SURPRISE, Ariz. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Royals selected Louisville outfielder Zion Rose with the 6th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
The team said Rose, a 21-year-old right-handed hitter from the University of Louisville, becomes the third player the Royals have taken 6th overall in franchise history.
Rose joins pitcher Zack Greinke (2002) and first baseman Jac Caglianone (2024) in that respect.
By the Numbers
The Royals indicated that Rose put together one of the most complete offensive seasons in college baseball in 2026, slashing .417/.491/.646 across 36 games as a junior. In 244 at-bats, he recorded:
60 hits, including 13 doubles, 1 triple and 6 home runs47 RBI24 stolen bases23 multi-hit games
The team also noted that Rose drew more walks and hit-by-pitches (25) than strikeouts (15) – a rare display of plate discipline.
FILE – Zion Rose had the only multi-hit game for the Cards in Sunday’s loss, including a home run for UofL’s only run.(Derek Brightwell)
Over his final two seasons in Louisville, the Royals said Rose stole 55 bases on 61 attempts.
As a sophomore in 2025, he posted 32 extra-base hits and 31 stolen bases, making him 1 of just 6 NCAA Division I players to reach both marks in the same season.
Awards & Recognition
Rose earned back-to-back All-ACC First-Team honors as a sophomore (2025) and junior (2026), following a Freshman All-America First-Team selection by Perfect Game in 2024.
The club noted that Rose’s selection makes him the 11th first-round pick in Louisville program history – and the first to the Royals.
He is the highest pick out of Louisville since catcher Henry Davis went No. 1 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, and the highest Louisville outfielder drafted since Corey Ray went 5th overall to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016.
IMG Academy Connection
The Royals said Rose spent his final year of high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida – the same program that produced Royals 2025 first-round pick Sean Gamble.
FILE – UofL baseball’s Zion Rose(Derek Brightwell)
Rose helped lead IMG to its first undefeated season in school history, finishing 25-0 in 2023, according to the team.
More Picks Ahead
The Royals still have four selections remaining in Saturday’s draft: the 30th, 56th, 91st and 119th overall picks.
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