NEWSLETTER
The Kansas City Royals are set to make their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft with the 6th overall pick.
Exploring Potential Fits for the Kansas City Royals in the 1st Round of the 2024 MLB Draft
The Kansas City Royals’ turnaround has been incredible. While they’re not quite a legitimate October contender yet, they’re close, and the sixth overall selection in the MLB Draft next month will help build their farm with top-end talent.
Keith Law has the Royals taking Wake Forest’s Chase Burns at No. 6 in his latest mock draft at The Athletic.
“Folks seem to believe new Royals scouting director Brian Bridges will continue to show his predilection for taking pitching in the first round by going with Burns or Smith here.”
While the Royals have a track record of taking starting pitchers in the first round in recent memory, they haven’t done that exclusively. Kansas City selected Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, and Daniel Lynch (with the latter two being supplemental picks) in 2018, Asa Lacy in 2020, and Frank Mozzicato in 2021.
They’ve also spent some first-round capital on hitters, taking Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019, Gavin Cross in 2022, and Blake Mitchell in 2023.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel believes the Royals will make it three straight years in which they take a bat in the first round with Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery.
“This is where things really start to open up. Nearly every player in the top 10 has been tied to this pick at various times.The position players on the board here are all very tightly packed and one of the hitters in play here will likely last until Pick 12 or 13.
“I think any of Condon/Bazzana/Burns/Caglianone would be the pick if they fall here and I think Hagen Smith and Bryce Rainer are also in consideration, with James Tibbs as a likely cheaper option similar to Montgomery. The Royals are also tied to close to a dozen different prep pitchers with later picks, so saving to go big later could end up being the aim here if those top four players don’t make it.”
Jim Callis has Kansas City taking prep shortstop Bryce Rainer at No. 6 in his most recent mock draft from last week, and his partner at MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo, has them taking Arkansas right-hander Hagen Smith.
“Given how big the offensive explosion in college baseball this year was, Smith’s season, setting an NCAA record for K/9 (17.3), is even more extraordinary. High school hitters like Bryce Rainer and Griffin could still come into play.”
