Farrell won’t knock you over with the weight of his stuff, but it’s a solid four-pitch arsenal that the former sixth rounder wields with savvy. He’s put together three solid starts to kick off his 2016 season, totaling 19.1 IP in which he’s allowed four earned runs on 11 hits and six walks to go with 14 strikeouts. The Northwestern product is comfortable working his fastball, curve, changeup and cutter – all of which can play as average offerings – in any count, and has found particular success dropping in his curve for a strike early in the count against righties, and running his changeup down and away to lefties when ahead.

At six-foot-six, Farrell is broadly built with a workhorse body and creates good angles, particularly working down in the zone. There isn’t much pop to his arsenal, so the margin for error can be slim, especially once hitters are taking their second and third at-bats against him. Farrell looks like a potential back-end arm thanks to an advanced feel that comes with growing up around the game – his father John is the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He should find some innings in Kansas City as early as this summer as opportunities arise. Even if he fails to break into the Royals’ rotation, he could be useful as a swingman. –Nick J. Faleris