Catcher Carter Jensen and left-hander David Shields were recognized by MLB Pipeline as the Royals’ top prospects of 2025. Jensen, ranked No. 1 in the Kansas City system and No. 39 overall, hit a career-best .290/.377/.501 with 20 home runs and .878 OPS across Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. His plate discipline and consistent power made him one of the most productive hitters in the Royals’ farm system.

On the mound, Shields earned Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a 2.01 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 79 innings for Single-A Columbia. The 19-year-old led qualified Royals Minor Leaguers in several pitching categories, including strikeout rate (28.3%). With Jensen nearing big league readiness and Shields emerging as a reliable young arm, Kansas City’s player development system showed encouraging progress in 2025.