History will be made tonight as the Royals and Tigers play the first ever MLB game to be played in Omaha. The game, to be played at TD Ameritrade Park, will kick off the College World Series, which is played annually in Omaha.

It was to be a homecoming for Nebraska native Alex Gordon, who grew up in nearby Lincoln and attended the University of Nebraska. Unfortunately, Gordon will be out for tonight’s game with a compressed nerve.

So the Cornhusker faithful won’t get a chance to cheer on their hometown kid on the field, but I’m sure Gordo will still draw plenty of cheers from the dugout as he supports his teammates.

The Royals also announced they have activated first baseman Lucas Duda from the injured list. Kelvin Gutierrez was technically optioned down to make room for Duda, but because the Royals and Tigers each get a 26th man for this game, Gutierrez will be on the active roster tonight.

The Royals take on the Tigers at 7:05 CT tonight with live coverage on ESPN.

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Alex Gordon, Wil Myers, Bobby Witt Jr., and Blake Mitchell?

What a ride already for Kansas City Royals first-round pick, Blake Mitchell. The two-time Texas Gatorade Player of the Year was met with scrutiny and disdain — not praise and hype — after being selected by the team eighth overall in the 2023 draft. At the time, Mitchell was committed to LSU but forwent that commitment to sign with the Royals and start his professional career. Immediate returns weren’t otherworldly either, further compacting the negative narrative surrounding the 19-year-old prospect. Now, into his first full season of affiliate ball, that narrative is starting to shift. Mitchell entered the Pipeline Top 100 this preseason, then moved up with a mid-season update and is currently #70. Blake Mitchell is well on his way to becoming the next elite prospect for the Royals.

Mitchell has shown quick development already at a young age

So far this season, Mitchell has pieced together a .253/.387/.475 slash line over his first 43 games. Every time I watch Columbia play this season, he stands out on the field. It may not always be in the stat column or box score, but Mitchell has an “it-factor” on the diamond that can’t be ignored. Whether it’s advanced plate appearances or elite throws from behind the dish, Mitchell looks like the real deal.

Kyle Teel was seen by many as the home run pick for the Royals with the eighth overall pick, and I had him penciled in there as well. He’s been relatively solid in his own right, but the ceiling for Mitchell looks noticeably higher. The development at the plate has aided that, as Mitchell has already taken serious strides forward in just his second month of affiliated ball. Pitchers in Low-A have given him little to hit this season, peppering the outside half of the plate as well as down and in. He’s rarely seen elevated pitches at all. It’s clear that minor league pitching coaches are honoring Mitchell’s elite bat speed and taking measures to avoid it.