Rose to Royals
Kansas City Royals Select Louisville Outfielder Zion Rose Sixth Overall in 2026 MLB Draft
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Key Points
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MLB Pipeline ranked Zion Rose as the No. 30 Draft Prospect, a key factor for Kansas City drafting him No. 6 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft.
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In 2025, Rose started all 66 Louisville games, posting a .310 average with 13 home runs, 67 RBIs and 41 stolen bases, while earning USA Collegiate National Team selection and All-ACC First Team honors.
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Rose began as a catcher at Louisville and was a highly regarded catching prospect out of IMG Academy, even leading IMG to an undefeated season before transitioning to a full-time outfielder (left/center), a shift that helped unlock his five-category potential.
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He is the 11th Louisville player ever drafted in the first round and the highest Louisville pick since Henry Davis went No. 1 in 2021.
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Physically, Rose is listed at 6-foot-1, about 200 pounds, and projects as a center fielder with strong left-field potential long-term; the Royals have indicated center field as his immediate position, with left field possibly fitting in time.
The Kansas City Royals selected University of Louisville outfielder Zion Rose with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, according to KCTV5. Rose, a 21-year-old right-handed hitter, becomes one of the highest-drafted players in Louisville program history.
Rose spent three seasons with the Cardinals, hitting .358 with 24 home runs, 146 RBIs, and 65 stolen bases across 146 games, according to Kansas.com. He earned All-ACC First Team honors and a spot on the USA Collegiate National Team before the Royals made their pick.
Rose Brings Rare Power-Speed Combo to Kansas City
Rose is seen as a five-category contributor — a player who can hit for average, hit for power, drive in runs, score runs, and steal bases. That combination is rare. In 2025 alone, he hit .310 with 13 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases across 66 games, per Kansas.com.
MLB Pipeline ranked Rose as the No. 30 overall draft prospect. Kansas City grabbed him at No. 6, a sign the Royals valued him far higher than the national consensus, according to Fox4KC. He posted 30-plus extra-base hits and 30-plus stolen bases in multiple seasons, a benchmark very few college players ever reach.
From Catcher at IMG Academy to Elite-Speed Outfielder
Rose did not start his career as an outfielder. He came to Louisville as a highly regarded catching prospect out of IMG Academy, where he helped lead his team to an undefeated season, per KCTV5. That background behind the plate speaks to his athleticism and baseball IQ.
Louisville moved him to the outfield — primarily left and center — and the switch unlocked his full potential. His speed became a weapon in the open field instead of being limited by the catcher's position. Fox4KC noted the Royals see him as a center fielder immediately, with left field as a long-term fit.
Injury-Shortened 2026 Did Not Scare Off Kansas City
Rose played just 36 games in 2026 due to injury. A limited sample like that can scare teams away from a top pick. But Kansas City still selected him sixth overall, showing strong belief in his talent and long-term ceiling, according to Fox4KC.
Even in those 36 games, Rose showed the speed and athleticism that made him a top prospect. The Royals clearly bet on the player they saw in 2025 — when he stole 41 bases and hit 13 home runs — rather than the shortened 2026 season.
Louisville's Biggest Draft Moment Since No. 1 Pick in 2021
Rose is the 11th Louisville player ever drafted in the first round. He is also the highest Cardinal picked since catcher Henry Davis went No. 1 overall in 2021, per Wave3. Louisville called this the fourth-highest draft pick in program history.
He is also the fourth Louisville outfielder drafted since 2020. Wave3 reported that his selection comes as Louisville sets a record 112 MLB connections — players, coaches, and staff — across the league. For Kansas City, Rose adds a high-upside bat to a rebuild still taking shape.
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