Here are Royals' Draft picks from Day 2

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals dipped into the high school ranks with their first two picks in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday, selecting a pair of high-upside hitters that could have a future impact at both the top and middle parts of their lineup.

Second baseman Sean Gamble (IMG Academy, Fla.) and infielder Josh Hammond (Wesleyan Christian Academy, N.C.) will need time to develop in the Royals’ system, but Kansas City’s Day 2 selections on Monday came more in line with the two picks that followed Gamble and Hammond -- college standouts.

The Royals took right-hander Michael Lombardi (Tulane) at No. 61 and left-hander Justin Lamkin (Texas A&M) at No. 71 on Day 1, and Kansas City dove back into the college ranks for 15 of their 17 picks on Monday.

Of the Royals’ 22 total picks, 16 were college players and 13 were pitchers. Of the nine position players selected, only Hammond bats right-handed.

More on the Royals' 2025 Draft:

• Royals go for offensive upside with Gamble, Hammond on Day 1 of Draft
• Royals first-rounder gambled on his talent -- and won big
• This Royals Draft pick left home when he was 14 ... now he's pro-ready
• Royals Draft Tracker

Here’s a rundown of the Royals’ Day 2 selections:

Nolan Sailors, OF

• Round 4 (No. 128 overall)
• Slot value: $582,900
• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: Creighton University
• Calling Card: Great bat-to-ball skills with an ability to play all three outfield positions. Sailors batted .389 and reached base at a .485 clip during his senior season in which he hit six homers, notched 28 extra-base hits and drove in 44 runs. He has 60-70 grade speed as a runner, stealing a team-high 27 bases, and Sailors should be able to track balls well in Kauffman Stadium’s spacious outfield.
• Fun fact: The 22-year-old is not afraid of the big moments. Notched three hits and drove in four runs in a win over Kansas in the 2025 NCAA Regionals in Fayetteville, Ark. Hit two homers in four regional games before leaping over the wall in left field to rob a homer from Arkansas in his final collegiate game.

Aiden Jimenez, RHP

• Round 5 (No. 158 overall)
• Slot value: $434,400
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: University of Arkansas
• Calling Card: The 6-foot-3 righty can fire it up with a mid-90s fastball along with the ability to get swing-and-miss with his cutter, sweeper and changeup. Missed his entire 2024 sophomore season at Oregon State with Tommy John surgery, but Jimenez returned in 2025 with Arkansas, where he made a team-high 22 appearances. Jimenez had a 3.40 ERA with 40 K’s in 42 1/3 innings with the Razorbacks in his redshirt sophomore season.
• Fun fact: Jimenez’s father, Jason, and grandfather, Ken Hottman, both played in the big leagues. Jason Jimenez appeared in six total games in 2002 with the Rays and Tigers, while Hottoman played in six games with the White Sox in 1971.

Tyriq Kemp, SS

• Round 6 (No. 188 overall)
• Slot value: $366,100
• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: Baylor University
• Calling Card: At just 5-foot-7 and 156 pounds, Kemp plays elite defense at shortstop and took a step forward at the plate in 2025. He slashed .358/.446/.542 with seven homers, 41 RBIs and earned more walks (32) than strikeouts (27) during his senior season.
• Fun fact: Grew up playing baseball in the Netherlands, attending Alexander College and Albeda College in Rotterdam. As a member of the U23 Dutch National Team in 2021, Kemp was part of the gold medal squad at the European Baseball Championship in Italy. Has also played in various tournaments with the Dutch National Team in countries such as Mexico, South Korea and Austria.

Bryson Dudley, RHP

• Round 7 (No. 218 overall)
• Slot value: $263,500
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: Texas State
• Calling Card: Swing-and-miss potential with 13 K’s across seven innings in the MLB Draft League, with a mid-90s fastball to go along with a slider and changeup.
• Fun fact: Dudley held batters to a .185 average in 2025, the lowest mark by any pitcher in Texas State history. He had 13 multi-strikeout innings over his 50 1/3 frames this season, which included a complete-game shutout.
• Quote: “Had probably a career year, set records at Texas State. Big fastball characteristics, good breaking ball, very competitive kid.” – Royals' scouting director Brian Bridges

Brooks Bryan, C

• Round 8 (No. 248 overall)
• Slot value: $217,700
• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: Troy University
• Calling Card: Bryan has plus power and should remain a catcher in the Minors with his big frame behind the plate. Crushed 30 homers and 28 doubles in his past 118 games at Troy. Notched a school-record 85 RBIs in 2024.
• Quote: “Bryan has at least plus raw power and generates it with strength and an aggressive approach that includes a big leg kick and a pull-and-lift mindset. ... He probably won’t hit for a high average, but has 20-homer upside” -- MLB Pipeline report

Shane Van Dam, RHP

• Round 9 (No. 278 overall)
• Slot value: $198,600
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: N.C. State
• Calling Card: The 6-foot-5 reliever with a high 90s fastball pitched in just three games in 2025 due to injury. Van Dam logged 37 1/3 frames of relief in ‘24, when he struck out 38 batters.
• Fun fact: Played freshman season at the Division III level with State University of New York at Cortland in 2023. He struck out 43 across 29 1/3 innings before transferring to N.C. State.
• Quote: “Has a pretty good background, was a quarterback at Cortland, some of his highlights are pretty good. But we felt like here at the Draft we were going to get a starter. Just looking at his delivery and athleticism, he’s 91-95 [mph], he can really spin the breaking ball, so we feel really good about him.” – Bridges

