1 KC Royals prospect who will make the Opening Day roster, 2 who won't

Don’t worry, Kansas City Royals fans! While the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their role as the Evil Empire: West Coast, the Royals’ transaction wire looks as eerily silent as many of their mid-market peers.

With each passing day, it seems more likely that the Royals are banking on internal improvement to propel their success in 2025. It’s a strategy Royals fans have been asked to buy into for years, often leaving them with a sense of unease as Opening Day looms closer. While the free agent market still holds intriguing options, it’s increasingly clear that the bulk of Kansas City’s roster is already in place.

The Royals didn't rely much on prospects graduating in 2024 to fuel their 30-win improvement. Could the Royals lean more on their farm system to supplement their success in 2025? While some young players may make their mark, others aren’t quite ready for prime time. Here are two prospects who likely won’t be part of the Opening Day solution and one who could force his way into the mix with a strong showing in Arizona.

Eric Cerantola is close to the KC Royals, but not there yet

The Rule 5 draft pressured MLB teams to make quick decisions on eligible players, and the Kansas City Royals acted decisively by adding right-handed pitcher Eric Cerantola to their 40-man roster. While Cerantola is not yet MLB-ready, his two-pitch mix and transition to a full-time bullpen role make him a viable candidate for a single-inning reliever in the near future. But just not yet.

Cerantola’s shift to the bullpen began in earnest during the 2024 season. After years of tantalizing potential but inconsistent results as a starter, the former Mississippi State Bulldog found clarity in his new role. The move paid off as he reached Triple-A Omaha on August 8, where he displayed flashes of dominance. His August 10 outing encapsulated both the promise and volatility of his game: after surrendering a no-doubt home run to Chicago Cubs prospect Kevin Alcántara, Cerantola struck out three consecutive batters, showcasing the devastating movement of his 70-grade slider. Each strikeout came on swinging strikes outside the zone, a testament to his simple yet highly effective arsenal.

Over 14 1/3 innings with the Omaha Storm Chasers, Cerantola struck out 31.3% of opposing batters while stranding 89.9% of his baserunners. His 3.77 ERA was respectable, and he only allowed runs in four of his 13 outings, demonstrating a knack for handling high-leverage situations. However, his struggles with control remain the glaring hurdle in his development. Only 46.9% of his pitches landed in the strike zone, and improving that percentage is essential to unlocking his potential at the MLB level.

Cerantola’s professional career has been a balancing act between his tantalizing stuff and erratic command. His slider is a legitimate out pitch, but his control issues often force him to navigate precarious situations. The Royals clearly see his upside, but he needs refinement before becoming a reliable big-league option.

Royals fans will have a chance to see Cerantola in action during spring training, where his slider is sure to turn heads. At 24 years old on Opening Day, he still has time to iron out the command issues that have defined his career thus far. If he can take even modest steps forward in his control, Cerantola could be knocking on the door to Kansas City’s bullpen sooner rather than later. Until then, he remains a project with a high ceiling and a runway to develop into a part of the Royals’ future relief corps.

Evan Sisk will break camp with the KC Royals

Kansas City’s bullpen had little to celebrate following the 2024 season. The group struggled across the board, ranking 20th in MLB with a 4.13 ERA, 23rd with a 1.33 WHIP, and dead last in strikeouts, amassing just 463. The saving grace for the unit was the rotation’s quality and durability, which limited the bullpen to 517 innings pitched — the second-fewest in the league. While a full season of Lucas Erceg and potential internal improvements provide some optimism, Kansas City’s relief corps currently lacks fresh faces. If no further moves are made, left-handed reliever Evan Sisk stands as the most likely candidate to make an impact in the Royals' bullpen in 2025.

Sisk, a southpaw acquired from the Minnesota Twins in a minor trade in 2023, has quietly emerged as a promising relief option in the upper minors. Known for his deceptive sidearm delivery and heavy sinker, Sisk excels at inducing weak contact and ground balls. His fastball velocity sits in the low 90s, complemented by a sweeping slider that generates consistent swings and misses, particularly against left-handed hitters. His 2024 Triple-A numbers were excellent, with a 1.57 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. His dominance against lefties was his calling card, holding them to a .093 batting average and a meager .290 OPS.

