Kyle

Hayes

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.

Hayes went undrafted last summer after a four-year collegiate stint between James Madison and George Mason. The 24-year-old backstop hit .275/.366/.488 with four homers in 24 games with the Great Falls Voyagers of the independent Pioneer League last year. He’ll give the Royals some additional organizational catching depth.