The Royals will get a good look at how 2026 first-round pick Zion Rose fares against top competition this fall when he participates in the Arizona Fall League. Rose is one of nine Royals players who will suit up for the Surprise Saguaros this fall.
Rose was selected sixth overall out of Louisville last July. He played 19 games for High-A Quad Cities, hitting .268 with one home run, 14 walks and 14 steals. The right-handed-hitting outfielder is known for his speed and athleticism coming out of college,
and the Royals will get a chance to see how his tools play against some of the better prospects in baseball.
The Royals announced seven other players headed to the AFL, with one more participant to be named later.
Brooks Bryan is a catcher for the Low-A Columbia Fireflies who hit .319/.406/.496 with three home runs in 33 games before he landed on the Injured List on June 1. A left-handed hitter, he was an eighth-round pick in 2025 out of Troy University.
Austin Charles is a toolsy shortstop who has suffered from a spate of injuries in his career. He has been limited to 45 games this year at Quad Cities, hitting .285/.353/.491 with seven home runs. Still just 22 years old, Charles has an enticing power/speed combo if he can stay healthy.
Josh Hansell was a 16th-round pick out of Arizona State in 2023. He has battled injuries the last two seasons, but posted a 4.87 ERA for Quad Cities with 41 strikeouts and 25 walks in 40.2 innings.
Justin Lamkin is ranked the eighth-best Royals prospect by MLB Pipeline. The former Texas A&M pitcher was a second-round pick for the Royals in 2025. He was dominating High-A and Double-A with a 2.04 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 39.2 innings over eight starts before he was shut down in mid-May with an apparent injury.
Frank Mozzicato was the Royals’ first-round pick in 2021, when he was selected seventh overall out of high school in Connecticut. Known for a big curveball, Mozzicato has struggled in the upper minors with his control, posting an 8.04 ERA with 72 walks in 71.2 innings at Double-A. He has pitched much better in the last month, striking out 30 in 18 innings since August 8, with opponents hitting just .121 against him in that time.
Hiro Wyatt was a third-round pick by the Royals in 2023 out of a Connecticut high school. In his second stint at Low-A Columbia, he has a 3.21 ERA in seven starts, with 24 strikeouts in 28 innings, but has been out since May with an injury.
Steven Zobac seemed on the verge of making the big leagues until injuries derailed his career. He suffered injuries and ineffectiveness in 2025, but was still added to the 40-man roster that November. The 25-year-old made 13 starts at Double-A this year with a 4.85 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 42.2 innings, and is ranked #14 in the organization by MLB Pipeline.
The Arizona Fall League is for higher-level prospects close to the big leagues, as well as prospects who missed time due to injury and need more playing time. Royals prospects will play for the Surprise Saguaros, along with prospects from the Guardians, Mets, Phillies and Rangers. Teams begin play on October 3 with a “Fall Stars Game” on November 11. The regular season concludes on November 14, followed by the postseason.
The AFL will feature top prospects from around baseball, including Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero, Tigers outfielder Zyhir Hope, White Sox infielder Caleb Bonemer, Angels shortstop Arjun Nimmala, and Tigers shortstop Bryce Rainer. The Saguaros will be managed by Guardians coach Daniel Robertson.
