Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Though Wolters was an all-area basketball player, he gave up hoops as a senior to focus on getting stronger and training for baseball. That move paid off as he caught the attention of scouts by setting a Super 60 showcase fastball record at 98 mph with consecutive pitches in February, and he has been clocked as high as 99 this spring. His power and physicality have prompted comparisons to fellow Illinois prep product Bobby Miller, now a Top 100 prospect with the Dodgers, though Miller didn't throw nearly this hard in high school.  

After working in the low 90s on the showcase circuit, Wolters now operates at 94-96 mph early in games with good carry up at the letters but less life when he works lower in the strike zone. His slider can run the gamut from a plus breaker in the mid-80s with spin and shape to a less powerful slurve, but it could be at least a solid offering with more consistency. He rarely uses a mid-80s changeup that doesn't feature much movement. 

Gatorade's state player of the year, Wolters has done a good job of harnessing his stuff as it has taken off this year. An athletic 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, he throws strikes and should be able to hold his velocity deeper into contests as he continues to develop. Originally committed to Purdue, he switched to Arizona but is unlikely to get to campus. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Wolters signed for an over-slot $2.8 million as the Royals’ second-round selection in 2023 out of Mahomet-Seymore (Ill.) HS. He was an intriguing prospect right away because of a 99 mph fastball and high-spin slider, but it’s been slower going for Wolters. He was shut down in ‘24 after hitting his innings limit, and he dealt with shoulder weakness in ‘25 that limited him to just 12 starts with Single-A Columbia. In those outings, Wolters posted a 3.99 ERA but had identical walk and strikeout rates (19.3 percent). In two full seasons since he was drafted, Wolters has only recorded 103 innings in affiliate ball.

The Royals had Wolters on a dedicated strength program this past offseason to hopefully help his shoulder issues, which never required surgery or even much past rest and recovery. His fastball averaged just 93 mph in 2025, way down from when he was drafted. His shorter slider also had lower spin in ‘25 than in previous years, and throwing from an inconsistent slot with just about every pitch didn’t help matters as the pitch also sometimes looks like a curveball. Wolters did get some good whiffs on his mid-80s changeup. He has a repeatable delivery and the Royals are hoping better strength helps him with his command.

Wolters is still only 21 and has a ton of upside, and the Royals will exhaust every option to keep him as a starter. If he regains the velocity and spin that he had as an amateur, there’s still potential for a mid-rotation starter in there.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Putting together a strong senior season at Mahomet-Seymore (Ill.) HS, Wolters became the Royals’ second-round selection in the 2023 Draft, signing for an over-slot $2.8 million and decommitting from Arizona. Wolters spent the rest of ‘23 pitching at the Royals’ facility in Arizona and made his pro debut last year, going to Single-A Columbia to start the season instead of being held back in extended spring training like the Royals have done with their prep pitchers in the past. Wolters was solid for the Fireflies with a 4.20 ERA across 14 starts at 55 2/3 innings, and the Royals shut him down in August after he had minor tendinitis and was nearing his innings limit.

Strong and physical, Wolters stands 6-foot-4 and certainly looks the part of a starting pitcher. His fastball features ride and run, sitting in the mid 90s during starts last year, but he has touched 99 mph. That velo was down a touch in the early going of 2025 with him sitting more in the 92-94 mph range. His slider has the potential to be his wipeout pitch, a plus offering in the mid 80s that’s tight with hard break. He’s learning how to throw it and trust it more. Wolters worked on his changeup quite a bit in 2024, but it was up and down when he used it in games. That will continue to be a focus pitch for him because he needs a third offering to stick as a starter. With improved consistency, it has the potential to be above average. Wolters has a clean and efficient delivery, repeatable from a three-quarters arm slot.

Wolters has the upside of a front-end starter, and he is extremely intelligent and advanced for his age when it comes to preparation and the way he digests information. But it will still take some time for him to develop as he works on pitch execution. He returned to Single-A for 2025 and was slowed after a shoulder issue in the first half.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Wolters jumped onto the scene his senior year at Mahomet-Seymour (Ill.) HS with more strength and increased velocity. He set a Super 60 showcase record with 98 mph on consecutive pitches in February 2023, and a few months later, the Royals took the Arizona commit in the second round while going over-slot to sign him at $2.8 million. Wolters didn’t pitch in an official game last season, but he was impressive at the Royals’ fall camp and showed up to Spring Training hitting upper-90s on the radar gun.

At 6-foot-4 with a strong frame, Wolters is a physical presence on the mound. His fastball touches 98 mph with good life, but he’ll likely sit 95-96 during starts. He possesses an above-average 82-84 mph slider that has a hard break, landing on both sides of the plate. A big focus for him will be a changeup, like most pitchers his age. He looks the part of a starter -- a mid-rotation arm or better at that -- but will need that third pitch to get there.

Wolters’ delivery is clean, smooth and repeatable. He pitches easy and is incredibly mature for a high school draftee. Officials rave about his mind, how he digests information and prepares, which will take time off his development timeline. The Royals got more aggressive with Wolters than they typically do with prep pitchers, pushing him out to Single-A Columbia in April, and they've been pleased with how he's handled his first full season from there.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Though Wolters was an all-area basketball player, he gave up hoops as a senior to focus on getting stronger and training for baseball. That move paid off as he caught the attention of scouts by setting a Super 60 showcase fastball record at 98 mph with consecutive pitches in February, and he has been clocked as high as 99 this spring. His power and physicality have prompted comparisons to fellow Illinois prep product Bobby Miller, recently a Top 100 prospect with the Dodgers, though Miller didn't throw nearly this hard in high school.  

After working in the low 90s on the showcase circuit, Wolters now operates at 94-96 mph early in games with good carry up at the letters but less life when he works lower in the strike zone. His slider can run the gamut from a plus breaker in the mid-80s with spin and shape to a less powerful slurve, but it could be at least a solid offering with more consistency. He rarely uses a mid-80s changeup that doesn't feature much movement. 

Gatorade's state player of the year, Wolters did a good job of harnessing his stuff as it has taken off this year. An athletic 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, he throws strikes and should be able to hold his velocity deeper into contests as he continues to develop.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/11/2026	RHP Blake Wolters assigned to Kansas City Royals.
	03/05/2026	RHP Blake Wolters assigned to Kansas City Royals Prospects.
	08/26/2025	Columbia Fireflies activated RHP Blake Wolters from the 7-day injured list.
	06/17/2025	Columbia Fireflies placed RHP Blake Wolters on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 16, 2025.
	06/16/2025	Columbia Fireflies placed RHP Blake Wolters on the 7-day injured list.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP Blake Wolters.
	09/24/2024	Columbia Fireflies activated RHP Blake Wolters.
	08/05/2024	Columbia Fireflies transferred RHP Blake Wolters to the Development List.
	04/03/2024	RHP Blake Wolters assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals.
	03/07/2024	Kansas City Royals Prospects activated RHP Blake Wolters.
	08/10/2023	RHP Blake Wolters roster status changed by ACL Royals.
	08/10/2023	RHP Blake Wolters assigned to Royals Organization.
	07/18/2023	Kansas City Royals signed RHP Blake Wolters.
	07/19/2022	RHP Blake Wolters and assigned to High School Workout.