<b>KANSAS CITY, Mo.</b>—The Kansas City Royals today announced seven organization award winners for the 2025 season. The Royals will honor these seven individuals with organization awards for the 2025 season this Friday, Sept. 19, on Futures Night at Kauffman Stadium before first pitch vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. A group of the winners will make community visits on Friday morning and participate in an autograph-signing session for fans at Gate A at Kauffman Stadium from 5:00-5:45 p.m., prior to the on-field ceremony.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757944999156.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>Kansas City Royals</i></p><p><b>KANSAS CITY, Mo.</b>—The Kansas City Royals today announced seven organization award winners for the 2025 season. The Royals will honor these seven individuals with organization awards for the 2025 season this Friday, Sept. 19, on Futures Night at Kauffman Stadium before first pitch vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. A group of the winners will make community visits on Friday morning and participate in an autograph-signing session for fans at Gate A at Kauffman Stadium from 5:00-5:45 p.m., prior to the on-field ceremony.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><div><p class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)"><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">GEORGE BRETT</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;HITTER OF THE YEAR</em></span></p>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">CARTER JENSEN</strong>, C</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">Carter Jensen</strong>, the Royals No. 2 ranked prospect by&nbsp;<em data-ogsc="">MLB Pipeline</em>, earned the<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;George Brett&nbsp;</strong>Award, given to the top hitter in the Royals organization. Jensen, 22, split the minor league season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha and slashed .290/.377/.501 (124-for-427, .878 OPS) with 20 home runs, 76 RBI, 72 runs scored and nearly half as many walks (60) as strikeouts (122). The left-handed hitting catcher represented the Royals at the All-Star Futures Game, held in Atlanta in July, and made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter on Sept. 2. He recorded his 1st Major League hit on Sept. 6 vs. Minnesota&mdash;an RBI double&mdash;in an 11-2 victory at Kauffman Stadium. Jensen was selected by Kansas City in the 3rd round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Park Hill HS (Mo.), and was signed by Royals scout<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Matt Price</strong>.</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="">PAUL SPLITTORFF</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;PITCHER OF THE YEAR</em></span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">DAVID SHIELDS</strong>, LHP</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">David Shields</strong>, the Royals No. 6 ranked prospect by&nbsp;<em data-ogsc="">MLB Pipeline</em>, earned the<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Paul Splittorff Award</strong>, given to the top pitcher in the Royals organization. Shields, who turned 19 last Tuesday, made 1 start for the rookie-level ACL Royals before being promoted to Single-A Columbia in April, where he made 18 starts and posted a 2.01 ERA (16 ER in 71.2 IP) with 81 strikeouts (28.3 K%) to just 15 walks (5.2 BB%) in his first professional season. The southpaw was one of two 18-year-olds to throw at least 70.0 innings in full-season ball, joining Milwaukee&rsquo;s right hander<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Melvin Hernandez</strong>, and he&rsquo;s the first Royals farmhand to do so since<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Yefri Del Rosario&nbsp;</strong>(79.0 IP) in 2018, per&nbsp;<em data-ogsc="">FanGraphs</em>. Shields was selected by the Royals out of the Mt. Lebanon HS (Pa.) in the 2nd round of the 2024 Draft, and was signed by Royals scout<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Tim Bittner.</strong></span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="">FRANK WHITE</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR</em></span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">CARSON ROCCAFORTE</strong>, OF</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc="">For the second consecutive season, outfielder<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Carson Roccaforte&nbsp;</strong>(rah-cuh-fort), the Royals No. 20 ranked prospect by&nbsp;<em data-ogsc="">MLB Pipeline</em>, was the recipient of the<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Frank White&nbsp;</strong>Award, which recognizes the organization&rsquo;s top defensive player.&nbsp;Roccaforte, 23, played in 127 games for High-A Quad Cities (82) and Double-A Northwest Arkansas (45), and all but 13 of those games in center field. The left-handed throwing speedster covered 1,063.2 innings in the outfield, including 1,002.2 innings in center field, recording his second consecutive season with more than 1,000.0 innings in center. This season he converted 320 putouts (302 in center field) and 5 assists in 328 chances (309 in center field)&mdash;committing just 2 errors&mdash;logging a .994 fielding percentage, which included a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over 362.0 innings at Double-A. There were only 13 minor league players to play 1,000.0 defensive innings at a single position this year, and the other 12 players combined for 107 errors, with Roccaforte being just one of two minor leaguers to record 2 errors or fewer.&nbsp;Roccaforte was selected by Kansas City out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in the Competitive Balance Round B of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, and was signed by&nbsp;Royals&nbsp;scout&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Cody Clark</strong>.