Kansas City Royals

TRACK RECORD: Cox was coming off a strong 2019 season split between the two Class A levels just over a year after being drafted from Mercer in the fifth round. He spent the summer at the alternate training site, adjusting to facing more advanced hitters and working on his secondary pitches.

SCOUTING REPORT: The strength of Cox's repertoire is a plus fastball that he gets to both sides of the plate in the 90-94 mph range. He delivers his pitches with good arm speed and a low-effort, repeatable delivery. Complementing the fastball is a plus curveball in the high 70s with downer movement and good depth. His slider is a newer pitch, offering a different shape from the curveball, and he worked all summer on the changeup, trying to get feel for it and gain comfort with the pitch. The pitches play up because of how well Cox commands them, and he's learning to be more competitive in the zone.

THE FUTURE: With two plus pitches and outstanding command, Cox would certainly not be out of place as a power arm near the back of the bullpen if he never develops a solid third pitch. He'll likely head to Double-A for the start of the 2021 season.

TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the second supplemental round in 2019 from Arizona State, Marsh began his career with a promising pro debut at Rookie-level Idaho Falls where he showed use of four pitches and significantly lowered his walk rates from his college career. After pitching a few games in a pop-up league in Texas, Marsh reported to the Royals alternate training site late in the summer.

SCOUTING REPORT: The biggest change for Marsh during the summer of 2020 was an increase in his fastball velocity. Previously sitting 90-94 mph with both a two-seamer and a four-seamer, he added several ticks and is now touching 99 mph. The extra velo changes his profile, especially with the new high-powered fastball being complemented by his cerebral approach to pitching and solid secondary pitches. His best secondary is an 11-to-5 power curveball that has good shape and depth, which he pairs with a short, tight slider resembling a cutter. He previously needed more separation between the breaking balls but they now look like different pitches, with the curveball averaging 80 mph and the slider 86 mph. He has feel for a solid-average or better changeup that he throws with good arm speed and natural sink. Marsh delivers his pitches from the same arm slot with a clean, repeatable delivery.

THE FUTURE: If he maintains the velocity increase, Marsh profiles as a solid, reliable mid-rotation starter. He'll make his full-season debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Hernandez didn't get a high school season in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that didn't affect his draft stock. The Royals drafted the Chicago-area product in the second round and gave him a $1.45 million bonus to forgo an Illinois-Chicago commitment. An advanced pitcher well ahead of his years, Hernandez finally was able to don a Royals uniform for the fall instructional league program in Arizona.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez resembles fellow Royals farmhand Jackson Kowar because of his potent fastball-changeup combination. Some observers say Hernandez has the best changeup they've ever seen from a high school pitcher, and he showed in live batting practice sessions in the fall he can get swings and misses with it. His fastball is another plus pitch with easy velocity and was up to 96 mph at instructional league. A mid-70s curveball is his third pitch and is a tight, sharp offering with good depth, but he needs to throw it with more power and arm speed. Hernandez has good feel for pitching and a nice, easy delivery.

THE FUTURE: He should be able to move more quickly than the normal high school product. An assignment to low Class A to start his pro career is not out of the question.

TRACK RECORD: When he began to be scouted, Vazquez was a skinny 5-foot-9 shortstop who lacked strength, but he has shot up to 6-foot-2, 158 pounds and has turned into one of the top players in the class from the Dominican Republic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Even before his growth spurt, Vazquez had good actions on both sides of the ball, attributes that are still intact. He has significant physical upside with a lot of space left to fill out his lean, wiry frame as his tools continue to improve. Vazquez has a good bat path from the right side, keeping the bat in the hitting zone for a long time with good contact skills and a line-drive approach. While other hitters his age often get pull happy, Vazquez stays through the ball well to drive the ball to the middle of the field. The strength projection in his frame suggests a player who could grow into 20-plus home run power in the future. He's a below-average runner, and while projecting speed gains is tricky, he has the body type and athleticism where he could still get faster. Even if he doesn't, he has the ability to stay at shortstop, with easy actions, good footwork and body control, ranging well to both sides and coming in on the ball. He flashes a plus arm already that could tick up a grade once he gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: There’s plenty of projection left with Vazquez, but with his baseball acumen and growth spurt, he has a chance to be an impact player both at the plate and in the field.

