The Royals don’t have much to celebrate at the big league level right now, but one of their most intriguing bats is making a loud case in Double-A.
Carson Roccaforte has put together a big power season for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and the numbers jump off the page. In 109 games, the outfielder has hit 30 home runs and driven in 80 runs while posting a .251/.333/.525 slash line. He’s also walked at a 10.4% clip and produced a 112 wRC+.
The Naturals made sure to mark the milestone when he reached 30 homers.
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Carson Roccaforte becomes the second player in Naturals history to hit 30 homers in a single season! pic.twitter.com/duBUycCev3
- Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) August 14, 2026
Roccaforte’s game isn’t built on power alone, either. He has 21 steals this season and added 43 combined steals between Northwest Arkansas and Quad Cities in 2024. MLB Pipeline’s most recent scouting report also gives him 60-grade fielding, which adds to the appeal of a player who looks capable of impacting the game in more than one way.
Even with all of that production, the Royals still haven’t promoted him this season.
There are reasons for the cautious approach. His strikeout rate is close to 30%, and the batting average is only average. Those are the kinds of warning signs that can slow a front office down, even when the home run total is tempting.
Still, the question hangs there: why not give him a look in Triple-A Omaha before the minor league season wraps up in a little over a month? A run with the Storm Chasers could give him a needed tune-up and expose him to more major league-adjacent pitching before Spring Training next season.
The timing matters because the Royals still have an outfield problem to solve. Jac Caglianone has brought some life to the picture, but the unit remains below average overall with a 97 wRC+.
The power shortage is especially glaring. Royals outfielders are tied for 26th in home runs with 33 and sit 20th in slugging percentage at .388. If Roccaforte keeps hitting the way he has in Double-A, there’s a real argument that he could help change that.
At 24, he has the kind of defensive versatility teams like to see, with center field as his primary spot and the ability to handle all over the outfield. The offensive upside is what makes him especially interesting, though.
This isn’t just a profile for a bench piece or a bat at the bottom of the order. If the hit tool keeps moving, the Royals could be looking at someone with a chance to grow into a middle-of-the-order presence.
For now, though, the path still runs through the upper minors. The Royals have seen enough to know Roccaforte is past every test they’ve put in front of him so far. The next question is whether they’ll let him take the next one in Omaha.
In Other News...
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Massey has given Kansas City a clearer answer than it had before, but not necessarily the long-term one it wants. The organization has reason to keep evaluating how he fits best as it weighs upgrades for next season, and that opens the door to a bigger decision about whether he stays anchored at second or becomes part of a broader roster reshuffle aimed at raising the ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone May Be Giving The Royals What They Needed Most
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For a club trying to steady itself, the timing matters as much as the numbers, and Caglianones career-high five RBIs were a big part of why this one tilted the Royals way. Kansas City has now won four straight against Los Angeles, a small but meaningful run of success as the lineup starts to find some traction behind one of its most productive young bats. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Could Be Near A Huge Lineup Boost From Two Regulars
Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino took another meaningful step back toward Kansas City on Friday night, each getting a full game in on rehab assignments as the Royals keep waiting for two regulars to work their way back into the lineup. Garcia handled third base for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and found his timing at the plate with three hits, while Pasquantino was back at first base for Triple-A Omaha and went 1-for-4.
For a club that can use help wherever it can find it, the encouraging part is not just that both players are on the field again, but that they are being tested in game action rather than limited to lighter work. Garcia has been building back after a left hand muscle strain, and Pasquantino is working his way through recovery from right wrist soreness, leaving the Royals with one more stretch of patience before those lineup pieces come into focus. [Read more 🡒]