Royals Sign No. 4 Overall Pick Asa Lacy to Deal

The Kansas City Royals remain in a rebuilding phase, and that earned the team the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. The event was shortened to five rounds, which that made every single pick that much more important.

The Royals drafted Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy with their top pick, and there was not too much worry about getting him signed to a contract. The news became official Tuesday.

There has still not been an announcement as to what Lacy will earn; his draft slot value is just over $6.6 million. The team also announced the signing of all six draft picks in the 2020 class, allowing them to focus that much more directly on the oncoming season.

Lacy was off to a hot start in 2020 with the Aggies before the NCAA season was halted early due to the pandemic. He had a 3-0 record with a 0.75 ERA and had 46 strikeouts in 24 innings. He transitioned to a starting role in 2019 and finished his college career with a 2.07 ERA in 42 total appearances.

The No. 4 overall pick may have his development delayed by the unique circumstances in 2020, but he is still expected to be a key player in the near future. Coming out of college with three years of experience should expedite his path to the majors now that he is officially a member of the Royals.