The Kansas City Royals find themselves with the **No. 6 pick** in this summer’s draft, and it’s familiar territory. They selected **Jac Caglianone** from this same spot in 2024, and he’s been tearing it up lately in the minors.
Now the front office is hoping to strike gold again with another first-rounder who could fast-track to the majors.
Kansas City’s always operated with a “best player available” approach, mixing high school and college talent over the years. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter has them taking Mississippi prep outfielder **Eric Booth Jr.**
“Zooming out from the consensus top three, this class also appears to have a clear top six in raw talent, and Booth is the last player from that group still on the board. With top-of-the-scale speed and enough hit and power potential to be more than just a burner, he could be a future 20-homer, 40-steal center fielder.”
**Booth Jr.** brings the fastest wheels in the entire class, which has scouts eyeing him for the early first round. But he’s not just a speed merchant.
The bat’s solid too. If he can smooth out that choppy swing and add some pop, you’re looking at a potential franchise centerfielder.
What makes this pick interesting is the timing. While the Royals are digging out of an early-season hole, they’re building something sustainable. The farm system’s already showing promise with guys like Caglianone, and adding another elite talent keeps that pipeline flowing.
The way I see it, Booth Jr. fits perfectly with Kansas City’s patient development approach. They’ve got time to work on his swing mechanics while that elite speed plays at every level.
That 20-homer, 40-steal projection isn’t just wishful thinking either. The raw tools are there – it’s all about putting the pieces together.
