KC Royals: Risers and fallers in 2020 top prospect rankings

Michael Gigliotti (2019: 24, 2020: 12)

Gigliotti is one of the more gifted runners in the KC Royals organization, and he put it on display last season despite dealing with a knee injury. He has the ability to track down almost any ball in the outfield but doesn’t possess the arm strength to be an everyday centerfielder. His bat is also a serious question mark, and one that could determine just how good he is at his peak.

Another thing working against Gigliotti is the surplus of outfield talent ahead of him. Guys like Brett Phillips and Bubba Starling are already near the end of the line but even if they’re out of the picture, Khalil Lee and Nick Heath rank well above Gigliotti in the organizational depth chart. He’ll have to impress many before he receives his chance.

Brady McConnell (2019: 7, 2020: 15)

McConnell is listed as a shortstop and will continue to play there, but he likely won’t remain there once he reaches the MLB. Despite being a solid athlete, his range and glove don’t translate all that well to the position. His ceiling as a player is relatively low, so that limits his ranking.

His hit tool is intriguing and could become a strength but until the pieces are put together, McConnell is going to be just a solid prospect in the Royals’ farm system.