What makes Sisk particularly intriguing is his potential to fill a specific niche in the Royals' bullpen. Kansas City struggled to find consistent production from left-handed relievers in 2024, relying heavily on multi-role arms like Angel Zerpa and Daniel Lynch IV. Especially if Kansas City wants to keep Lynch stretched out as a starter and add Kris Bubic back to the rotation, there is certainly room for a single-inning lefty reliever on the 26-man roster come Opening Day.

That said, Sisk is not without his flaws. His command can be erratic at times, as evidenced by a 11.4% walk rate in 2024. Additionally, his lack of a reliable third pitch limits his viability against right-handed hitters at the Triple-A level, and that is something that MLB batters will expose quickly and mercilessly. These limitations make him more of a situational weapon than an all-purpose reliever, at least for now.

As things stand, Sisk appears poised to compete for a bullpen spot during spring training. His skill set aligns well with Kansas City’s current needs, and his left-handed dominance adds a dimension that was missing from the bullpen last year. His Opening Day roster spot will become clearer as other pitchers slide back into starting roles. There is still time for that outlook to change, and Kansas City's gluttony of starting pitching depth could complicate the bullpen plans. But if Kansas City decides to carry eight relievers in 2025, Sisk has a good chance of making that Opening Day roster.

Jac Caglianone will wow KC Royals fans, but still needs more time

The amount of power in first baseman Jac Caglianone's bat is otherworldly. Baseball fans saw it in college; Quad Cities River Bandits fans watched him launch baseballs into the Mississippi River, and he continued his slugging ways in the Arizona Fall League. It’s no secret. Royals fans can already envision the hype train rolling full speed ahead when Caglianone delivers his first monstrous swing in spring training, banishing thoughts of winter with the crack of his bat. By March, the excitement could be off the rails. But for all the buzz, fans need to temper their expectations — Caglianone’s chances of breaking camp with the big league club are slim to none.

Caglianone, the Royals' top prospect and ranked 17th overall in baseball, has already showcased his prodigious talent in the Arizona Fall League. Playing for the Surprise Saguaros, he slashed .236/.300/.449 with 21 hits and 21 RBIs in 21 games. He led the team with five home runs, consistently flexing the elite power that has made him a household name in prospect circles. One standout moment was his 117.3-mph single in October, the second-hardest hit ball of the AFL season. He even capped his campaign with a three-hit performance in the championship game.

However, his most recent stint in affiliated ball highlighted areas needing refinement. In 29 games with the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits, Caglianone showed flashes of brilliance but also had some growing pains. He struck out multiple times in seven games while drawing only seven walks. His infield fly ball rate of 23.1% revealed an occasional inability to square up pitches effectively, and his 14.4% swinging strike rate was higher than expected for an accomplished college hitter. His overall contact rate of 75% also leaves room for improvement as he adjusts to professional pitching.

To be fair, context matters. Caglianone was navigating the transition from college to the professional ranks, facing new pitching philosophies and dealing with the wear of a long baseball season. These are typical hurdles for even the best prospects and can be addressed with more time in the minors.

The Royals appear to be taking a methodical approach to his development. General Manager J.J. Picollo recently stated that the organization is "allowing him to focus on his offensive approach," setting aside any two-way player aspirations for now. It’s a wise decision, as Caglianone’s bat offers his clearest and fastest path to the majors. With MLB Pipeline grading his power at an elite 70 and his hit tool at a solid 55, the raw ingredients for stardom are there. The next steps involve refining his plate discipline and testing his mettle against more advanced pitching.

That journey is likely to begin at Double-A Northwest Arkansas rather than Kauffman Stadium. The Royals want to give Caglianone the time and reps he needs to unlock his full potential, and pushing him too quickly could be counterproductive. Fans should be excited about his future, but patience is key. Caglianone’s bat is a game-changer in the making, but 2025 will likely start with him continuing to fine-tune his craft in the minors.