Royals prospect Kendry Chourio helped author a no-hitter Sunday, teaming with Emmanuel Reyes to finish the job.
Chourio, 18, arrived in the 2025 international signing period and has already climbed to the top of the Royals’ prospect list in Major League Baseball’s rankings. The arm talent has been obvious enough to draw praise inside the organization.
Royals senior director of pitching performance Paul Gibson told The Star’s Jaylon Thompson last month, “His change-up and his curveball were both good pitches with higher ceiling,” Gibson said. “So like any young pitcher that has the velocity that Chourio has, running through lineups with that fastball-heavy attack is going to be a natural thing.”
The stuff showed up in a big way Sunday. Baseball Pipeline reported Chourio generated 18 swing-and-misses and struck out 10 over five innings.
An MLB.com story noted that four of those strikeouts came against top Brewers prospects: Luis Peña (No. 2/MLB No.
18), No. 12 Braylon Payne, who fanned twice, and No.
22 Eric Bitonti.
The no-hit performance comes as the Royals continue sorting through pitching questions at the major-league level. Anne Rogers wrote about the club’s depth after Sunday’s drubbing by the Padres, and the spotlight is on Cameron’s rough stretch.
In seven starts since June 13, he has given up 31 runs in 35 innings for a 7.97 ERA. He has allowed five runs or more in four of his last five starts since June 24, with command and pitch execution leading the list of issues.
There was already some expectation that Cameron would hit turbulence after a rookie year in which he posted a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts. That kind of adjustment is common as hitters adapt.
But the correction has not come yet, and the Royals may need to keep leaning on him anyway. He’s nearing his Major League career high in innings, reaching 100 2/3 on Sunday after throwing 138 1/3 last season, but the team’s thin depth leaves little room to ease off.
Looking ahead, David Lesky pointed to a second half that will be shaped by development and evaluation. Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen remain central to the picture, especially with the offense having been better than many realize.
The trade deadline is not expected to swing things dramatically for Kansas City, though there are some interesting pieces in play. And there will be more chances to see players who could matter next season and beyond.
Once Maikel Garcia returns to join Jensen, Caglianone, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and others, the lineup should finally look the way it was intended. With 62 games left after the deadline, there’s still plenty to watch.
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Jac Caglianones rookie season has already given the Royals plenty to feel good about, but his latest exit is the kind of development that can make a tense stretch feel even heavier. The right fielder left the game against the Giants after a diving attempt in the outfield led to right-shoulder soreness, and the Royals had to turn to a defensive replacement in the sixth inning.
For a club already navigating injuries to Bobby Witt Jr., Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, Carlos Estvez, Stephen Kolek and Kyle Isbel, every new health concern lands with extra weight. Caglianone has been part of the lineups energy and upside, so any issue involving his shoulder will be watched closely as the Royals wait to see how he responds. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Suddenly Have A Major Bobby Witt Jr. Concern
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The Royals have already had to navigate plenty of injury trouble this season, and Witts absence only adds to the uncertainty around a lineup that leans heavily on his presence. Tyler Tolbert is starting at shortstop in his place, while Witt is being treated as day-to-day, leaving Kansas City to wait and see how quickly its star can get back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Thomas Is Creating A Royals Deadline Dilemma Fast
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For a Royals club expected to weigh multiple moves, that surge creates a real dilemma. Thomass recent production and left-handed bat make him a more attractive piece for contenders, while Kansas City also has other outfield options it could lean on if it decides to listen on him. The question now is whether the Royals treat his hot streak as a reason to keep pushing, or as the sort of window that can bring back something useful in return. [Read more 🡒]