Royals Conclude Day 2 of MLB Draft with 16 New Selections

The Kansas City Royals capped off day two of the MLB Draft by adding 16 new prospects to their roster, continuing their quest to unearth future stars. While the first day saw the selection of big names, the second day is often where teams discover hidden gems. Recent Royals draft picks outside the top 150 who have made it to the majors include notable names like Vinnie Pasquantino and Nicky Lopez, underscoring the potential for late-round success.

With a draft-eligible pool of about 10,000 NCAA players each year, being selected is no small feat; only 5% earn that distinction. Among the new additions is McElvain, a formidable presence on the mound who transferred from Vanderbilt. Now fully committed to the bullpen, he threw 38.1 innings with an impressive strikeout rate of 34.4% and a sparkling 1.88 ERA, earning him a ranking as the 144th-best prospect in the draft.

Another promising bullpen arm, LeGuernic, was drafted at a relatively young age—he won’t turn 21 until October. He showcased potential with a 4.69 ERA across 19 games and is rated as the 220th-best player in the draft. Vigue, a starting pitcher, also joined the Royals, having logged 16 games for the Bulldogs with a 4.43 ERA against tough SEC competition, placing him at 201st on MLB’s prospect list.

Position player Johnson, the first of his kind selected on day two, transferred from Wichita State to Oklahoma, where he posted an impressive .298/.403/.478 batting line alongside 31 stolen bases, ranking him as the 116th-best player in the draft. Meanwhile, reliever Fontenot, despite battling injuries throughout his college career, has shown flashes of brilliance, striking out 26.9% of batters when healthy.

Small in stature but mighty at the plate, 5’9″ Tanner Griffith made a name for himself at St. Mary’s, hitting .342/.477/.545 with 22 doubles in 303 plate appearances. Another young talent, Hartley, a draft-eligible sophomore, struck out 22 batters in just 16 innings this season, showcasing his potential.

Hill transitioned to the bullpen this year, delivering a stellar 1.35 ERA with a 3.2 K/BB ratio over 20 innings. The Royals also selected Wickersham, a multi-sport athlete and their first high school pick of the day, who is committed to the College of Charleston.

Clement, known for his impressive mustache, has pitched both as a starter and reliever, returning from injury to throw 3.1 innings last year. Roman, who recently celebrated his 21st birthday, contributed a solid 3.88 ERA this season for Houston. Lastly, the Royals rounded out their day with the selection of McDonald, intriguingly identified as both an infielder and right-handed pitcher from a junior college in Florida.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.