This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

As the Royals wrap up the first half of the season Sunday in Cleveland, it’s a big night with the start of the MLB Draft.

The Royals have three Day 1 picks -- No. 8, No. 44 (second round), No. 66 (Competitive Balance Round B) -- and all eyes will be on their first-round pick. There is nothing more important for a small-market team than its Draft haul every year, because it can provide the foundation of its core in the coming years. The Draft is built on excitement and hope for the future, but it’s on the club’s development staff to bring those dreams to reality.

• Draft Central | Order | Top 250 prospects | Bonus pools

Recently, that hasn’t been the case for Kansas City. Since 2011, the club drafted 19 players in the first round (including compensation and competitive balance picks). Four are currently in the Majors with the Royals -- Bobby Witt Jr. (2019), Brady Singer ('18 Round 1), Daniel Lynch (‘18 Round 1C) and Nick Pratto (‘17). Kris Bubic (‘18 CB-A) is out for the season after getting Tommy John surgery. Five are in the Minors.

Eight on that list aren’t in professional baseball anymore. Sean Manaea -- whom the Royals traded for Ben Zobrist in ‘15, helping them win a World Series -- is the only one in the Majors.

Needless to say, it’s imperative the Royals win their Drafts in ways they haven’t done recently.

History of the No. 8 pick
There has been a vast array of talent that comes with the No. 8 pick, such as…

• 3B Josh Jung, Rangers in 2019 (All-Star in ‘23)
• RHP Cal Quantrill, Padres in ‘16 (now part of the Guardians' rotation)
• SS Francisco Lindor, Guardians in ‘11 (four-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner)
• 1B Todd Helton, Rockies in ‘95 (five-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, batting title champ in 2000)

The Royals have had the No. 8 pick twice since the inception of the June Amateur Draft in 1965. In 2013, they selected Hunter Dozier out of Stephen F. Austin State University. In ‘70, they selected prep catcher Rex Goodson, who made it to Double-A.

Day 1 of the Draft is set for Sunday (6 p.m. ET on ESPN and MLB Network) and will feature the first two rounds. Rounds 3-10 will take place during Day 2 on Monday (1 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and MLB.com). Rounds 11-20 will occur on Day 3 on Tuesday (1 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and MLB.com).