KC Royals Prospect: 2B/OF Peyton Wilson
If you haven’t heard of Peyton Wilson, I don’t blame you. He was never considered a top-tier prospect, even within the Royals' system. Kansas City selected the speedy, toolsy middle infielder out of Alabama with the 66th overall pick in 2021. He held his own in his brief professional debut that year, but it was his strong full season at High-A in 2022 that had me excited about the switch hitter’s potential.
Wilson got his first full-season shot at Double-A in 2023, and while his stats looked solid, he regressed in several ways that dampened the hype he had built the previous season. His power took a noticeable hit, with his home run total dropping from 12 to 6, and his ISO falling from .188 in 2022 to .125 in 2023. I attribute this to the jump in competition, with hopes that he’ll get back on track for the MLB following 2024.
Oddly enough, Wilson rediscovered his power and remained an above-average presence in the lineup, but the eye test suggests he’s still trailing his peers. His 106 wRC+ is solid, along with a career-high 13.2% walk rate over 517 plate appearances. However, his .228/.338/.380 slash line is tough to overlook, largely due to a career-low .275 BABIP.
Yet, while the Alabama product rebounded in some areas, he still lagged in others. Despite having the speed to be a major base-stealing threat, he remains conservative on the bases. Additionally, his glove doesn’t seem suited for second base or center field. He primarily played left field for Northwest Arkansas, but his below-average arm limits his ceiling at that position.
Combine those struggles with an underrated season from fellow middle infielder/outfielder Javier Vaz, and Wilson’s hype train has certainly come to a screeching halt. Now, he heads into the offseason likely to begin next year back at Double-A—at 25 years old. While Wilson may still make his MLB debut in the coming years, he has a lot of work ahead to rebound from two underwhelming seasons.