TRACK RECORD: Signed for $15,000 as a 19-year-old, Hernandez was already an older international signee and fell behind in his development due to a rib injury in 2019 that prevented him from advancing beyond low Class A. That inexperience didn't stop the Royals from jumping the native Venezuelan straight to the big leagues for five games in 2020, when he posted a 4.91 ERA in 13.2 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: It's all about the fastball for Hernandez. His four-seamer averaged 96 mph and touched triple digits during his time in Kansas City. Hernandez has an easy delivery and the ball comes out of his hand with natural angle, helping it play up despite a lack of significant movement. Hernandez's primary offspeed pitch is a mid-80s hard curveball with 12-to-6 movement that flashes plus. He also throws a hard, split-changeup at 85-90 mph and a below-average slider. Hernandez's control is fringe-average, but he throws enough strikes for a bullpen role.

THE FUTURE: Hernandez needs more seasoning in the minors and will likely head to Double-A in 2021. He'll continue to develop as a starter, but he is most likely to end up in the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the second round in 2017 and paid a well over-slot bonus of just over $2 million, Melendez had a disastrous 2019, hitting .163/.260/.311 at high Class A Wilmington. He spent the summer at the Royals' alternate training site followed by the instructional league program held at Kauffman Stadium in order to get as many at-bats as possible.

SCOUTING REPORT: Melendez has worked on applying mechanical changes to his swing. He cut down on his leg kick, quieted the noise in his swing and worked hard to reduce the amount of pitches he chases out of the zone. Melendez also continued refining his alignment in the batter's box and understanding what pitches he could drive. Even if everything clicks, Melendez projects as no more than a below-average hitter, but his physicality may give him enough power to hit enough for a catcher. Melendez's best tool defensively is a cannon of an arm with a quick release. He's athletic behind the plate and receives and blocks well.

THE FUTURE: Melendez profiles as a low-average, moderate-power type of hitter with catching skills that will play in the majors. A Double-A assignment awaits in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Murdock had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia and wasn't at peak form when he came back, posting a 6.30 ERA his redshirt sophomore season. The Royals saw his 6-foot-8 frame and mid-90s fastball and decided he was worthy of a flier in the seventh round. Murdock had a solid pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington and worked out remotely during the 2020 coronavirus shutdown, keeping in close contact with the Royals coaches. He got back on the field at the Royals' fall instructional program in Kansas City.

SCOUTING REPORT: Murdock's velocity continues to increase the further he moves away from surgery. His fastball has ticked up to sit 96-97 mph and touch 99 mph with deception from his long arms and high arm slot. His main secondary is a 79-82 mph slider, which some observers call a slurve, that now profiles as a future above-average pitch. It has more depth than normal because of his arm slot and release. His 82-85 mph changeup is a future solid-average pitch, and everything he throws has sink and angle from his towering release point. Murdock has worked on repeating his delivery and commanding his secondary pitches and has a chance for average control.

THE FUTURE: Murdock will keep starting until he shows he can't. He'll get his first chance at full-season ball in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Bolaños originally signed with the Padres in 2016 for $2.25 million after a decorated amateur career in his native Cuba. The Royals acquired him as part of the trade for reliever Tim Hill prior to the start of the 2020 season. Bolaños spent most of the year at the alternate training site and made two abbreviated starts in Kansas City.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bolaños is a big-bodied righthander with four pitches, highlighted by a fastball that sits 93-95 mph and can get into the upper 90s. He gives hitters different looks by adding cut, sink or rise to his heater. Bolaños' best offspeed pitch is a tight-spinning curveball. He's working on throwing it harder as it's often too soft of a pitch. He gets plenty of spin on his mid-80s slider and infrequently adds a high-80s changeup with cut action. Bolaños needs to smooth out his delivery to get better control of his diverse repertoire.

