Last year if you recall, the Royals were without their first-round pick due to signing Ian Kennedy, who had declined a Qualifying Offer from the Padres. The Royals hadn’t been without a first-round pick since 1990 when they lost it for signing Mark Davis. So this past June their first pick came at 67th overall, which they used to draft Pepperdine right-handed pitcher A.J. Puckett, one of their latest first picks in franchise history.
This upcoming June though the Royals will be unencumbered by any forfeitures and with pick #14 they will have their highest first round pick since 8th overall in 2014.