Royals place four prospects on Baseball America’s Top 100 list

It’s the most they’ve had since 2015.

Baseball America released their top 100 prospect list and for the first time since 2015, the Royals have as many as four prospects on the list. Infielder Bobby Witt, Jr. places highest at #16, with Daniel Lynch (#25), Asa Lacy (#37), and Jackson Kowar (#95) also ranking among the top prospects.

Witt was ranked #25 a year ago by Baseball America, and he made up for a lack of actual games this year by wowing coaches and scouts in camp with the Royals. Baseball America writes that an assignment to Double-A seems likely this year, and there is “increased confidence that he will reach his ceiling as an all-star shortstop in the mold of Troy Tulowitzki.”

Lynch was ranked #39 a year ago with a mid-to-high 90s fastball and plus curve. The lefty also impressed at the Alternate Site, with Baseball America noting he cleaned up his mechanics. Lacy joins the list for the first time after being selected fourth overall in last June’s draft. Baseball America notes that he “ has front-of-the-rotation potential and could move quickly to the majors”, giving the Royal a pair of tough lefties at the top of their rotation.

Kowar drops from his #78 ranking a year ago, although Baseball America expects him to make his Major League debut this year, projecting him as a mid-rotation starter with Brady Singer. They note he “worked at the alternate site to keep his delivery more under control and improve his fastball command.”

Rays shortstop Wander Franco tops the list with Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman at #32. Eight teams place more prospects than the Royals - the Padres, who have seven prospects on the list, the Blue Jays (6), Marlins (6), Rays (5), Mariners (5), Orioles (5), Diamondbacks (5), and Tigers. The Nationals were the only team not to place anyone on the list. It is also the fewest number of pitchers ever to make a top 100 list with just 35.