What a difference a year can make.

In the summer of 2024, Josh Hammond was regarded as a top-three-rounds talent as a righthanded pitcher. The rising high school senior had starred for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team. He had a fastball and slider that both projected as plus pitches.

But when the Royals drafted the North Carolina prep with the 28th overall pick this year, they chose him as a shortstop—and that’s just the way Hammond wants it.

“What ultimately led to it is having the confidence that I could be one of the best position players out there,” Hammond said. “It backed my decision.”

He certainly made a winning bet. After leading Wesleyan Christian Academy to the 4-A state title for North Carolina independent schools, Hammond signed for a $3,197,500 and participated in unofficial bridge league games at the Royals’ complex in Surprise, Ariz. 

The Royals were looking for athletes and versatility in this draft, according to scouting director Brian Bridges.

“The most important part is just making sure you get players who understand different parts of the game and who are athletes,” Bridges said, “and we pride ourselves on that.”

It didn’t take long for Hammond to show he fits the mold defined by Bridges. He homered in his first bridge league at-bat.

Hammond has primarily played shortstop, and that versatility will come in handy if his 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame continues to grow, making a move to third base or elsewhere an natural one.

The Royals have been known for drafting not just good ballplayers but also quality people.

“This is an organization that prioritizes that over in-game results and in-game success,” Hammond said about the character and makeup expected from Royals players.

“That’s something that has always been a priority in my life, whether it’s in my faith, whether it’s my relationships—and just ultimately being a genuine person.”

“Better people build better players,” Hammond said. “Ultimately, that’s the goal.”

ROYALTIES

— The Royals drafted Josh Hammond with the Prospect Promotion Incentive pick they acquired when Bobby Witt Jr. finished top three in American League MVP voting in 2024. PPI draft picks are slotted immediately after round one.