Royals News: Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia returns, KC's rising farm ranking, Carlos Santana

Kansas City Royals fans are in the weird stage in season for the first time since 2023 where they're essentially just watching their team run out the clock on the season. Despite the Noah Cameron masterclass on Sunday, the Royals sit 23 games under .500. It's performances like this from their stars that the Royals faithful have left to look forward to watching.

And according to reports, it appears Royals fans will hopefully have two more stars returning to hopefully lift their spirits this week. Jack Janes of MLB.com reported on Sunday that manager Matt Quatraro hopes that both Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia will be making their long-awaited returns to the lineup this week.

"Both Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia are not playing today but are working out and will see how they feel after," Janes wrote on Sunday on X. "Quatraro said if they’re feeling good, there’s a chance they can rejoin the Royals tomorrow."

Pasquantino has been out since July 29 after experiencing right wrist soreness and had only been back for a few weeks after missing roughly a month with a right hamate fracture. Garcia's stint has been much longer, as his lingering hand issues resulted in him landing on the IL with muscle strains on June 23.

Neither has been the overall force that many Royals fans hoped they'd be in 2026 with Pasquantino turning in an 84 wRC+ and Maikel Garcia posting a 92 wRC+. However, there's no denying that at their peaks, these are key members to the Royals' competitive ambitions and will be welcome additions to the lineup - even if this season is a lost one.

Royals' farm system has best outlook in MLB Pipeline's rankings in two years

The Royals farm system has been the talk of the town recently with teenaged stars like Kendry Chourio, Josh Hammond and Angeibel Gomez getting some well earned time in the limelight.

And it's those three names that are at the center of Kansas City's best farm system ranking in the eyes of MLB Pipeline in two seasons. After failing to crack the Top 20 systems since midseason 2024, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and San Dykstra listed the Royals at 19th in their latest midseason update. It may not be glamorous, but it certainly represents the steady rise this system has experienced all season.

"All three Top 100 prospects above are 19 or younger, and they could become mainstays in that upper echelon for a few more years yet," the Pipeline team wrote. "Gomez, in particular, has a rocket ship attached to his name with a strong pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, and his first stateside campaign will be highly anticipated in 2027."

The aforementioned Gomez has burst on the scene in the DSL with a .360 AVG, 1.133 OPS and 159 wRC+ in 45 games. Hammond has been a bit more modest, but has still looked like a real force in his first year of pro-ball in Low-A Columbia with a .297 AVG, .770 OPS, 105 wRC+ and 22 steals in 101 games. Then there's Chourio, who's accolades speak for themselves. He's coming off capturing Midwest League Pitcher of the Month honors in July with High-A Quad Cities and between there and Columbia, he's sporting a combined 2.20 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.

Former Royals slugger Carlos Santana looks for next opportunity after Braves release

In an old friend update, former Royals first baseman Carlos Santana was "granted his release from Triple-A Gwinnett" on Sunday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

After a very underwhelming eight game and -23 wRC+ stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks at the beginning of the season, the 40-year-old latched on with the Atlanta Braves organization and had some real success in their farm ranks.

The journeyman was hitting .292 with a .767 OPS and 108 wRC+ in 104 Triple-A plate appearances. On top of that, a 12.5% walk rate and sub-20% K-rate once again showed off the veteran's trademark plate discipline and 18 RBI isn't too shabby for a 27-game stint.

In parts of two seasons with the Royals between 2021 and 2022, Santana didn't offer much slashing just .215/.326/.341 with 23 homers and 90 RBI in 210 games.

Where he goes now remains to be seen, but with the Triple-A showcase he put on in Gwinnett, there will surely be a team that takes a gamble on his veteran experience.

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