Building a Culture: How Royals Are Preparing, Developing Their Prospects

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Developing a winning Major League Baseball team starts long before players ever step onto a big league field. It begins in the minors, where prospects are developed, habits are formed and a culture is built.

The Kansas City Royals boast an exciting collection of young talent, but the organization is not in a rush to bring its prospects to the big leagues. Instead, the Royals are focused on creating an environment rooted in hard work, patience and family, allowing players to grow at the right pace.

The Royals boast three of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects: first baseman and former Florida Gators star Jac Caglianone (No. 20), catcher Blake Mitchell (No. 45) and catcher Carter Jensen (No. 83). But Kansas City’s investment into development in their farm system extends far beyond just its top prospects.

As they trained on the backfields of the Royals’ spring training complex in Surprise in March, some of the team’s top prospects shared their experiences and offered insight into what makes Kansas City’s minor league system so special.

For young players like Frank Mozzicato, the Royals’ No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut, the leap to professional baseball was  as daunting as it was  exciting.

Mozzicato, a left-handed pitcher, is Kansas City’s No. 12 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Now in his third minor league season, he’s currently pitching for Quad Cities in High-A ball.

“Early on it was a little difficult making that jump,” Mozzicato admitted. “But a lot of older guys kind of helped us through that process and took us under their wing.” Over time, he explained, the challenges become more manageable as players adjust to the day-to-day demands of minor league life. “It gets easier every year. You learn a lot, and you get used to the schedule and what you have to do.”

That adjustment period is one every young player faces, especially those coming straight from high school.

Mitchell, who was named the Royals’ 2024 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America, is in his second full season in the organization. The Sinton, Texas, native had to make a quick adjustment to professional life as an 18-year-old prep catcher in the Arizona rookie league soon after getting drafted.

“I would say just getting to learn how to play every single day. You know, coming, getting dropped out of high school and being here, it’s definitely a lot different,” said Mitchell, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. “You’re playing two games in high school where it’s, you know, playing six days a week here. So, getting my body used to that, getting my arm used to that, even catching every day, just getting my legs used to that. So, learning how to do that has helped me a lot.”

Throughout the Royals’ minor league system, the culture feels less like a business and more like a brotherhood. Ask any of the players what stands out about the organization , and one theme consistently rises to the surface: family. Mozzicato shared how much that sense of belonging has meant.

“I would say it’s a family-based organization, for sure,” Mozzicato said. “All the coaches treat all the players as if they were their own, and the players treat each other as family. So it’s a really tight-knit group, and it’s easy to work that way, and it makes our job easier.”

Mitchell echoed the same sentiment when asked about the day-to-day culture.

“I mean, it’s super tight, you know, we’re with each other all the time,” Mitchell said. “So it’s always a good time either out here on the field or off the field. So we’re always trying to build that culture and just, you know, be with each other 24 seven, you know, building those relationships, whether it’s us with the coaches, you know, I mean, we’re always just trying to be around each other and have fun.”

After a standout career at Florida, Caglianone – the No. 6 pick in the 2024 draft – had to adjust to life in the minors. New cities. Bus trips. Smaller crowds. He also spent his first pro season with Quad Cities, where he hit .241 in just 116 at-bats last summer.

But Caglianone, the Royals’ top prospect, opened eyes with an impressive spring camp this March. The former UF slugger hit three homers in 17 Cactus League at-bats this spring, posting a gaudy 1.871 OPS. Just as impressive, he had more walks (five) than strikeouts (three).

Though he did not make the surprising jump straight to the big club, Caglianone was pleased not just with his spring performance – but how the Royals have handled his development.

“They’ve been nothing but great, to be honest with you,” said Caglianone, who is currently in Double-A with Northwest Arkansas. “The communication is crystal clear, all these guys in the locker room and the culture here that they’ve created is really special. You know, I’m thankful that I played in college, because I know what the college locker room is like now, and that’s kind of what it feels like.

“So, you know, it’s very fun. These guys care about you. It’s not very individual. So I’m super blessed to be with this organization.”

The Royals simply wanted to be able to get Caglianone more at-bats in the minors. He’s getting them with Northwest Arkansas in Double-A, where he’s currently hitting .295 with four homers. He doubled last week off future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, who was pitching in the minors on a rehab assignment.

Caglianone has consistently impressed Royals management along the way, especially after his breakout spring showing.

“I think [Caglianone] did an incredible job [this spring], not only on the field, but in the clubhouse, the way that he responded to the other guys, the way they responded to him,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said in March. “You could tell he earned their respect very quickly for the way he goes about it. He’s a pro, and that happened quickly.”

At the same time, competition remains a central part of the development process. Quad Cities pitcher Shane Panzini emphasized how constant competition keeps players sharp.

“I’d just say the steady competition they bring,” said Panzini, the Royals’ fourth-round pick in 2021. “I mean, it starts in hitter squads. Facing these guys, it’s always competition. So going into the fall, there’s nothing new. Facing good hitters. And they did a good job preparing us for that.”

Life in the minors is a demanding daily grind, and the players learn quickly how to prepare their bodies and minds for the season. Mitchell gave a glimpse into a typical day.

“So show up, eat breakfast, and then get out here, do your work, whatever it is with the field, you know, practice out here,” Mitchell said. “You do whatever you want individually, whether that’s cold tub, hot tub, whatever you do to get your body ready for that next day. Then usually just that game in the afternoon, which that’s where you make your money, so you go out there and you play well.”

The schedule is intense, but it also brings some of the best memories. Mozzicato smiled while recalling one of his favorite moments as a pro ballplayer.

“The bus trip last year to Great Lakes was fun,” Mozzicato said. “Yeah, that was good. So there’s a couple stories that, you know, should stay in the vault. But yeah, the bus trips are always a good time.”

For Panzini, it was not just one moment but an entire season’s worth of memories with a special team.

“I’d say overall just our Quad City team last year,” Panzini said. “A lot of good personalities in one tiny clubhouse, so it was really fun going to the playoffs with those guys.”

For the Royals, investing in their minor league system isn’t just about winning games at the lower levels — it’s about laying the foundation for sustained success in Kansas City. With a farm system filled with top-tier talent, a culture built on family and competition, and a daily grind that shapes prospects into pros, the future in Kansas City appears bright.

As Mozzicato said simply, “Control what you can control. Have fun. And go out there and do your thing.”

That is exactly what the Royals’ next generation is doing — together.

More on the Royals:
* Catching Up with Royals Top Prospect Jac Caglianone
* Jonathan India Adjusting to Life With Royals After Trade

Category: Cactus League, Kansas City Royals, Top Stories
Tagged: Blake Mitchell Jac Caglianone Kansas City Royals MLB Prospects MLB Spring Training