Royals sign infielder Jordan Groshans to a minor league deal

Groshans is a former first round pick and top 100 prospect.

The Royals have signed infielder Jordan Groshans to a minor league deal, according to FanSided reporter Robert Murray. Groshans began last year in the Yankees organization but was traded to the Athletics during the year in a deal for third baseman J.D. Davis. Overall, Groshans hit .235/.311/.318 with four home runs in 383 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A. The 25-year-old right-handed hitter primarily plays third base, although he has some experience at first, second, and shortstop.

Groshans was the 12th overall pick of the 2018 draft by the Blue Jays out of Magnolia High School in Texas just outside Houston. He was a consensus top 100 prospect before the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and was still on the MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus prospect list before the 2022 season. But his bat never really developed, and he struggled to hit in the upper minors with little power. Toronto traded him to Miami at the trade deadline in 2022 for relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop. He appeared in 17 big league games with the Marlins that year and hit .262/.308/.311 with one home run. The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Marlins before the 2024 season, but outrighted him and slipped him through waivers to the minors.

CJ Alexander and Nate Eaton primarily played third base for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers last year, but neither is still in the organization, so presumably Groshans will start at third. The Royals now have four players in the organization from the first round of the 2018 draft - 5th overall pick Jonathan India, Groshans (18th), Daniel Lynch IV (34th), and Kris Bubic (40th). They traded Brady Singer (18th overall pick in 2018) to the Reds for India last month.