Royals Second-Half Setup: Goals, 2026 Draft Fallout, All-Star Festivities

The All-Star break is in the rearview, and the Kansas City Royals must move on to the second half. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco use this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast to reflect on the festivities, revisit the draft with fresh eyes, and map out what the remaining months of the 2026 season should look like for an organization at a critical juncture. The episode opens with a full recap of All-Star week, including standout performances from the game itself, the Home Run Derby surprises, and how the Royals' representatives fared on the national stage. The hosts break down notable derby distances and the moments that stood out from slugger Jac Caglianone despite his first-round exit. The Zion Rose draft analysis gets a second pass now that the initial reactions have settled. Jacob and Jeremy revisit the pick alongside the rest of the Royals' draft haul, incorporating Keith Law's evaluations of where these selections fit within the organization's longer-term development timeline. The prospect pipeline and farm system health are evaluated with an eye toward which names could factor into the promotion picture sooner rather than later. Jacob and Jeremy cover MLB's new regulation on artificial intelligence use in dugouts, a policy development with real implications for how teams process information during games. The hosts offer their thoughts on where the line should be drawn between technological advantage and preserving the authenticity of in-game decision-making. The trade market conversation continues to build, with Michael Wacha's value and potential destinations drawing the most attention among the pitchers who could be moved before the deadline. The 2027 schedule reveal also gets a brief look, offering the earliest glimpse at what the next chapter could look like structurally. Overall, it boils down to this: what must the Royals do in their remaining 65 games? Jacob and Jeremy each have different priorities! Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online: BlueSky– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social Twitter / X– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.