The Arizona Fall League is an opportunity for prospects to get some extra work in against high-level competition after the minor league season has ended. For some, it’s a chance to make up for lost development time after an injury. For others, it’s an opportunity to get noticed, work on specific parts of their game, or make a strong impression heading into the offseason.
The Royals have nine prospects participating this fall, including several familiar names and a few who could be on the radar of
more fans in the coming years. Some have put together impressive performances, while others have struggled to find their footing. Let’s take a look at how each of them has performed so far.
Felix Arronde
The 23-year-old right hander from Cuba has made three starts in the AFL this season. In those three starts, he has totaled 6.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks while striking out 8 hitters. Arronde holds a 2-1 record. He is coming off his first year in Northwest Arkansas. This past season he threw 105.1 innings, with a 6.49 ERA. He walked 54 and struck out 91. He had a 1.66 WHIP. He has been with the Royals since he was 18 and coming through the DSL.
Josh Hansell
Josh Hansell is a 24-year-old right hander. The Royals drafted him in the 16th round in 2023 out of Arizona State. He has never made it past Quad Cities. So far in the AFL, he has made 9 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He has totaled 8.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs, walking 6 and striking out 12. His WHIP is at 1.50. This past season in Quad Cities, he made 16 appearances and 6 starts, posting a 4.87 ERA over 40.2 innings. He walked 25 and struck out 41, with a 1.40 WHIP. He missed the last month plus of the season due to injury.
Justin Lamkin
Justin Lamkin was the most talked about prospect early in the season (at least by me). Before the 22-year-old lefty went down with an injury that cost him the rest of the season, he made eight starts, totaling 39.2 innings, striking out 53 batters between Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas. He was drafted in the second round of the 2025 draft by the Royals out of Texas A&M. So far in the AFL, he has made five starts, totaling 16.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), walking 5 and striking out 14.
I expect him to start next year in Double-A but wouldn’t be surprised if he made a quick jump to Omaha. He is one name to keep an eye on as a prospect.
Frank Mozzicato
The 23-year-old is coming off a rough 2026 campaign in Northwest Arkansas. The lefty hasn’t fared a whole lot better in the AFL. In his seven relief appearances, he’s totaled 5.2 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, 7 walks while striking out 9 batters, and a WHIP of 1.94. This season in Double-A, he posted 71.2 innings with an 8.04 ERA, walking 72 batters. I don’t know how much time he has left in the KC organization. It’s getting to now-or-never territory.
Hiro Wyatt
Hiro Wyatt is a 22-year-old right hander, who the Royals took in the third round of the 2023 draft out of high school and has yet to make it past Columbia. In the AFL, he has four relief appearances, totaling 8.2 innings, allowing 9 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), walking 6 and striking out 6. This past season in Columbia, he made 7 starts, totaling 28 innings, walking 16 and striking out 24. He got hurt in late May and never made it back during the season.
Brooks Bryan
Brooks Bryan is a 22-year-old catcher, who the Royals drafted in the eighth round of the 2025 draft out of Troy. Bryan is a left-handed hitter. In 33 games in Columbia this past season, he slashed .319/.406/.496. He hit 12 doubles and 3 homers. He walked 16 times and struck out 27 times. He got hurt on June 1 and missed the rest of the season. So far in the AFL, he is slashing .317/.397/.583. He has hit 4 doubles and 4 homers in 60 at bats. He has walked 8 times, to 13 strikeouts.
Austin Charles
Austin Charles is a soon to be 23-year-old infielder. The Royals took him in the 20th round of the 2022 draft out of high school. He has never made it above Quad Cities. Last year with the title winning team, he slashed .285/.353/.491 in 165 at bats. He missed almost three months due to an injury. So far in the AFL, he is slashing .146/.143/.292 in 48 at bats, with two doubles, a triple. and a homer. He has yet to walk and has 17 strikeouts.
Angeibel Gomez
Angeibel Gomez is arguably the Royals top prospect, and if not, soon to be. The 17-year-old outfielder exploded onto the scene in the DSL this season. He slashed .361/.467/.653 in 144 at bats. He clubbed 13 doubles, a triple and 9 homers. He walked 28 times to just 19 strikeouts. He stole 15 bases and played exceptional defense in centerfield. So far, after coming stateside, in the AFL, he is slashing .286/.388/.405 with 3 doubles and a triple. He has stolen 4 bases and walked 6 times to 10 strikeouts. Mighty impressive for just 17.
Zion Rose
Rose was drafted sixth overall in the 2026 draft by the Royals out of Louisville. The 21-year-old outfielder went straight to Quad Cities where in 19 games and 71 at bats, slashed .268/.389/.338. He hit 2 doubles and a homer, while stealing 14 bases. So far in the AFL, he is slashing .322/.494/.508 in 16 games and 59 at bats. He has hit a double, 2 triples and 2 homers.
He has stolen 14 bases and walked 17 times to just 16 strikeouts. Rose might be a fast mover through the organization.
