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KC Royals extend spring training invites to prospects Caglianone, Mitchell, 21 others

jaylon thompson
·2 min read

The Kansas City Royals will get a closer look at their top prospects during spring training next month in Arizona.

On Friday, the Royals announced that former first-round MLB Draft picks Jac Caglianone and Blake Mitchell are among 23 players who will head to spring training as KC’s non-roster invitees.

Caglianone was selected sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut in High-A last season before a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League. Meanwhile, Mitchell was named the 2024 George Brett Hitter of the Year.

Kansas City Royals first round draft pick Jac Caglianone poses with his mother Johanne Caglianone for photos on the field prior to a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium on Jul 24, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Kansas City Royals first round draft pick Jac Caglianone poses with his mother Johanne Caglianone for photos on the field prior to a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium on Jul 24, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Mitchell hit .238 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs with the Royals’ Single-A affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina (the Columbia Fireflies). He hit 16 doubles and three triples and stole 25 bases.

Caglianone ranks No. 1 and Mitchell No. 2 in the Royals’ minor-league system, per MLB.com. They will be joined by a host of other prospects when the club convenes in Surprise, Arizona (pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12 and KC’s first Cactus League game is Feb. 21).

Ben Kudrna (No. 3), Carter Jensen (No. 5), Gavin Cross (No. 6), Javier Vaz (No. 13), Chandler Champlain (No. 16), Steven Zobac (No. 17) and Tyson Guerrero (No. 27) are the top-30 prospects listed on the Royals’ non-roster invitee list.

Kansas City Royals designated hitter Carter Jensen against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 4, 2023.
Kansas City Royals designated hitter Carter Jensen against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 4, 2023.

The Royals also invited several players with MLB experience to spring training.

Cavan Biggio headlines that group after signing a minor-league contract with the Royals earlier this month. Biggio began his career with the Toronto Blue Jays and spent last season with three organizations.

Biggio is joined by pitchers Austin Cox, Taylor Clarke, Junior Fernandez and Brian O’Keefe as Royals non-roster invitees with MLB service time.

Clarke returns to the Royals after spending 2024 in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He posted a 5.08 ERA in his first stint with the Royals from 2022-23.

Fernandez played last season in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines. He previously pitched in the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations.

O’Keefe, meanwhile, was formerly with the Seattle Mariners. He hit .281 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs in the Royals organization last season at Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals will have 63 players in spring training camp. The group includes members of their 40-man roster and the 23 non-roster invitees. Of those 23 non-roster invitees, 15 were either signed or drafted by the Royals.

Royals’ 2025 Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees

Here is a look at the full list of non-roster invitees:

Left-handed pitchers: Austin Cox and Tyson Guerrero

Right-handed pitchers: Taylor Clarke, Junior Fernandez, Ben Kudrna, Anthony Simonelli, Steven Zobac, Chandler Champlain, Andrew Hoffmann and Beck Way

Catchers: Kyle Hayes, Omar Hernández, Carter Jensen, Blake Mitchell, Brian O’Keefe and Luca Tresh

Infielders: Cavan Biggio, Jac Caglianone, Tyler Tolbert, Javier Vaz and Cam Devanney

Outfielders: Gavin Cross and John Rave