Yesterday was the start of the International Signing Period for MLB Teams. That meant many MLB teams on January 15th announced the signings of their young and promising international prospects, many hailing from Latin America (especially the Dominican Republic and Venezuela).
Ben Badler and Baseball America have kept a running tracker of all prospects who have been signed, which can be located in the Tweet below.
The Royals haven’t shared their official signings list yet, but they’ve been connected to many top international prospects in this signing period. Today, Jared Perkins of Royals Review discussed the international prospects tied to the Royals expected to sign this week.
When we get the official list from the Royals, I probably will take a look and examine what this class means for the Royals in the long term. Until that happens, I wanted to continue with my “Top-30 Prospects to Watch” list for 2025, looking at my 20th to 11th-ranked prospects in the Royals system.
20. Daniel Vazquez, SS
74 G and 325 PA (Low-A): .253 AVG, 0 HR, 33 R, 20 RBI, 12 SB, 0.60 BB/K
A top Royals international signing in 2021, Vazquez’s numbers in the Minors haven’t been eye-popping. He’s also spent considerable time in Low-A Columbia (last year was his third stint in the Carolina League). The 20-year-old shortstop did show some progress with the bat in 2024 and seemed to be on his way to a mid or late-season call-up to Quad Cities until he got injured. He doesn’t offer a lot of power, but he has a high-contact approach and a decent eye at the plate. Vazquez is also one of the Royals’ best defensive infielders in the farm system, and he could have an Ehire Adrianza outlook at the MLB level.
The 20-year-old Dominican shortstop seems to be in the Royals’ good graces and plans for the future. He started in the Spring Showcase against the Brewers last spring and suited up for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League (he hit .298 in the AFL). Thus, there’s plenty to be hopeful for with Vazquez, especially as he moves to High-A ball in 2025.
19. Hiro Wyatt, RHP
18 G and 60.2 IP (CPX and Low-A): 2 W, 62 K, 0 SV, 3.86 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 2.48 K/BB
The Royals didn’t push the Connecticut prep pitcher too aggressively last year, as he only pitched 60.2 innings between the Complex League and Columbia. However, it seemed to pay off, as Wyatt showed some promise in his debut professional season. The fastball doesn’t sport premium velocity, but it has good movement and pairs well with his slider, his best offering. The changeup needs work, and he probably needs to add another pitch to be a viable starting pitcher option long-term as he advances in the Royals farm system.
That said, the cold-weather-state pitching prospect surprised many scouts and experts in his first stint in the Minor Leagues. He could be due for more positive development with more innings in 2025 (likely in Low-A again).
18. Frank Mozzicato, LHP
22 G and 101.2 IP (High-A): 5 W, 91 K, 0 SV, 3.45 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 1.47 K/BB
Mozzicato was a big tumbler in my rankings, as he was ranked No. 2 in my 2024 list. His season wasn’t bad at the surface level, as he posted a respectable 3.45 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 101.2 innings with the River Bandits in 2024. Unfortunately, his fastball velocity continued to stay under 90 MPH last season, and he struggled with walks, as evidenced by his sub-2.00 K/BB ratio.
Mozzicato has the frame and arsenal to be at least a middle-of-the-rotation starter at the MLB level. Furthermore, his curve is one of the better-breaking offerings in the Royals system. Until that velocity increases, however, it’s hard to see Mozzicato be much more than a reliever as a big leaguer. A velocity increase in 2025 could get him back on a Daniel Lynch IV track.
17. Drew Beam, RHP
19 G and 102.1 IP (College): 9 W, 99 K, 0 SV, 4.22 ERA, 1.27 ERA, 3.67 K/BB
A key starter for the National Champion Volunteers, Beam was selected in the third round by the Royals in the 2024 MLB Draft. Most MLB Draft experts widely heralded the pick, as many felt that Beam was a first-round talent and arguably one of the best college arms in the 2024 Draft. The Tennessee product is a workhorse who won 9 games and nearly struck out 100 in 102.1 IP last season. He also has an impressive four-pitch mix (four-seamer, cutter, curve, and changeup), and his changeup is his highest-rated offering.
Beam didn’t pitch after being drafted, which makes sense considering the Volunteers’ deep postseason run and the Royals’ desire to protect his arm. That said, expect Beam to move quickly in the Royals system, with a start in High-A Quad Cities likely in 2025.
16. Steven Zobac, RHP
25 G and 126 IP (High-A and AA): 11 W, 123 K, 0 SV, 3.64 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 4.24 K/BB
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Cal (go Bears), Zobac took a significant step forward in the Royals system last year. He did well in High-A Quad Cities but stood out in Northwest Arkansas. In 55.1 IP with the Naturals, he posted a 3.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 4.64 K/BB ratio, all better marks than what he produced with the River Bandits. Zobac sports an electric four-seamer and slider combo with a middling changeup that gives hitters a challenging change of pace.
The former Golden Bear is a late bloomer to pitching full-time, as he also played outfield in college. That gives him some Seth Lugo vibes, as Lugo also started as a position player and relies on pinpoint control. Zobac needs more offerings to be that Lugo-esque pitcher at the MLB level. However, Zobac seems adaptable and can add to his repertoire with more exposure to upper-level coaching and development this spring in Surprise.
15. Chandler Champlain, RHP
28 G and 140.1 IP (AA and AAA): 6 W, 120 K, 0 SV, 5.07 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 2.26 K/BB
Champlain’s stats look bad at first glance. An over-five ERA and nearly 1.50 WHIP will make any prospect expert cringe. On the flip side, he was a lot better in Double-A, and when the Royals didn’t protect him in the Rule 5 Draft, many outlets believed that Champlain would get selected in December. So there’s still a positive outlook for Champlain, even if his star dimmed a bit last season. The former Yankees prospect has a respectable four-pitch mix (fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup), but he needs to sequence his offerings better, according to scouts.