</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="">WILLIE WILSON</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;BASERUNNER OF THE YEAR</em></span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">ASBEL GONZ&Aacute;LEZ</strong>, OF</span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc="">&nbsp;</span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">Asbel Gonz&aacute;lez</strong>&nbsp;(ahs-bell), the Royals No. 12 ranked prospect by&nbsp;<em data-ogsc="">MLB Pipeline</em>, was the recipient of the 2025<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Willie Wilson</strong>&nbsp;Award, which recognizes the top baserunner in the organization. Gonz&aacute;lez, 19, played in 115 regular season games for Single-A Columbia and swiped 78 bases, leading all Royals farmhands, while finishing tied for the 3rd-most stolen bases in Minor League Baseball, behind&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Kendall George&nbsp;</strong>(LAD, 100) and<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Jordan Sprinkle&nbsp;</strong>(CWS, 80). He got off&nbsp;to a fast start, stealing 30 bases in the month of April&mdash;leading all minor league players&mdash;which included a 4-stolen base game on Opening Day, April 4. The speedy outfielder was signed by Kansas City as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2023 by scouts<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Alberto Garcia</strong>,&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Jose Gualdron&nbsp;</strong>and&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Joelvis Gonzalez</strong>.</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="">MIKE SWEENEY</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD</em></span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">LUINDER AVILA</strong>, RHP</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">Luinder Avila</strong>&nbsp;(<a id="LPlnk367359" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/video/upload/mlb/kfii2gfimivfic8jcevr.m4a" href="https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/video/upload/mlb/kfii2gfimivfic8jcevr.m4a" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">loo-ween-der AH-vee-luh</a>) the Royals No. 14 ranked prospect by&nbsp;<em data-ogsc="">MLB Pipeline</em>, was the recipient of the<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Mike Sweeney</strong>&nbsp;Community Impact Award in 2025. Avila, 24, mentors younger minor league players in the Royals system, especially Latin players, helping them navigate the challenges of professional baseball. &ldquo;Luinder is known for his generosity and quiet dedication to helping people from his hometown in Caracas, Venezuela,&rdquo;&nbsp;said Royals Hall of Famer and Special Asst. to Baseball Operations/Player &amp; Staff Engagement,&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Mike Sweeney</strong>. &ldquo;He never posts on social media about it, or seeks recognition. He simply gives from the heart.&rdquo; Avila, 24, was signed by the Royals as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2018 by scouts&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Jos&eacute; Figuera&nbsp;</strong>and&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Joelvis Gonzalez</strong>.</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="">ALEX GORDON</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;HEART &amp; HUSTLE AWARD</em></span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">SAM KULASINGAM</strong>, IF</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">Sam Kulasingam</strong>&nbsp;(coo-luh-sing-um) was named the&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Alex Gordon&nbsp;</strong>Heart &amp; Hustle Award recipient. The award, which was created in 2023, recognizes a player who best exemplifies how Gordon played the game. Kulasingam, 24, spent his sophomore season with High-A Quad Cities, leading the River Bandits in batting average (.291), hits (136), runs (77) and extra-base hits (36), while finishing the season with a 27-game on-base streak, during which he slashed .323/.403/.455 (32-for-99). He started 119 games at second base, recording a .984 fielding percentage across 1,041.2 innings, making him just one of two minor leaguers to record more than 1,000.0 innings at second base in 2025. Kulasingam was selected by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of the United States Air Force Academy (Colo.), and was signed by scout<strong data-ogsc="">&nbsp;Ken Munoz</strong>.</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc=""><em data-ogsc="">ART STEWART</em></strong><em data-ogsc="">&nbsp;SCOUT OF THE YEAR</em></span></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc=""><strong data-ogsc="">MARK LEAVITT</strong>, PROFESSIONAL SCOUT</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)"><strong data-ogsc="">Mark Leavitt</strong>, a Royals Professional Scout, worked his ninth season with the Royals in 2025&mdash;his sixth as a pro scout&mdash;after spending two seasons as an Area Scout for North Florida from 2020-21. Prior to joining Kansas City in 2017, he served in various scouting roles with the Montreal Expos from 1997-2000 and with the Seattle Mariners from 2001-07. &ldquo;Mark represents the Royals with unmatched professionalism in our industry,&rdquo; said&nbsp;<strong data-ogsc="">Jim Cuthbert</strong>, Kansas City&rsquo;s Director of Pro Personnel &amp; Strategy. &ldquo;He is an elite teammate who makes our group better each day, individually and collectively. He displays an incredible work ethic, loyalty, leadership and a selfless approach on a daily basis.&rdquo;</span><span data-ogsc="black">&nbsp;</span></div></div>

⚾ Royals announce 2025 organization winners