On the second day of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, the Kansas City Royals made several selections, including four pitchers, one outfielder, two infielders, and a two-way player. Here are the details of each selection:
- In the 3rd round (75th overall), the Royals picked right-handed pitcher Hiro Wyatt from Staples High School in Connecticut. Wyatt had an impressive senior season, being named the 2023 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year. He went 8-0 with a 0.51 ERA, 107 strikeouts in 54.2 innings, and had a remarkable 42.1-inning scoreless streak. Wyatt is committed to playing baseball at the University of Southern California.
- The Royals selected left-handed pitcher Hunter Owen from Vanderbilt University in the 4th round (106th overall). Owen, a towering presence at 6-foot-6 and 261 pounds, had a solid junior season at Vanderbilt, going 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 12 starts. He threw a 2-hit shutout with a career-high 11 strikeouts, earning SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors.
- In the 5th round (142nd overall), Kansas City chose left-handed hitting outfielder Spencer Nivens from Missouri State. Nivens was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He hit .341 with 14 home runs, 45 RBI, and showcased his speed with 6 triples. Nivens also earned a spot on the MVC All-Defensive Team and was named an MVC Scholar-Athlete.
- With their 6th-round pick (169th overall), the Royals drafted right-handed pitcher Coleman Picard from Bryant University. Picard had a 3.43 ERA in 10 starts for Bryant this season, striking out 59 batters in 42.0 innings. He also had a successful stint in the 2023 Cape Cod League, posting a 1.93 ERA in 3 starts for Wareham.
- In the 7th round (199th overall), Kansas City selected Trevor Werner, a two-way player from Texas A&M University. Werner had a productive 2023 season, hitting 14 home runs and driving in 52 runs in 57 games. He also showcased his pitching abilities in 2021, recording 11 strikeouts in 9.1 innings over 9 relief outings. Werner performed well in the 2023 Cape Cod League as a hitter.
- The Royals chose shortstop Dustin Dickerson from Southern Mississippi with their 8th-round pick (229th overall). Dickerson, son of Philadelphia Phillies Infield Coach Bobby Dickerson, had a breakout season as a senior, hitting .328 with 11 home runs and a .971 OPS. He was named First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference.
- In the 9th round (259th overall), Kansas City selected left-handed pitcher Jacob Widener from Oral Roberts. Widener, standing at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, recorded a 2.90 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 49.2 innings across 30 appearances this season. He was unable to participate in the Cape Cod League due to Oral Roberts’ run in the College World Series.
- With their final pick on the second day, the Royals drafted shortstop Justin Johnson from Wake Forest in the 10th round (289th overall). Johnson had an impressive season at Wake Forest, hitting .324 with 35 extra-base hits, 76 RBI, and a 1.042 OPS. He was named First Team All-ACC and earned the Winston-Salem Regional Most Outstanding Player award.
The draft will continue with rounds 11-20 on the Tuesday, starting at 1 o’clock on MLB.com.