THE FUTURE: Bolaños could thrive in a middle relief role but will continue to get chances to make it as a starter. He stands a good chance at opening the 2021 season in the Royals bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Originally signed by Toronto in 2014 for only $1,000, Olivares has now been traded twice in his career. The Blue Jays traded him to the Padres for Yangervis Solarte after the 2017 season and the Royals acquired him from San Diego for closer Trevor Rosenthal at the 2020 trade deadline. Olivares had a standout year at Double-A Amarillo in 2019, but wasn't quite ready for the majors and hit .240/.267/.375 in 101 plate appearances for the Padres and Royals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Olivares uses a compact swing at the plate and flashes above-average power, but struggles with pitch selection. He's generally improved each year and has the athleticism to make adjustments, but he hasn't shown enough consistently for evaluators to consider him more than a fringe-average hitter. Olivares' above-average speed allows him to cover plenty of ground in the outfield with his long strides, but he needs to improve his routes. He shows an above-average arm and is an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases.

THE FUTURE: Olivares should be at least a fourth outfielder, but he's been more tools and athleticism than production so far. He's in line for more playing time with the Royals in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Righthanded relievers under 6 feet tall tend to fly under the radar. Zuber put together a strong 2019 between high Class A and Double-A and jumped to the Royals' bullpen in 2020. He made 23 appearances and posted a 4.09 ERA, although he struggled badly with walks.

SCOUTING REPORT: Zuber dominates with a mid-90s fastball with late hop through the zone that he delivers with a lightning fast arm. His above-average slider is his go-to secondary offering in the mid 80s, and he also has a curveball in the low 80s he'll mix in to slow down hitters. He commands both breaking balls better than he does his fastball. Zuber's changeup came along nicely in 2020 and was an effective pitch against lefties, projecting average overall. Zuber's stuff plays in the strike zone, but he walked 20 batters in 22 innings in his debut and will have to show better control.

THE FUTURE: Zuber has a good chance to break camp in 2021 with a role in the Royals' bullpen. If he can get his control right, he should settle in as a long reliever.

TRACK RECORD: Heasley didn't quite live up to expectations at Oklahoma State and fell to the 13th round of the 2018 draft. He found his stride in his full-season debut and went 8-5, 3.12 at low Class A Lexington, albeit against mostly younger competition. The Royals added Heasley to the alternate training site in September and kept him in Kansas City for their fall instructional league program at Kauffman Stadium.

SCOUTING REPORT: Heasley is a competitor on the mound with four average or better pitches. He started throwing from a higher slot at Lexington. The move helped his velocity and his fastball now touches 97 mph with a high spin rate. Heasley's best secondary is a potential plus curveball that plays well off the fastball with 12-to-6 movement and heavy break. A changeup that is tough on hitters from both sides gives Heasley a third quality pitch. He rounds out the arsenal with a slider that he uses infrequently but has late, short break. He ties everything together with average control.

THE FUTURE: Heasley's stuff looked great in his pro debut, but he'll be more tested by age-appropriate competition. That should come in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: After starting his high school career in Florida, Fox returned to his native Bahamas and re-classified as an international prospect. That move paid off when the Giants gave him a $6 million signing bonus, the largest in the 2015 international class. San Francisco traded Fox to the Rays one year later in the deal for Matt Moore, and the Rays flipped him to the Royals at the 2020 trade deadline for Brett Phillips. Fox joined the Royals' alternate training site after the trade and also saw time at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Fox's best attributes are traits that can't be taught, with plus-plus speed and an obvious energy and passion for the game. He has the tools and athleticism to be a big league regular, but his bat has not developed. He struggles with consistency in his routine and needs to get better in his pitch selection. He lacks the strength to impact the baseball but shows good barrel control and walks at a high rate. Fox is an above-average defender at shortstop with good hands and is capable of handling other infield positions. He uses his speed well on the bases, with 123 stolen bases in four minor league seasons.