I would like to see Champlain get more innings out of the bullpen, which could allow his stuff to play better, especially his fastball. That outlook could be possible for Champlain in 2025, though I imagine he will begin the year as a starter in Omaha to give the rotation depth.
14. Luinder Avila, RHP
20 G and 87 IP (AA and AAA): 6 W, 85 K, 0 SV, 4.14 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 1.81 K/BB
Avila is a prime example of “skills” over stats regarding prospect evaluation. The Northwest Arkansas and Omaha numbers are “good” but not “impressive.” He still walked too many batters and didn’t strike out enough in 2024. Furthermore, he was prone to letting runners score more than they should’ve for a pitcher with his pedigree. Conversely, when one watches Avila’s tape, especially from last season, it’s easy to understand his potential and why the Royals added him to the 40-man roster this offseason.
His fastball has continued to gain ride and velocity every year, and his slider proved to be a better weapon last season, especially in the Arizona Fall League, where he was named an AFL All-Star. I’m not sure Avila’s starting days will last much longer in Omaha in 2025. However, the 23-year-old Venezuelan has the makings of an elite setup man or possibly a top closer. That’s how good the stuff on his two pitches can be.
13. Asbel Gonzalez, OF
45 G and 190 PA (CPX and AA): .280 AVG, 0 HR, 40 R, 20 RBI, 23 SB, 0.58 BB/K
At 6’2, 170 pounds, Gonzalez is the kind of lanky outfielder that Royals fans can dream about in the long run. His skills and performance in the Complex League were just as impressive as his size. Last year, he primarily played in Arizona, but he impressed so much that he got a cup of coffee in Northwest Arkansas to get him more at-bats. As expected, it was an adjustment for the 18-year-old in Double-A, but that’s to be expected for a prospect nearly two years younger than the average hitter. Still, he showcased an excellent ability to hit for average, efficient basepath speed, strong defense, and a judicious eye at the plate.
The home-run power wasn’t there for Gonzalez in Arizona this past season, but that will mature as his body does, especially since he has natural gap-to-gap power already. Gonzalez has all the makings of a Top-10 or Top-5 prospect in 2026 who could be the future CF for Kansas City. Conversely, I want to see how he adjusts to Low-A ball before giving him that title.
12. Yandel Ricardo, SS
45 G and 196 PA (DSL): .213 AVG, 2 HR, 27 R, 23 RBI, 14 SB, 0.74 BB/K
Ricardo was the Royals’ international signing prize in 2024, and one can see why with his 6-1, 180-pound frame. There’s a natural athleticism in Ricardo’s game that may remind Royals fans of Adalberto Mondesi. However, Ricardo seems more durable than Mondesi (he played 45 games in the DSL) and sports a better approach at the plate than the former Royals infielder, who tended to be too free-swinging. The average wasn’t impressive, but he had a low BABIP in his first stint in the DSL, and his 0.74 BB/K ratio gives hope that the average will come around once he gets more professional plate appearances. He also hit two home runs and stole 14 bases, giving Royals fans the hope that he can be at least a 20 HR-20 SB threat at the big-league level.
Many outlets identify the Cuban-born infielder as a Top-10 prospect in the Royals system today, and the tools certainly deserve that merit. However, I’ve been weary of ranking DSL prospects too quickly after my experience with Erick Pena. Hopefully, Ricardo can prove me wrong this year.
11. Ramon Ramirez, C
49 G and 203 PA (CPX): .265 AVG, 7 HR, 28 R, 33 RBI, 1 SB, 0.62 BB/K
Ramirez was tough to leave off the Top-10, but if I was going to be conservative with Ricardo, I felt it was fair to do the same with Ramirez. That said, the Venezuelan-born catching prospect has more of a resume at the professional level than Ricardo. In his first experience in the States, Ramirez hit seven bombs, collected 33 RBI, and sported an encouraging 0.62 BB/K ratio. There’s easygoing and natural power in Ramirez’s swing, and he seemed to get more confident in the batter’s box and behind the plate defensively with more innings in the Complex League.
The arm strength and athleticism are already there for Ramirez, but scouts report that he needs more work on his receiving and game-calling if he wants to be a full-time MLB catcher. Nonetheless, he sports the hitting profile that could help him become a regular catcher in the big leagues and a high-performing, multi-All-Star like Salvador Perez. That’s how much upside Ramirez has at only 19 years old.
Photo Credit: Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Image
Assuming Witt stays in KC, Yandel Ricardo could transition to c.f.. SS tends to be your most athletic player. Placing him in cf should provide excellent coverage and throwing skills. He should fill out well and provide a complete package out there… Adbel should fill out to 190 to 200 pounds and be a solid RF option.
If a pitcher lacks velocity. Teach him how to throw slower off speed stuff. A 10 mph speed differential from a 91 mph is still kneebucklng…
I like the idea of Ricardo moving to CF eventually. Looking at his size and how he moves, I’m not sure he’s a natural SS type anyways. I think long term if you can get Ricardo in CF and Asbel in one of the corners, you are set up great in the OF, as long as their bats develop (which is always a wild card).
I think there are some guys who are doing that. Simonelli is one as is Cameron, who doesn’t have premium stuff, but has a great mix and great location. Think the Royals are doing a better job of developing the whole pitcher now than previously under Moore.
Chazz Martinez!!!