Royals invite Witt, Lynch, Lacy to spring camp

It could be a big weekend in Kansas City. After that, KC fans might want to turn their attention toward the youth movement headed to Arizona in a few short weeks.

The Royals are bringing Top-100 prospects Bobby Witt Jr., Daniel Lynch and Asa Lacy to Major League Spring Training as non-roster invitees, the organization announced Friday. Kansas City invited 29 non-roster players total following the news earlier in the week that Spring Training is expected to open on time.

Ranked as MLB.com's No. 7 overall prospect, Witt is headed to his second big league camp. The 20-year-old shortstop features 60 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale on all five of his tools. His bat speed is particularly impressive, helping rack up hits and produce power to all fields, and his defensive ability should allow him to thrive at shortstop.

The 2019 second overall pick's Minor League experience has been limited to 37 games in the Arizona League, because of the coronavirus pandemic, but reports coming out of Kansas City's alternate site last year noted how well Witt performed even against pitchers on the verge of the Majors. Witt won't be competing for a MLB job in camp, but the Cactus League should provide another opportunity to show his skills against advanced competition.

Lynch is headed to his third Major League camp since the Royals selected him out of Virginia with the 34th overall pick in 2018. MLB.com's No. 29 overall prospect regularly sits in the mid-90s with his fastball. The 6-foot-6 left-hander also stands out for a plus slider, above-average changeup and solid control. In 2019, he posted a 3.10 ERA with 77 strikeouts over 78 1/3 innings with Class A Advanced Wilmington but was limited by an arm injury. He made up for the lost time with a standout turn in the Arizona Fall League and, like Witt, participated at Kansas City's alternate site last year. He should be a candidate to join former Wilmington teammates Brady Singer and Kris Bubic in the Royals rotation at some point this summer.

Lacy was the Royals' first-round pick last June when he was taken fourth overall out of Texas A&M. The 21-year-old southpaw was considered arguably the best pitcher in the class (though the Marlins took Max Meyer one spot ahead of him) on the strength of three plus pitches in his fastball, slider and changeup. His curve also has the potential to be an above-average offering. He could be a candidate to move quickly through the Kansas City system, as Singer and Bubic did in reaching the Majors in what would have been their second full seasons.

The Royals also invited No. 4 prospect Jackson Kowar, No. 7 Kyle Isbel, No. 9 Jonathan Bowlan, No. 11 Austin Cox, No. 12 Nick Pratto, No. 13 MJ Melendez, No. 14 Seuly Matias, No. 25 Alec Marsh and No. 26 Jon Heasley to Major League camp.

The Royals' first pitchers and catchers workout is scheduled for Feb. 17 in Surprise, Arizona. Full workouts will begin five days later.