As we continue looking at potential draft prospects, many mocks have the Royals focusing on prep players, despite a college-heavy draft class for Roayls scouting director Brian Bridges last year. In a mock draft at ESPN last week, Kiley McDaniel has the Royals taking prep two-way player Josh Hammond.
Hammond has a number of potential landing spots starting around No. 10 and ending somewhere in the mid-20s. Given Hammond’s two-way exploits, there are parallels here with Austin Riley, a player Royals scouting director Brian Bridges drafted while with Atlanta. I’d expect prep pitching and/or a prep shortstop (lots of names are mentioned, especially given Kansas City’s history) at their next few picks.