Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60 | Overall: 50

The Royals’ 2025 international signing class had several notable additions, but Chourio has been the club’s most exciting player so far. The 6-foot right-hander signed for $247,500 out of Venezuela in January, began the season in the Dominican Summer League and ended it in Single-A Columbia -- an aggressive rise for a pitcher who was 17 years old the entire season. But Chourio showed he can handle it. Between the DSL and Arizona Complex League, he allowed only seven earned runs across 28 2/3 innings and walked just one batter. While he ran into a few more challenges in Columbia, his command remained exceptional, walking just four batters and striking out 24 in his six starts there with a 5.16 ERA.

Entering his age-18 season, Chourio is well ahead of what to expect out of a young pitcher on a similar track. He throws strikes, with command that could get to plus as he matures. He operates with a 94-97 mph fastball with some cut to it, a downer upper-70s curveball that misses bats and lands for strikes and a kick-changeup that hovers around 86 mph with good fade. Chourio also flashes an average, low-to-mid-80s slider, and a lot of his upside is going to come down to how he utilizes his secondary stuff to put hitters away. He was trained as an amateur very well and already has advanced pitchability for his age, but the Royals want to zero in on that in 2026, teaching him how to pitch in when he needs to, how to read swings and pitch better with men on base.

Chourio’s delivery is repeatable and simple. He has a lean and athletic frame, but he’s already stronger than when he signed and should continue to add strength. There is so much to like, and the Royals can take their time with him -- but they’re also not going to hold him back when he’s knocking down the door to the next level like he did in ‘25.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60 | Overall: 50

The Royals had some notable international additions to begin 2025 with catcher Moises Marchán (No. 31), shortstop Warren Calcaño (No. 38) and shortstop Ramcell Medina (No. 49) all ranking among MLB Pipeline's Top 50 prospects in the class. But it's Chourio who is popping up most in the group's first summer of pro ball. The 6-foot right-hander signed for $247,500 (the seventh-highest bonus given out by Kansas City this year) out of Venezuela in January. He made five appearances (four starts) in the Dominican Summer League, posting a 2.04 ERA with 22 strikeouts and one walk in 17 2/3 innings, and was promoted to the Arizona Complex League at 17 years old, becoming the youngest stateside pitcher in affiliated ball at the time.

The organization felt it could get aggressive with Chourio because of the advanced feel for pitching he'd shown out of the gate in the DSL. His fastball sat 93-97 mph in that move to the States, and it's easy to dream on how he can build on that present velocity as he continues to add physicality. He spots the heater well, too, and it has the ride and horizontal movement to keep hitters off. Chourio also works in a sharp upper-70s downer curveball and a mid-80s changeup that has decent fade, and those have helped keep the strikeouts coming.

Most DSL pitchers with good stuff struggle to find the zone, but that hasn't been the case at all with Chourio in the early going. His control numbers could normalize a bit more against more disciplined hitters, but for now, they've been stellar. Chourio is comparable to some of the most prominent high school arms in the 2025 Draft class and has the advantage of being younger with a growing pro résumé.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Kendry Chourio assigned to Kansas City Royals Prospects.
	07/29/2025	RHP Kendry Chourio assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals.
	07/07/2025	RHP Kendry Chourio assigned to ACL Royals from DSL Royals Ventura.
	05/30/2025	RHP Kendry Chourio assigned to DSL Royals Ventura.
	01/17/2025	Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Kendry Chourio to a minor league contract.