The Royals’ farm system had a little bit of everything this week: a hot stretch in Quad Cities, a strong series from Northwest Arkansas, and a few individual performances that stood out even in losses.
At Triple-A Omaha, the Storm Chasers dropped four of six to Louisville, but there were still some solid showings on both sides of the ball. Mitch Spence took the ball twice and worked 10.1 innings, giving up 10 hits, four runs and five walks while striking out 12.
Henry Williams added one start of his own, finishing six innings with six hits, three runs, one walk and five strikeouts. Justin Topa, recently acquired by the Royals, logged three scoreless innings across two outings.
The offense had some pop, too. Gavin Cross finished 10 for 27 with three doubles, a triple, a homer and five RBIs.
Brett Squires went 7 for 22 and left the yard twice while adding two doubles. John Rave chipped in 6 for 22 with a homer and five runs batted in.
Omaha now heads home for a Friday-through-Sunday set against Lehigh Valley.
Northwest Arkansas came away with four wins in six games against Wichita, and Jack Pineda was right in the middle of it. The 26-year-old shortstop went 13 for 26 with four doubles, a triple and a homer, pushing his season line to .374/.443/.557. Spencer Nivens also had a productive week, going 8 for 24 with two doubles, a triple and eight RBIs.
On the mound, Drew Beam turned in one of the more encouraging outings of the week, going seven innings and allowing five hits and three runs while striking out seven. His overall season numbers still aren’t pretty, but three of his last four starts have been excellent after his promotion to Double-A right before the season.
Steven Zobac added another clean outing, tossing five scoreless innings with three hits allowed and four strikeouts. For Zobac, it was another sign he’s settling in after returning from injury.
The Naturals are back home this weekend for Midland.
Quad Cities may be the hottest club in the Royals system right now. The River Bandits have won eight of their last 10 after taking four of six from Peoria.
Blake Mitchell and Kendry Chourio also got a Futures Game look on Sunday, with Mitchell starting at catcher and going 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout. Chourio worked 0.2 of an inning in that game, allowing a hit and striking out one batter, and his fastball sat 97-99 mph against higher-level prospects from other organizations.
Back in league play, Chourio threw three scoreless innings this week and gave up just two hits while striking out four. David Shields made two starts and covered eight innings, allowing 10 hits, five runs, four earned, with two walks and 11 strikeouts.
Kamden Edge also impressed with two scoreless innings, one hit and six strikeouts. At the plate, Mitchell went 7 for 16 with three homers, a double and six RBIs.
Ramon Ramirez was even louder, going 9 for 21 with five doubles, a homer and 13 RBIs. Derlin Figueroa added 8 for 21 with two doubles and a homer.
Quad Cities now hits the road for Wisconsin, with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday.
Columbia had a tougher week, dropping four of six to Salem. Sean Gamble went 5 for 20 and swiped four bases.
Connor Rasmussen reached often, going 5 for 13 and drawing five walks. JC Vanek contributed 4 for 15 with a triple and a homer.
On the mound, Dash Albus threw four innings and allowed three runs, though all three were unearned, while striking out six. The 23-year-old left-hander out of Abilene Christian was a 19th-round pick by the Royals in 2024. Randy Ramnarace also turned in a useful week with 3.2 scoreless innings, five hits allowed and six strikeouts.
In Other News...
Royals Just Reached A Trade Deadline Crossroads Fans Feared
The All-Star break arrived with the Royals stuck at 38-59, a record that leaves them tied for the worst mark in baseball and forces a hard look at where this season is headed. Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone have given Kansas City some bright spots, but the roster around them has been battered by injuries to key arms and late-inning pieces, and the club has spent most of the summer trying to patch holes instead of climbing the standings.
Kansas Citys deficit in the division and wild-card race has made a postseason push look remote, which is why the next few weeks feel so important for the front office. With the Aug. 3 deadline approaching, the Royals are in no position to buy, and general manager J.J. Picollo could be faced with deciding whether to move multiple veterans and reset around the younger core rather than keep waiting for a turnaround that has not materialized. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Face A Franchise Shaping Deadline Decision Again
The Royals are once again being asked to decide whether to think short-term or keep leaning into the long view at the trade deadline. After spending the last few years trying to build a sturdier base, the front office is weighing whether to chase young, controllable talent that fits the roster for 2027 and beyond, even if it means parting with pieces that help now.
That kind of move can make sense on paper, but it also comes with real consequences for a club that still has to cover innings in the present. Kansas City already has a thin rotation to manage, and the organization is also trying to nurture upside from within, including high school pitcher Jack Slightom, the 6-foot-5 right-hander it took with the No. 56 pick and one of the more intriguing arms in the system after he touched 98 mph. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Late Draft Pick Carries More Weight Than Fans Realize
The Royals 19th-round choice of Hudson DeVaughan was never just about adding another arm to the system. Kansas City has leaned into an underslot draft strategy, saving money early so it can chase prep talent later, and DeVaughan fits that larger puzzle as a right-handed pitcher with real upside and enough raw stuff to make the pick worth remembering. An Alabama commit with a fastball that helped him climb the board this spring, he gives the Royals another lottery ticket in a draft class built around flexibility.
Hudson DeVaughan also gives Kansas City a little insurance if the rest of the class doesnt break the way the club hopes. Late picks like this often live in the margins of draft coverage, but this one carries more weight because of what it could unlock elsewhere, whether that means extra room to get other young players signed or simply a fallback if the money gets tight. Even if he never becomes the headline, the Royals clearly saw enough in the arm to make him part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]