Chris Ellis

Position: RHSP
Level: MLB
Affiliate: Kansas City Royals
League: MLB
Born: 09/22/1992 (Age: 31)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 205
B/T: Both / Right
Acquired: 3rd Rd., 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft (LAA); Traded to ATL 11/12/2015; Traded to STL 12/1/2016; 2018 Rule 5 Draft Pick (TEX); Traded to KCR 12/13/2018

Prospect Spotlight

Ellis is well traveled, traded three times and now on his fourth organization. The Rangers selected him in the Major League Phase of this year’s Rule 5 Draft, shipping him to the Royals later that day. As a Rule 5 player, Ellis will have to remain on Kansas City’s roster if the Royals want to keep him, same as Sam McWilliams. It might be tough to retain two Rule 5 restricted arms on the roster all season, so there’s a chance only one sticks. Ellis could fit a long relief or spot-starting role, as he has a long track record in Triple-A and is coming off career-best walk rates in 2018. His fastball sits in the low-90s and is backed by three off-speed pitches (slider, curve, change) that all grade as playable offerings.