The Columbia Fireflies’ 2025 season ended with a 64-65 record, and for the Royals’ Single-A club, that number tells the story pretty well: close enough to make things interesting, uneven enough to leave plenty on the table. They were in the mix for the division in the first half, then spent the rest of the year sorting through the good and the bad.
Start with the position players, where the Royals got real signs of life from several young bats.
Josh Hammond, Kansas City’s first-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Wesleyan Christian High School in North Carolina, looked every bit like a player worth building around in his first pro season. He turned 20 just two weeks ago and spent the year holding his own against older competition.
In 437 at-bats, the shortstop hit .286/.354/.389 with 24 doubles, three triples and five home runs. He also drew 46 walks and swiped 25 bags in 30 attempts.
The glove still has work to do - he split time between shortstop and third base and committed 24 errors - but for a 19-year-old all season, it was a strong first step.
Sean Gamble, the other first-rounder from the 2025 draft, finished the year on a much better note than he started. The 19-year-old outfielder was stuck in a deep early slump and was hitting just .114 by May 21.
From there, he steadied himself, putting together a .254/.375/.398 line over his final 75 games. He ended the season at .203/.315/.310, with 17 doubles, three triples and seven homers.
Gamble also stole 38 bases and handled center field well defensively.
There were also some encouraging numbers from players a little further down the draft board. JC Vanek, a 14th-round pick out of Chipola Junior College, showed why he’s worth watching.
The 22-year-old first baseman hit .255/.399/.446 in 298 at-bats, with 14 home runs and 20 stolen bases while splitting time between first base and left field. He could be the kind of late bloomer the organization keeps finding ways to use.
Yandel Ricardo, a 19-year-old shortstop signed out of Cuba in January of 2024, put together a solid first full season in Columbia. He hit .266/.351/.398 with 17 doubles, seven triples and seven homers, while stealing 27 bases and drawing 48 walks in 109 games. Defensively, he handled both second base and shortstop well.
Brooks Bryan made the most of his chances, even while dealing with injuries. The Royals’ eighth-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Troy University was excellent in 119 at-bats, hitting .319/.406/.496 with three home runs. He looks like another player who could keep climbing if the health cooperates.
On the mound, Jose Gutierrez was the most reliable starter on the staff. The 23-year-old right-hander from Venezuela went 9-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 114.1 innings, striking out 98 batters with a 1.32 WHIP and a .256 opponent batting average. After working his way through the Royals DSL system, he looks like he’s finding his footing and could begin next season in Quad Cities.
Michael Lombardi, Kansas City’s second-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Tulane, flashed big swing-and-miss stuff. He threw 88 innings and posted a 3.68 ERA while striking out 124 hitters. Control was an issue, with 52 walks, but opponents still managed just a .223 average against him.
Randy Ramnarace, a 22-year-old right-hander from New York taken in the 16th round of the 2025 draft, also turned in a 3.68 ERA, doing it across 44 innings. He struck out 41 batters and walked 44, but opponents hit only .206 against him.
Darwin Rodriguez, a 23-year-old lefty from Venezuela, logged 115 innings and finished with a 3.83 ERA. He struck out 114 hitters, posted a 1.37 WHIP and allowed a .262 opponent batting average.
Hiro Wyatt’s season was interrupted by injuries, but he was effective when he was on the mound. The Royals’ third-round pick in 2023, now 22, made seven starts and threw 28 innings with a 3.21 ERA.
He struck out 24 batters, recorded a 1.46 WHIP and held opponents to a .248 average. If he stays healthy next season, he could move on to Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas.
In Other News...
Royals Deadline Choice Could Complicate This Teams Next Step
At the trade deadline, the Royals chose to keep both Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, a decision that gives Kansas City continuity on the mound but also keeps the pressure on its front office as it looks ahead. Wacha had put together a strong season and looked like the kind of arm that could have drawn plenty of interest, while Lugos year had been more uneven even as his contract loomed larger in the conversation about roster flexibility.
For a club sitting at 38-59 at the deadline, the move was as much about what comes next as what happened in July. Kansas City still has to sort through how it wants to shape its pitching staff and whether it can afford to carry expensive veterans while trying to build a more balanced roster, which is why holding both starters through 2026 now feels like a choice with real consequences. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Stadium Plan Faces A Public Cost Fans Werent Told First
Kansas Citys push to help finance the Royals new stadium took another step forward after the Finance Committee approved an ordinance tied to the project. The deal would put more than $1.3 billion, including interest and fees, into construction and infrastructure, with the city planning to cover the costs through tax revenues and fees generated in the Stadium Impact Area.
The full council still has to weigh in, but the size of the public commitment is already drawing attention because it gives a clearer picture of what the stadium plan will cost before the next round of debate. For fans who have followed the ballpark talk mostly through the lens of the teams future, the more immediate question may be how much of the burden lands on taxpayers and whether the citys projected revenue stream will be enough to make the financing work. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Exit Could Change Arrowhead More Than Fans Expected
A new framework for the Truman Sports Complex is starting to take shape, and it suggests the area around Arrowhead Stadium could look very different once the Chiefs and Royals are gone. Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota outlined a plan that would keep Arrowhead as part of a year-round multi-use district, while opening up the site around Kauffman Stadium for broader redevelopment.
The countys approach is built around attracting private investment rather than depending entirely on taxpayer money, with room for hotels, entertainment, housing and other projects. For Royals fans, the most striking part may be what happens to the ballpark footprint itself, because the redevelopment plan points toward a future in which that space becomes a much bigger economic play than a place for baseball. [Read more 🡒]