Max Martin, RHP

• Round 10 (No. 308 overall)
• Slot value: $188,300
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: UC Irvine
• Calling Card: Mid-90s fastball with an above-average slider. Martin lowered his BB/9 rate from 6.8 in 2024 to 1.9 in ‘25, walking only eight in 38 1/3 innings. He picked up 14 saves for the Anteaters and had a career-best 3.29 ERA in ‘25.
• Fun fact: Martin played summer ball with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in the Alaska Baseball League in 2023, when they won the championship.
• Quote: “Max Martin is as nasty as they come. Up to 97 [mph], three pitches, throws them all for strikes with a good changeup.” – Bridges

Hunter Alberini, RHP

• Round 11 (No. 338 overall)
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: University of Arizona
• Calling Card: Big swing-and-miss stuff with a fastball that can touch 97 mph and a hard-moving slider. Struck out 33 batters over 20 2/3 innings in 2025 in his first year at the Big 12 level.
• Fun fact: Pitched a scoreless inning against Cal Poly on June 1 to help send the Wildcats to their first Super Regional since 2021.

Matthew Hoskins, RHP

• Round 12 (No. 368 overall)
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: University of Georgia
• Calling Card: Reliever with a high whiff rate. Hoskins struck out 39 batters over 27 1/3 innings (12.8 K/9) for the Bulldogs in 2025, but he struggled with command (23 walks).
• Fun fact: Pitched for Trenton in the MLB Draft League, where he was teammates with the Royals’ seventh-round pick, Bryson Dudley.

Tyson Moran, SS

• Round 13 (No. 398 overall)
• Bats/throws: L/R
• Calling Card: Solid hit tool and developing power for a high school infielder. Athletic and versatile, but Moran will likely play shortstop or second base. Has a commitment to North Dakota State.
• Fun fact: Moran hails from Wingham, Ontario, and he hit a homer during the Canadian Futures Showcase, which is a four-day event held each year by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

JC Vanek, 1B

• Round 14 (No. 428 overall)
• Bats/throws: L/L
• School: Chipola College (Marianna, Fla.)
• Calling Card: Good athlete with plus-power potential and ability to hit to all fields. Good defensively at first base. Vanek hit .395 with nine homers and a 1.143 OPS at Chipola College this season.
• Fun fact: Committed to LSU as a pitcher, but Vanek underwent Tommy John surgery before going the JUCO route and playing first base in 2025. Has currently committed to transferring to Florida State.

Connor Rasmussen, SS

• Round 15 (No. 458 overall)
• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: Tulane
• Calling Card: Played in 120 games over the past two years at Tulane, driving in 96 runs and hitting 30 total doubles. Slashed .333/.427/.484 this season and spent time at second base and shortstop.
• Fun fact: Joins teammate Michael Lombardi, who was drafted in the second round (No. 61 overall), as the second Tulane player to be taken by the Royals this year. Kansas City has now selected eight Tulane players in its Draft history.

Randy Ramnarace, RHP

• Round 16 (No. 488 overall)
• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: University of New Haven
• Calling Card: Ability to be starter or reliever. Struck out 45 in 32 1/3 innings this season to go with an impressive 2.51 ERA. Didn’t allow a home run and allowed just 18 walks.
• Fun fact: While at Brentwood High School, Ramnarace threw a no-hitter, striking out 19. It was the first no-hitter in over 30 years for Brentwood.

Luke Nowak, OF

• Round 17 (No. 518 overall)
• Bats/throws: L/L
• School: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Calling Card: Erupted at the plate with a career-high .387 average in addition to 28 stolen bases in 30 attempts this season. A career .322 college hitter with as many career triples (seven) as home runs (seven).
• Fun fact: His first career college home run came while he was with East Carolina University in 2024, putting the Pirates ahead of then-ranked No. 15 North Carolina with a two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Grayson Boles, RHP

• Round 18 (No. 548 overall)
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: St. Augustine High School (CA)
• Calling Card: Potential to develop into starter with 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame. Fastball reaches the 90s with a solid slider. Committed to the University of Texas. Started the High School All-American Game last August at Petco Park, finishing the first inning with a strikeout.
• Quote: “Really wants to be here, we haven’t started to negotiate with him yet, but we’re going to do everything we can to get him in a Royals uniform. Met with him in the early spring in San Diego, him and his family, wonderful family. Great people. He was excited to be selected.” – Bridges

Dylan Wood, RHP

• Round 19 (No. 578 overall)
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: Franklin High School (CA)
• Calling Card: Mid-90s fastball with curveball and changeup also in the arsenal. Committed to the University of Arizona. Went 8-0 as a senior with a 1.65 ERA and 100 K’s in 59 1/3 frames.
• Fun fact: Pitched for the U18 USA National Team, holding a 1.11 ERA across 6 1/3 innings (three appearances) in 2024.
• Quote: "Kind of an old-school windup, delivery. Four-pitch arsenal. Throws a lot of strikes, up to 95 [mph]." – Bridges

Kamden Edge, RHP

• Round 20 (No. 608 overall)
• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: Northern Oklahoma College
• Calling Card: Mid-90s fastball with high-80s cutter in addition to a slider, curveball and changeup to round out his arsenal. Racked up 74 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings this season.