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Kansas City Royals: Five prospects to watch in September

By Cody Rickman

SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 18: Grant Gavin #54 of the Surprise Saguaros and Kansas City Royals pitches during the 2018 Arizona Fall League on October 18, 2018 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 18: Grant Gavin #54 of the Surprise Saguaros and Kansas City Royals pitches during the 2018 Arizona Fall League on October 18, 2018 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier (17) scores on an RBI single (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier (17) scores on an RBI single (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Brewer Hicklen – Outfielder (23-years-old)

  • 2018 Stats (2 levels – A Lexington and A+ Wilmington)
  • .289/.357/.507, 22 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 18 HRs, 28 BB, 124 K, 35/41 SBs in 377 at-bats
  • 2019 Stats (A+ Wilmington)
  • .263/.363/.427, 13 2Bs, 7 3Bs, 14 HRs, 55 BB, 140 K, 39/53 SBs in 419 at-bats

Brewer Hicklen was a multi-sport athlete selected by the Royals in the seventh round of the 2017 draft out of UAB. Hicklen was a wide receiver for the UAB football team and as a multiple sport athlete, he’s still raw in his development as a baseball prospect.

Hicklen is a very intriguing high-ceiling prospect to watch develop due to his power and speed. His short and compact swing suggests he may be able to hit for a consistent average once he develops more plate discipline. The power appears easy when he makes good contact and the speed on the base-paths is apparent.

Expectations: Hicklen is a fantastic athlete who has those tantalizing power and speed tools. Hicklen has a high ceiling if everything in his development comes together. His plate discipline needs improvement to bring his strikeout rate down below 25% and he needs to build on his 2019 walk rate of 11.1%. Hicklen could develop into a .260 average, +20 HR and 30 SB outfielder that brings consistent defense every night.

Gabriel Cancel – Infielder (22-years-old)

  • 2018 Stats (A+ Wilmington)
  • .259/.316/.385, 31 2Bs, 1 3Bs, 8 HRs, 35 BB, 91 K, 7/11 SBs in 455 at-bats
  • 2019 Stats (AA Northwest Arkansas)
  • .246/.308/.427, 30 2Bs, 18 HRs, 34 BB, 144 K, 15/17 SBs in 464 at-bats

Gabriel Cancel was drafted by the Royals in the seventh round out of high school in the 2015 draft. Cancel has been routinely younger than his peers at each level where he has shown slightly above average hit, base-running, and fielding tools.

Cancel has set a pattern in the minors of producing strong power stats at the cost of elevated strikeout rates. He’s shown consistent gap power numbers reaching 30+ doubles in each of the last 3 seasons.

Expectations: Cancel will need to put together a strong showing in Arizona as he is Rule 5 draft eligible this December. If Cancel develops to his potential he could be a .260 hitter with 40 extra-base hits and 10 SB yearly. Cancel currently projects to be a utility infielder.

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