The Royals did not make a selection in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft, and lost right-handed pitcher Noah Murdock to the Athletics. Murdock must remain on the Athletics’ roster or Injured List all season or be offered back to the Royals.
The 26-year-old was a seventh-round pick by the Royals out of the University of Virginia in 2019. He battled inconsistency and injuries his first few seasons, and moved from a starting role to the bullpen in 2023. But this year he seemed to turn a corner, posting a 3.16 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings in 46 appearances across Double-A and Triple-A. His high walk rates remain an issue, however. Fangraphs ranked him as the #39 prospect in the…
