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3 hot prospects who might help the KC Royals in 2024

Count 2 pitchers and a utility man among minor leaguers who might boost the club.

By Mike Gillespie |
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KC Royals fans, a resilient group capable of surviving even the 106-loss season the franchise just gave them, have reason to be cautiously optimistic with Opening Day less than 100 days away. Well-chronicled by now are the potentially game-changing free agent signings and trades engineered by a front office committed to transforming the team for the better, and an owner willing to spend some money to attain that goal.

General manager J.J. Picollo's shrewdly executed moves instantly improved his club. With Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Will Smith, and Chris Stratton all coming aboard, Kansas City's starting rotation and bullpen will certainly be better; the addition of Hunter Renfroe strengthens the outfield. And the Royals' sudden plunge into the player market suggests they may not be done refining their roster for 2024.

That market, though, teeming as it still is with competent free agents and attractive trade targets, isn't the only player pool the Royals can tap to build a club that won't repeat the awful 2023 season — although Kansas City's farm system deserves its present poor reputation, it still boasts some prospects, including highly-touted outfielder Tyler Gentry, who might help the big club in 2024.

Some, of course, seem destined to reach Kauffman Stadium, but may best be considered dark horses for 2024 promotions. Here are three of them. (We'll soon have more on other KC prospects who could reach the big leagues this season).

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Anthony Veneziano

We recently wrote here about Anthony Veneziano, a talented Triple-A pitcher the Royals called up last September and used out of the bullpen for 2.1 innings. He didn't give up any runs, and probably benefitted from the all-to-short experience necessitated more by other pitchers' injuries than his own readiness for the majors.

But Veneziano remains a prospect worthy of watching and, at some point, a return to Kansas City that could happen sometime this coming season.

Who else has at least an outside chance to make it to The K in 2024?

A Yankee castoff just might make his big league debut in 2024

Few believed Anthony Benintendi was a long-term addition to the Royals when they traded for him and the two seasons remaining on his Boston contract just before spring camp opened in 2021. And sure enough, the club shipped Benintendi to the Yankees at the following season's trade deadline; in return, the Royals received minor league pitchers T.J. Sikkema, Beck Way, and Chandler Champlain.

Today, Sikkema is gone after Cincinnati snatched him up in the minor league version of the Rule 5 Draft earlier this month. Way, still with the KC organization, is 5-12 with a 5.77 ERA in 35 games (24 starts) split between High-A and Double-A.

Champlain, however, is progressing nicely along the path to Kauffman Stadium, a venue that with luck he may reach in 2024. Currently considered the Royals' 11th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, he went a disappointing 1-3, 9.84 at High-A Quad Cities after coming over in the Benintendi deal, but after improving to 6-3, 2.74 in 11 starts for the River Bandits to begin the 2023 campaign, moved up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, started 14 times, and went 5-5, 3.82 to finish the campaign 11-8, 3.33.

A righthander, Champlain is on Northwest Arkansas' roster but should make it to Triple-A Omaha before much of the 2024 season passes. If he continues to pitch well, don't be surprised if he winds up in Kansas City before the season ends.

Moving on...

Javier Vaz could make a case for promotion to the KC Royals this season

Like Champlain, Javier Vaz has only two seasons of professional experience, but possesses attributes that could propel him to the big leagues as early as the 2024 season.

Take his ability to get on base, for one. He signed with the Royals after they chose him in the 2022 amateur draft, then played two games in the Arizona Complex League (rookie ball) before moving up for 27 games at Single-A Columbia where he posted a .388 OBP. Bumped up to High-A to begin last season, he hit .270 with a .367 OBP and six homers, numbers warranting a promotion to Double-A, where in 37 contests his OBP rocketed to .391 and he batted .304.

And how about his speed? Vaz, who stands only 5-feet-9 and weighs just 151 pounds, flies on the basepaths — he stole 26 bases in his stay at Quad Cities last season. That speed also serves him well defensively, especially in left and center fields, although he also plays second base and shortstop.

Vaz might, if he maintains his knack for getting on base and continues to hit well, find his way to Kauffman Stadium before the 2024 campaign concludes.

The Royals have more prospects who may get to the majors soon

Veneziano, Champlain and Vaz could be Royals this season. But they aren't the only minor leaguers the club may call to Kansas City before the campaign ends. Keep an eye on this space — we'll have more on those, and other, prospects soon.

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