As Major League Baseball welcomes exciting young pitchers like Paul Skenes and Jacob Misiorowski, the Kansas City Royals appear to have their own rising star in Kendry Chourio, a youthful pitcher making waves in the minor leagues. The promising Royals pitching prospect continues to dominate hitters despite being just shy of his 18th birthday.

Kendry Chourio’s Early Career Progression Through Royals’ Minor League System

Chourio began his professional season in the Dominican Summer League before overcoming a slow start to find consistency in his performance. By early July, he advanced to the Royals’ Rookie League team, quickly followed by a promotion to Low-A ball, accelerating his development path within the organization.

Breakout Performance Highlights Chourio’s Potential in Low-A Baseball

With the Columbia Fireflies, Kansas City’s Low-A affiliate, Chourio has displayed clear signs of potential. Despite a difficult outing on August 8 where he surrendered six earned runs in just under four innings, he rebounded strongly. On August 14, he threw five perfect innings against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, not allowing a single baserunner while recording four strikeouts — marking the best start of his young career.

Although his overall stats in three starts with the Fireflies include a 1-2 record and a 4.97 ERA, it’s important to note that six runs came in only one start. Over 12 innings pitched, Chourio has struck out 11 batters, illustrating his strikeout capability despite some growing pains.

What Lies Ahead for the Royals’ Promising Young Arm

Given his youth and ongoing development, Chourio likely won’t reach the majors for several years. However, his early displays suggest that he could develop into a significant pitching talent for Kansas City. With the minor league season winding down, Chourio is expected to make a few more appearances at Low-A, potentially positioning him for advancement in the 2026 campaign as the Royals continue nurturing his talent.