The Royals kept leaning into pitching in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, and their latest swing came with the No. 56 pick.
Kansas City used its second-round selection on Jack Slightom, a high-school right-hander from Lyons Township High School in Willow Springs, Illinois. The 6-foot-5 pitcher is committed to the University of Cincinnati, but the Royals are betting on the kind of arm that still has plenty of room to grow.
Slightom brings a lot to work with. His fastball has reached 98 mph and shows some late carry through the zone, while his slider and changeup are still developing.
Baseball America described him as a pitcher with a starter look, noting that he keeps hitters off balance with a changeup that gets whiffs from both sides of the plate. The outlet also said he touched 97 mph this year.
The Royals were in position to take that kind of gamble on a prep arm after already adding another right-hander earlier in the draft. Kansas City selected Taylor Rabe in Competitive Balance Round A, giving the organization another young pitcher to develop.
There’s also a familiar blueprint here. Slightom could end up following the path of Royals top prospect David Shields, who was taken in the second round in 2024 after being committed to Miami but chose to sign with Kansas City. Shields has since developed into a high-caliber pitching prospect over two seasons, and the Royals are hoping Slightom can make a similar leap.
Slightom’s background adds another layer to the pick. He was a two-sport standout in high school and played quarterback, leading Lyons Township to the Class 8-A state playoffs. Once he enters the Royals system, baseball will be the only focus, and Kansas City is clearly hoping that full-time attention helps unlock more of what he can become.
The numbers from his senior season back up the upside. Slightom went 7-0 with a 0.38 ERA in eight games, striking out 73 and walking seven in 37 and 1/3 innings, according to MaxPreps.
With Slightom in the fold, the Royals now have a trio of teenage pitchers in the system. He joins Shields and Kendry Chourio, another high-upside arm on the rise. Chourio is set to pitch in the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kansas City has made three picks so far in the 2026 draft. The club opened by taking University of Louisville outfielder Zion Rose with the sixth overall pick, then followed with Rabe at No. 30 before landing Slightom at No. 56.
In Other News...
Royals Day 2 Draft Haul Might Have More Upside Than Expected
The Royals spent the second day of the MLB draft doing what they have increasingly made a habit of doing: adding volume, variety and a little bit of upside to the organization. Among the names added were Ethan McElvain, Justin LeGuernic, Camden Johnson and several others from both colleges and high schools, a mix that reflects a draft approach built around finding different kinds of talent and giving the player-development staff more to work with.
What stands out in this group is how many of the picks come with something that could make them more than ordinary middle-round selections. Kansas City landed players with notable draft rankings and intriguing traits, and even its first position player of the day brought a different look to the class. There are also prep and injury-rebound types in the mix, the sort of bets that can make a draft haul look better a year or two down the road than it does on the day it is made. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianones Derby Prep Had Royals Fans Doing A Double Take
Before the Royals opened against the Orioles, Jac Caglianone turned batting practice into a bit of a family showcase, taking swings with his father on the mound as he gets ready for the All-Star Game Home Run Derby. The scene drew a crowd, with Royals teammates and even a few Orioles players stopping to watch the rookie outfielder go through his prep work in front of the home dugout.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro even put off his interview so he could catch the session, a sign of how much attention Caglianones Derby run is already generating inside the clubhouse. For Kansas City, it is the kind of midseason moment that blends a little novelty with real pride, especially with teammates backing him and the organization clearly enjoying the spotlight that comes with having one of its young hitters on the Derby stage. [Read more 🡒]