The minor leagues are the pipeline of talent for any small market club, and that pipeline has been fairly dry in the years following their championship. But after bottoming out, the Royals are making incremental progress with their farm system, according to the latest organizational rankings by Baseball America. Their updated rankings for 2020 lists the Royals 18th out of 30 teams, up slightly from their 2019 mid-season ranking of 19th, and up considerably from their #27 ranking a year ago.
Royals organizational rankings, per Baseball America
| 2011 | 1st |
| 2013 | 18th |
| 2019 | 27th |
Baseball America ranks the Rays with the top farm system, featuring the near-consensus top prospect in baseball, shortstop Wander Franco.