Ben

Kudrna

Going unprotected here are left-hander Frank Mozzicato, the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft, and outfielder Gavin Cross, the ninth overall pick in the 2022 draft. They both needed to be protected from the Rule 5 draft for the first time, but the Royals are exposing them. It was a pretty obvious call in Cross’s case, but there might be a slight chance of Mozzicato getting taken. Kurdna figures to make his major league debut at some point during 2026, and he has a chance to be a back-end starter. Zobac had a mess of a 2025 season, and while he’s still starting now, he projects better as a reliever.

While Jac Caglianone is the biggets name on the list of non-roster invitees, Cross is intriguing in his own right. The 23-year-old outfielder — and ninth overall pick from the 2022 draft class — slashed .261/.342/.428 with 15 homers, 59 RBI and 30 stolen bases (32 attempts) in 101 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2024. There’s a good chance that we see him in Kansas City at some point during the 2025 season and his speed would give him some appeal from a fantasy perspective.

Kudrna allowed two hits and struck out three, but did hit a batter and issue two free passes. The right-hander has been treated carefully by the Royals in his first full professional season with the club, and the 19-year-old has posted a 1.96 ERA over seven starts and 23 innings with the Fireflies. The 43rd pick of last year’s draft, Kudrna can miss bats with three plus pitches, but his command is miles away as seen in 14 free passes in those 23 frames. As he fills out his 6-foot-3 frame he should be able to repeat his delivery on a more consistent basis, and he projects as a starter in the long-term. You may not see him in the majors until 2025, but if Kudrna fulfills his potential, he could end up a top-of-the-rotation arm. There’s a wide variety of outcomes with this type of profile, however.