With the MLB First-Year Player Draft in the books, The Kansas City Royals selected Sean Gamble, a left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder from IMG Academy in Fla. their first pick. The Royals had the 23rd overall pick this year. 19-year-old Gamble is a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and is currently committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt University. According to Maxpreps.com, he batted .374 across three seasons with IMG, including .413 (31-for-75) with 4 home runs, 6 triples, 8 doubles, 29 runs and 30 RBI as a senior, a 1.324 OPS. He only struck out 6 times in 91 plate appearances this season, while drawing 10 walks.
The Royals also had the 28th overall selection in this year’s Draft. Bobby Witt Jr. being named the AL MVP runner up last season earned the Royals the Prospect Promotion Incentive pick, and with that pick they selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian Academy.
With the 61st overall pick in the 2nd round, the Royals selected RHP Michael Lombardi out of Tulane University. They used the 71st pick selection in the Competitive Balance Round B to select LHP Justin Lamkin from Texas A&M University. With their final selection on Night 1 of the Draft, they selected RHP Cameron Millar out of Alhambra High School with the 97th pick in Round 3.