19 year old prep bat with consistent production
With their first pick in the MLB draft today, the Royals spent pick 23 on Sean Gamble, a prep utility player out of IMG Academy in Florida. Gamble is a skilled left-handed bat who has a consistent swing with a really good feel for the game, both at the plate and in the field. He has experience playing in the outfield and the infield and will provide the flexibility for the Royals to move him around as needed.
So far, Gamble has made his reputation around being a true 5 tool player who has great contact skills, some power, and a really good glove that he can use all over the field. He is quick on the bases and is more than capable of stealing a base when he gets on at the top of the order.
Gamble has all the tools of a high-quality baseball player, standing at 6’1/190, and shows that he can do it all. He has experience in centerfield and the infield and is more than capable of sticking at either of them. He may move around in the minor leagues, but his ability to play a variety of spots will allow him to move quickly through the organization.
Gamble was ranked as the 27th best prospect on MLB Pipeline, where they even compared him to Bryson Stott. Here is what they had to say about him pre-draft.
An above-average runner, Gamble saw a lot of time in center field over the summer and looked good there, with some evaluators leaning towards favoring him in the outfield, where his athleticism and arm strength play well. Some don’t want to give up on him on the dirt, though, thinking he could be an above-average defender at second base and/or be given a shot at shortstop. The Vanderbilt recruit plays with a little edge to his game and reminds some of the Phillies’ Bryson Stott.
The Royals elected to take their top prep hitter in the class with their first pick and will be up to draft again at pick 28. Kansas City has one of the worst offenses in baseball in the first half of this season, and with minimal depth in the farm system, they felt they needed to add offense through the draft. Gamble will likely become the top hitter in the Royals system, and if he can continue his consistent play and production, he will be a slam-dunk pick for JJ Piccolo and the rest of his staff.