COVID-19 delays prospects development

With the baseball season in doubt, the Kansas City Royals' top prospects may be forced into a "redshirt season."

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Sports

April 28, 2020 - 10:27 AM

AFL West All-Star, Khalil Lee #15 of the Kansas City Royals warms up before the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images/TNS

Even if Major League Baseball returns this year in an adjusted format and possibly with expanded rosters, there’s still a very real possibility that the minor leagues won’t be able to play anything resembling a traditional season.

While major league teams like the Kansas City Royals won’t feel that impact immediately, it could mean last year’s No. 2 overall draft pick Bobby Witt Jr., last year’s organizational Double-A player of the year Khalil Lee, top-rated pitching prospect Daniel Lynch, highly touted catching prospect MJ Melendez and host of other potential building blocks for the future lose an entire year of development and set back their timetables on when they could contribute to the big league club.

That is one scenario Royals assistant general manager/player performance J.J. Picollo knows the organization must be ready to handle.

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