.