Royals Acquire Hunter Harvey From Nationals

Sitting just one game back of a wild card spot, the Royals on Saturday swung a deal to bolster their bullpen. In exchange for righty Hunter Harvey, Kansas City sent third baseman Cayden Wallace and the 39th overall pick in this year’s draft to the Nationals.

NATIONALS RECEIVE

Cayden Wallace, 3B
Age: 22

The Royals drafted Wallace No. 49 overall out of Arkansas in the 2022 draft. He ranked No. 5 in Baseball America’s midseason update of the Royals’ Top 30 Prospects. The righty swinger, who at the time of the deal was at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, projects to have average or better tools across the board, including plus arm strength that should easily allow him to stick at the hot corner. Tightness in his right side has limited him to just 34 games in the Texas League after Kansas City placed him on the injured list on May 22. He hits the ball plenty hard—his 90th percentile exit velocity this season is 104 mph—and his career strikeouts rate stands at just a shade under 20%.

ROYALS RECEIVE

Hunter Harvey, RHP
Age: 29

The Orioles selected Harvey in the first round in 2013. Injuries waylaid his career multiple times before making his big league debut in 2019. The Giants claimed him off waivers in Nov. 2021, then the Nationals claimed him again four months later. The righthander operates mostly with a four-seamer that averages 98 mph, a splitter in the high 80s and a curveball in the low 80s. He’ll also mix in the occasional slider. He’s done a good job keeping the ball on the ground and has allowed just four home runs in 45 innings.