As the Royals sputter along at 25-55 and the fan focus on the organization turns toward just when and how they’ll be able to push off bottom, compelling faces of hope are scattered about their minor-league system even if it is ranked 29th by Baseball America.
Perhaps their most rapidly rising prospect arrived here Thursday in the form of precocious outfielder Khalil Lee, who on the occasion of his 20th birthday Tuesday was surprised to get the news he had been promoted from Class A-Advanced Wilmington to Class AA Northwest Arkansas — his fourth level of play since being selected in the third round of the 2016 draft.