KC Royals: Risers and fallers in 2020 top prospect rankings

Bobby Witt Jr. (2019: 1, 2020: 1)

Witt is the son of a former major leaguer and is probably the closest thing to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes the KC Royals are going to get. He is a true five-tool prospect and for the first time in his life, he’ll be devoting an entire year to playing professional baseball.

The jury is still out a bit as to just how complete of a hitter Witt will be but aside from those minor concerns, he looks like the real deal. Defensively, he’s great. When he’s on base, he can swipe bags and run with the best of them. His raw power is tremendous. A strong start to his 2020 season would help alleviate any worries about the team’s best prospect in recent years.

Brady Singer (2019: 2, 2020: 2)

Singer’s running mates have already been sent to minor league camp or been reassigned. He remains with the MLB club, which could be a telltale sign of just how much faith the Royals have in him. The results haven’t been spectacular but nevertheless, these innings have done little to dissuade the team from considering him its best pitcher.

The Royals’ No. 5 starter spot in the rotation is still undecided. Manager Mike Matheny hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Singer grabbing it. The opportunity is there, and we’ll likely see Singer pitching at Kauffman Stadium before we know it.

Daniel Lynch (2019: 3, 2020: 3)

Lynch has the highest ceiling of any pitcher currently in the farm system. His pure stuff is electrifying and his poise on the mound is beyond his years. The Athletic’s Keith Law likes him enough to rank him 13th on his list of top 100 prospects. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the young starter.

If Lynch can stay healthy, there’s little reason to believe he won’t be called up by the end of the season. Even if it’s in September, it should happen. He’s that good already.

The future of the KC Royals is in good hands (or bats, or arms).