By MATT PIKE
With the minor league season completed, the Kansas City Royals on Monay announced eight organization award winners to seven members of the organization within the minor league system for the 2026 season.
The Royals will honor these seven individuals during their game on Friday September 25th on Futures Night at Kauffman Stadium before first pitch against the Cleveland Guardians at 6:40 p.m. 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.
The group of winners featured a pair of top prospects in the Kansas City organization. No. 4 prospect, left handed pitcher David Shields was named the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year. Meanwhile, No. 2 prospect Josh Hammond won the Alex Gordon Heart and Hustle Award. Brett Squires was named the George Brett Hitter of the Year and was also named the Mike Sweeney Community Impact Award recipient, becoming the first player to win multiple organization awards in the same season.
LP Langevin was named the Dan Quisenberry Reliever of the Year, Carson Roccaforte earned the Frank White Defensive Player of the Year, and Asbel Gonzalez was named as the Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year. The Royals also honored Joelvis Gonzalez, the Royals South American scouting team coordinator, as the Art Stewart Scout of the Year.
GEORGE BRETT HITTER OF THE YEAR: BRETT SQUIRES
Squires split the 2026 minor league campaign between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha and slashed .277/.351/.549 with 34 doubles, 31 home runs, 78 runs scored, 24 stolen bases and an organization best 103 RBIs in 132 games across both levels. Squires was one of nine minor leaguers to hit at least 30 home runs and record at least 100 RBIs and became the first Royals farmhand to reach those marks in a season since MJ Melendez in 2021.
Despite not making his Storm Chasers debut until May 12th, he ranked among the International League leaders in slugging percentage (2nd, .553), OPS (5th, .892), home runs (T-5th, 25) and extra-base hits (6th, 51).
Additionally, Squires was recognized for his involvement within the community. Squires has been a constant fixture, participating in “Baseball Bingo” with patients at Children’s Nebraska Hospital, volunteering with Miracle League and serving as a RADS skills camp counselor at the Royals Amateur Development Complex.
“Brett represents everything this award is about. His 2026 season on the field was remarkable, but what stands out to me most is the great teammate he is behind those numbers,” Royals Hall of Famer and Special Asst. to Baseball Operations/Player & Staff Engagement Mike Sweeney says in a news release. “He exemplifies selflessness and perseverance, and I couldn’t be more proud to see him receive the Mike Sweeney Award.”
PAUL SPLITTORFF PITCHER OF THE YEAR: DAVID SHIELDS
David Shields is the first two-time winner of the award. Shields made 25 regular season starts for High-A Quad Cities and went 11-6 with a 4.01 ERA and 139 strikeouts with just 28 walks. He led qualified Midwest League pitchers in wins, ERA, WHIP, K/9 and starts, while his 139 strikeouts ranked secon, finishing seven strikeouts shy of the triple crown. In addition to his regular season success, Shields made two postseason starts, including last Tuesday night, when he spun 6.0 shutout frames with seven strikeouts in the River Bandits 2-1 victory to secure the Midwest League Championship.
This marks the second award for Shields in the last week, as he was recognized as the Midwest League Pitcher of the Year last Wednesday.
Dan Quisenberry Reliever of the Year: LP LANGEVIN
Langevin, the Royals No. 30 prospect, appeared in 40 regular season games for High-A Quad Cities, going 5-3 with three saves, while registering a 3.42 ERA with 106 strikeouts. He posted a 17.2 K/9, which was the best mark among full-season minor leaguers and was the highest rate by any minor leaguer since at least 2006. Langevin recorded at least one strikeout in 38 of his 40 appearances and notched multiple strikeouts in 32 of those outings.
Additionally, he pitched in all four of Quad Cities postseason games, posting 4.0 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and two saves, including last Tuesday night, when he struck out the side to seal the Midwest League Championship.
FRANK WHITE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CARSON ROCCAFORTE
Carson Roccaforte, the Royals No. 17 ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, earned the honor for a third consecutive season, playing in 138 games across stints with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He covered 1,106.0 innings in the outfield, 1,105.0 of which came in center field, and was one of three minor leaguers to log at least 1,000 innings in center field, but the only one to do so without recording an error. He notched a career-high 13 outfield assists, 12 of which came with the Naturals, tied for the third most among full-season minor leaguers and one shy of the leaders.
In addition to his exceptional defense, Roccaforte hit 35 home runs and stole 32 bases, marking the first ever 30/30 season by a Royals minor leaguer and the 20th in the minors in the last 45 years, beginning with Darryl Strawberry in 1982.
WILLIE WILSON BASERUNNER OF THE YEAR: ASBEL GONZÁLEZ
Asbel González appeared in 110 regular season games for High-A Quad Cities and swiped 67 bases, the most among all Royals farmhands and second most in the minors, behind only Kane Kepley (Cubs, 70). earning him the award as the top baserunner for a second consecutive season.
González’s 67 stolen bases this season comes after he swiped 78 bags a year ago, and he’s the only minor leaguer with at least 60 stolen bases in each of the last two seasons.
ALEX GORDON HEART & HUSTLE AWARD: JOSH HAMMOND
Josh Hammond, the Royals No. 2 prospect and the No. 69 ranked prospect overall by MLB Pipeline, was named the Alex Gordon Heart & Hustle Award recipient. The award, which was established in 2023, recognizes a player who best exemplifies how Gordon played the game.
“Josh has earned a reputation for giving everything he has to his teammates and to his team,” Royals Hall of Famer Alex Gordon says. “Having my name on this award is an honor that’s hard to describe, and I hope Josh takes that same pride for being recognized with this award. He’s the kind of player Royals fans really identify with and love rooting for.”
Hammond spent his first professional season with Single-A Columbia and ranked among Carolina League leaders in hits, batting average, total bases, and doubles. Additionally, he was one of nine players in the Carolina League to record at least 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases and was the first Fireflies player to reach those marks since Squires did so in 2023.
“It’s the way, especially as a first-year player, Josh prepared, ran every ball out and competed every at-bat and every pitch on defense. He never took a play off or for granted. All of that and more is why Josh was the perfect selection for this award that bears Alex Gordon’s name,” said Mitch Maier, Kansas City’s Director of Player Development.
ART STEWART SCOUT OF THE YEAR: COORDINATOR OF SOUTH AMERICAN SCOUTING Joelvis Gonzalez
Joelvis Gonzalez worked his 19th season with the Royals in 2026 and first in this role. He has been a member of the Royals International Scouting Staff since 2008, having spent the previous eight seasons as the Venezuela Supervisor, before which he was an Area Supervisor for the Royals from 2008-18. In his time with the organization, he has played a role in the signings of Luinder Avila, Freddy Fermin and 2025 and 2026 Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year winner Asbel González, among others.
“Joelvis represents the Royals organization with tremendous pride and professionalism throughout our industry,” said Rene Francisco, Kansas City’s Sr. Vice President, Major League & International Operations/Assistant GM. “He is an integral part of our international scouting and player development process, bringing a tireless work ethic and unwavering loyalty to everything he does for this organization. His leadership is felt throughout our department.
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