· 2026-07-14

The Kansas City Royals made a shocking move in the MLB draft, selecting Zion Rose, a 21-year-old outfielder, with the 6th overall pick. Rose, who played for Brother Rice and later transferred to Louisville, was widely projected to be chosen toward the end of the first round.
The selection of Rose marks a significant addition to the team's roster, bringing in a talented young player who has already shown promise in his college career. With a .417 batting average and six home runs in 36 games for Louisville, Rose is expected to make an impact in the Royals' lineup.
Rose, who is expected to report to the Royals' minor league affiliate, expressed his gratitude and excitement about the opportunity. "I play my game hard," he said. "There are still certain parts of my game that are there to develop, with power and all that, but I'm going to get to work and see where it takes me."
As the Royals look to rebuild their team, the selection of Rose is a promising sign for the future. With a strong work ethic and a desire to improve, Rose is expected to make a significant contribution to the team.
Zion Rose, a former Brother Rice star, made history on Saturday when he was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 6th overall pick in the MLB draft. Rose, who played three seasons for the Crusaders before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year, was widely projected to be chosen toward the end of the first round.
Bryce Nevils, a former teammate of Rose's at Brother Rice, praised Rose's work ethic and dedication to improving his game. "Zion just has a special mindset," Nevils said. "In high school, he would teach us how to take rounds of batting practice the correct way and work on something instead of just going up there swinging."
The selection of Rose is a proud moment for Brother Rice, which has a long history of producing talented baseball players. "The year that Zion was at IMG, we made it to state and his family was there cheering us on," said Brother Rice coach Sean McBride. "They're Crusaders, Zion and his family, and they always will be."
As Rose looks to make his mark on the Royals, he is expected to give his full effort every day. "I play my game hard," he said. "There are still certain parts of my game that are there to develop, with power and all that, but I'm going to get to work and see where it takes me."
The Kansas City Royals currently stand at 14th in the American League with a 38-59 record, on a 5-game losing streak. They last lost 8-2 to the Baltimore Orioles on July 12.
With the selection of Rose, the Royals are looking to rebuild their team and make a push for the playoffs in the future. As Rose looks to make his mark on the team, he is expected to bring a strong work ethic and a desire to improve to the table.
And with the Royals' current standing, they will need all the talent they can get to turn their season around. But with Rose on board, they may have just gotten the boost they need to make a run for the playoffs.