Josh Hammond

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #5 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Adjusted Grade: 40
  
  Track Record: Hammond entered his senior spring at Wesleyan Christian Academy in 2025 regarded as a potential top 100 draft pick on the mound, where he was up to 99 mph. But the two-way North Carolina prep and Wake Forest commit switched up and instead preferred to advance as a position player so he could take the field every day. The risk paid off when the Royals drafted Hammond 28th overall and signed him for $3,197,500. Kansas City earned the Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick via Bobby Witt Jr.’s 2024 runner-up American League MVP finish. Hammond spent the rest of the summer playing in unofficial bridge league games—he homered in his first at-bat—and then instructional league alongside fellow first-rounder Sean Gamble.
  
  Scouting Report: Hammond hits with a rotational swing featuring a long, flat, sweepy bat path and solid bat speed. He uses his plus raw power to drive the ball with authority to both gaps, and he’s already flashing the ability to backspin balls to his pull side. Hammond fights a tendency to leak out early on his front side versus secondary pitches. It looks like a power-over-hit profile in the long run, but he has enough feel for contact to project as an average hitter with more reps. Hammond spent time at both shortstop and third base upon arriving at the Royals’ complex. His actions, range and solid hands likely fit best at third base, where he could be an above-average defender with a plus arm. The son of a longtime college coach, Hammond is an intense competitor with an elite feel for the game.
  
  The Future: All that time spent around the game could help Hammond move relatively quickly, perhaps on a similar development track as Gamble. He’ll head to Low-A Columbia for 2026 and could one day be an above-average big league third baseman.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60