THE FUTURE: Fox could be a regular shortstop with more production at the plate. If not, his speed and defense may be enough to earn him a role as a utility player.

TRACK RECORD: Haake has had an up-and-down career that included an 8.47 ERA at Kentucky his junior season. The Royals still drafted him in the sixth round based on his loud stuff and were rewarded when he posted a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts for low Class A Lexington. Haake missed nearly two months with shoulder soreness, however, and his only 2020 action came during the Royals' fall instructional program.

SCOUTING REPORT: Haake's strength is a 93-97 mph fastball with good life that is capable of beating hitters up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is a potential plus changeup that looks like a slider because it cuts so much before dropping quickly. He also throws a slider with 11-to-5 break, which flashes plus and has good late movement. Haake is athletic but doesn't always repeat his delivery and has fringe-average control. He has a history of struggling to get through an order a second time.

THE FUTURE: Haake has the repertoire to remain in the rotation with more consistency and a cleaner delivery. He has the stuff to thrive in a bullpen role if those developments don't come.

TRACK RECORD: Matias made a splash with 31 home runs at low Class A Lexington in 2018, but that came with an alarming 35% strikeout rate. He got exposed by better pitching and hit .148 with four home runs in 57 games at high Class A Wilmington in 2019 before a broken hand ended his season. Matias returned healthy in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site before heading to instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Matias has explosive, plus-plus raw power, but he needs to undergo massive swing changes in order to hit higher-level pitching. He has started the process by lowering his hands and becoming more relaxed with his setup, creating a cleaner path to the baseball. That result was more of a line-drive approach, with his power playing well with that swing path. Even with the change, Matias has a long way to go. The next step is creating a better connection between his lower half and his hands. Defensively, Matias possesses prototypical right field skills, especially with a plus-plus arm.

THE FUTURE: Matias' tools are tantalizing, but it's not going to be a quick process to improve his swing. A return to high Class A to start the 2021 season may be best.

TRACK RECORD: It's been a slow climb for the New York high school product since he was drafted in the second round in 2014, but Blewett made it to the majors for two appearances in 2020. He spent most of the summer at the alternate training site before getting called up briefly at the end of September.

SCOUTING REPORT: Blewett has a tall, bulky frame that has added 30 pounds since being drafted. He delivers his 92-96 mph four-seam fastball with sink out of a high, three-quarter slot, and added a two-seamer in 2020. He also added a mid-80s slider with 12-to-6 break he uses to get swings-and-misses as an above-average pitch. Blewett still has an average curveball, but it's taken a back seat to his slider. He occasionally mixes in a firm changeup in the upper 80s. with good action. His ability to repeat his delivery has improved in the past year, providing hope he can get to average control.

THE FUTURE: Without a plus pitch and uncertain control, Blewett projects more as a spot starter or long reliever than a rotation mainstay. He should get another chance to pitch in the majors in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Royals surprisingly added Zerpa to the 40-man roster after the 2020 season. The 21-year-old Venezuelan lefty has yet to pitch above the Rookie-levels, but he's pitched well so far with a 2.95 ERA in 38 career appearances, including 31 starts.

SCOUTING REPORT: Zerpa pitches from a lower slot with a short-armed delivery. He's a consistent strike thrower with a feel for the strike zone, particularly with his 89-94 mph fastball with plenty of sink. Zerpa commands his secondary pitches, notably a high-70s slider with sweep and a mid-80s changeup with good drop. He'll need to continue to rely on his pitchability since there's not much projection left in his body, but he gives batters a different look.

THE FUTURE: Zerpa will head to spring training with the big league team before returning to the minor leagues. The hope is he becomes a lefthanded reliever.

