The Omaha Storm Chasers wrapped up 2026 at 65-81, and the season settled into an oddly even pattern: 8 games under .500 in both halves. That kind of year doesn’t produce much joy in the standings, but it did leave behind a few real performances worth sorting through.
At the top of the position-player list was Brett Squires, a name most Royals fans probably didn’t know before the season. The 26-year-old first baseman, an undrafted signee, just kept producing.
After a strong run in Quad Cities in 2024 and a middling stretch in Northwest Arkansas in 2025, Squires put it all together in 2026 across 32 games in Double-A and 100 games in Omaha. He hit .277/.351/.549 with 34 doubles, 3 triples, 31 homers and 103 RBIs.
He also drew 56 walks and struck out 141 times. Most of his work came at first base, with a little left field mixed in, and he looks like someone who should get a look in Kansas City next season.
Carson Roccaforte put together the loudest overall season of the bunch. The 24-year-old center fielder, a Comp B pick in 2023 out of Louisiana-Lafayette, finally made it to Omaha after a slower climb.
He played 110 games in Double-A before finishing with the final 28 in Triple-A, and across both stops he slashed .257/.338/.519. Roccaforte piled up 26 doubles, 5 triples, 35 homers and 96 RBIs, and he added 32 stolen bases.
The strikeout total was hefty at 181, but the defense in center is elite enough to keep him in the conversation. As much as the idea of him as the Opening Day center fielder next season is appealing, the expectation here is that he opens back in Omaha for a month or two.
Jack Pineda also turned in a strong year and fits the late-bloomer label. The 27-year-old infielder, a 12th-round pick in 2022 out of Baylor, hit .351/.413/.530 in 81 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
He added 20 doubles, 3 triples and 9 homers, along with 23 walks, 46 strikeouts and 18 steals. On defense, he handled shortstop, third base and second base well.
Peyton Wilson was steady too. The 26-year-old infielder, a Comp B pick in 2021 out of Alabama, posted a .276/.358/.433 line in 94 games.
He finished with 29 doubles, 8 homers, 41 walks and 17 stolen bases. Wilson also moved around the diamond, seeing time at second, third and left field, and held his own.
Gavin Cross had a rough start, but he finished on a much better note. The 25-year-old, taken ninth overall in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, closed the season at .247/.306/.434.
He totaled 20 doubles, 5 triples and 17 homers, while stealing 25 bases, walking 32 times and striking out 149 times. He continued to show he can handle all three outfield spots.
The pitching side was a different story. The Omaha staff was thin, older and, in a lot of cases, not really a future group. Most of the names here are already gone or likely won’t be back next season, which is why this list is short.
Ryan Ramsey is one of the few pitchers who could still factor into the Royals’ plans. The 25-year-old left-hander, a 13th-round pick in 2022 out of Maryland, made 28 appearances and 21 starts in his first full season in Omaha, throwing 115.2 innings. He walked 65, struck out 110 and allowed opponents to hit .275 against him.
Henry Williams also has a case to be part of the mix next season. The 25-year-old right-hander, acquired from the Padres in the Scott Barlow trade, made 28 appearances and 26 starts while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. He worked 132 innings, struck out 120 and walked 63, with opponents batting .277 off him.
Ethan Bosacker could fit as a bullpen option. The 25-year-old right-hander, a 13th-round pick in 2023 out of Xavier, threw 62.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He struck out 48, walked 34 and allowed a .254 opponent average.
Lucas Braun, who arrived in the Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter trade, gives the Royals some starting depth. The 25-year-old right-hander made 8 starts for Omaha and logged 37.2 innings, striking out 38 and walking 13. Opponents hit .282 against him.
What comes next for Omaha should be a little more interesting, especially if the Royals can inject more youth into the pitching staff. There’s at least a core of position players worth watching, and a few arms who could still show up in Kansas City next season.
In Other News...
Royals Could Signal Their 2027 Intentions With One Big Outfield Move
The Royals have spent much of their attention on how to push the lineup forward for 2027, and the outfield sits right at the center of that discussion. One name that keeps surfacing is Randy Arozarena, the Mariners left fielder whose offensive profile would fit a club trying to add more impact and balance to its order.
Arozarena has already established himself as a player who can change the look of an offense, especially with the way he handles left-handed pitching. For Kansas City, the appeal is obvious: a move like that would not just patch a position, it would signal a more aggressive approach to building the roster for the next stage of contention. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Have A Cheap Bullpen Fix They Can't Ignore
The Royals are already digging through the low-cost relief market as they look for a way to stabilize a bullpen that underperformed in 2026. It is the sort of shopping list that makes sense for a club trying to patch a clear weakness without spending heavily, and three familiar names have surfaced as possible fits: A.J. Puk, Taylor Clarke and Yuki Matsui.
Puk brings swing-and-miss stuff but is coming off injury, while Clarke offers the appeal of a former Royal who has shown he can be useful in Kansas City before. Matsui is the most intriguing of the group after a strong 2026 season, though the command and flyball concerns are part of the equation too. For the Royals, the issue is not whether there are options, but which one offers the best blend of cost, risk and upside. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Offseason Debate Comes Down To One Much Bigger Need
The Royals are heading into an offseason where the biggest questions are less about adding another bat and more about stabilizing the pitching staff for 2027. Randy Arozarena is the kind of offensive upgrade that can grab attention, but Kansas Citys front office knows the broader issue has been the arms behind the lineup, with injuries and inconsistency making both the rotation and bullpen areas of concern.
So the real debate is whether the Royals can find pitching help that fits their budget while still raising the floor of the staff. That could mean a veteran with a track record, or a cheaper option who brings depth and competition, but the priority is clear: Kansas City needs to make the mound a strength again before it worries too much about adding another name to the order. [Read more 🡒]