TRACK RECORD: Del Rosario originally signed with the Braves in 2016 for $1 million but was later declared a free agent as part of Atlanta's punishment for violating international signing rules. The Royals signed him for $665,000 and he quickly shot up to low Class A Lexington in his first season in the organization. Del Rosario's progress was stunted when he missed all of 2019 with a nerve issue, but he returned in 2020 to participate in the Royals' fall instructional league camp at Kauffman Stadium.

SCOUTING REPORT: Del Rosario is throwing as well as ever, with a 92-95 mph fastball with late life to both sides of the plate. He throws with a sneaky arm action and his pitches jump on hitters. He's still fine-tuning his 80-mph curveball, which flashes plus with good shape, and his changeup has good action but he needs to better follow through on it. Del Rosario is still growing and continues to add strength. His control is fringy but has a chance to improve as he matures physically and moves further away from injury.

THE FUTURE: Del Rosario hasn't pitched in an official game in two years, but he's a tantalizing righthander with lots of potential. He should see high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: It didn't take long for a buzz to start circulating at instructional league about the hefty young Dominican regularly hitting triple-digits in outings for the Royals. Valerio's fastball sat in the high 80s when he signed in 2018 for $242,500, but it wasn't long until that velocity started creeping up.

SCOUTING REPORT: It's all about the fastball for Valerio. The ball flies out of his hand with plenty of hop to it, getting heavy sink and downhill plane. He sits 96-99 mph with the heater and has touched 102. He has a nice, easy delivery but needs to repeat it better to locate his pitches. Valerio's secondary pitches are behind his fastball. His 79-81 mph curveball has downer movement and could be a plus pitch with more consistency. He doesn't often use the hard, 88-89 mph changeup. Valerio is still growing into his body but there's already strength in the lower half. He has a chance to reach fringe-average control if he can be more consistent in his delivery.

THE FUTURE: There's a lot to dream on with Valerio, but he's very far away. His plus-plus fastball gives him a carrying asset.

TRACK RECORD: Collins is the rare baseball prospect from The Netherlands, but his athleticism and ability to hit that have attracted more interest than his nationality. He began his pro career in the Rookielevel Arizona League and hit .320/.401/.436 as a 17-year-old. He left early to represent his nation at the Under 18 World Cup in Korea and was named to the All-World team. Collins got back on the field in 2020 at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Collins has added strength since his debut season without affecting his athleticism. He's more of a hit over power type, with plus bat speed and a good approach at the plate. Since he's likely to be limited to left field, Collins will need to develop more power. He's a plus runner underway but projects as more of an average runner or a tick above as he continues to grow. A below-average arm will keep him out of right field. He is mature for his age and a hard worker.

THE FUTURE: Collins still has a long way to go. A corner outfielder with power questions and an unorthodox profile, he may still have the hitting potential to make it work.

TRACK RECORD: Hicklen was a two-sport star who played wide receiver at Alabama-Birmingham until the school dropped its football program in 2017. With his focus solely on baseball, he had a breakout season that spring and was drafted in the seventh round by the Royals. Hicklen advanced to high Class A Wilmington in 2019 and showed an impressive combination of power and speed with 34 extra-base hits and 39 stolen bases, albeit with 140 strikeouts. He returned to the field in 2020 at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: A strong, physical talent with plus-plus speed, Hicklen is capable of playing all three outfield positions. He has a chance to be at least an average defender, but he struggles with routine plays at times. His above-average arm will be enough for right field. Hicklen is working to get the parts of his swing to work together as he continues to improve the timing and rhythm of his toe tap. His struggles with good velocity and pitches with horizontal movement will limit his offensive upside, but he should be able to get to at least average power. Hicklen plays with an aggressive football mentality and demonstrates elite makeup and leadership skills.

THE FUTURE: Hicklen has the physical skills to be a reserve outfielder, with the added bonus of exceptional leadership that will help a clubhouse.