This Royals draft pick was 14 when he left home. Now he’s living his MLB dreams
Several years before he became the Kansas City Royals’ 2025 first-round draft pick, Sean Gamble left home to pursue his dreams.
At 14 years old.
“I wanted to be great and I think there is a lot of sacrifice that goes into greatness,” Gamble said during his introductory news conference. “And my family understood that.”
Gamble took a chance on his future. He enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and got in-depth training to enhance his baseball pursuits.
The transition didn’t come without its difficulties. Gamble was thousands of miles away from his family and loved ones. His hometown friends — Gamble grew up in Des Moines, Iowa — didn’t see him often. He was relegated to making phone calls throughout the school year to stay in touch.
“We got together and we said that IMG Academy would be the best first step in what you are trying to achieve,” Gamble said. “So I got shipped off to school at a young age. And I said, ‘You know, I’m going to go do my work. You guys do your work, and whenever we need each other, we will be there.’”
At times, the distance was tough to manage. Gamble was entering the ninth grade and had to experience the ups and downs of high school away from home.
IMG Academy first came onto his radar at a young age. Gamble tagged along with his older brother, Beau, to the well-renowned facility in the summers. They were involved in multiple sports camps, ranging from baseball to tennis.
The IMG coaches were impressed with Gamble’s skills. They wanted him to relocate and play alongside some of the best upcoming talent. Those players included Washington Nationals star James Wood and fellow Royals prospect Stone Russell.
Gamble, who also played hockey and tennis, was always drawn to baseball. He started playing at 3 years old and his interest continued to grow. It got to a point where his parents, Kyle and Christy, allowed him to chase his dreams.
Even if it meant him leaving home at such a young age.
“He wanted this so badly,” Christy said. “It was his dream and it was his passion. Baseball made him so happy. As a parent, it’s hard to ignore that. And so, we allowed it because we knew he would do everything he could to succeed.”
Gamble thrived at IMG Academy. He posted a .413 batting average with four home runs, 30 RBIs and a 1.324 OPS (on-base plus slugging) as a high school senior. Additionally, he showed his versatility at second base and in center field.
“At IMG, you are under a bright light and it holds you to a higher level of standard,” Gamble said. “You’re playing everyone’s best, and to be successful, you have to be better than that. And that shows up at practice, that shows up off the field, that shows up with being a good teammate first and creating a family and group instead of a bunch of individuals trying to win.”
The Royals took an immediate interest in Gamble. Scouts had a frequent presence at his games and came away impressed with his bat-to-ball skills and running ability. Gamble recorded eight doubles, six triples and scored 29 runs this season.
“The first time I got a chance to see him was PG (Perfect Game) Junior Nationals doing underclass work during the summers,” Royals area scouting supervisor Vance Vizcaino said. “And his athleticism, his hustle, his joy on the field really stood out. Getting to watch him grow multiple years over at IMG and seeing how he interacted with his teammates and coaching staff was fun and extremely fun to watch.”
The Royals entered the 2025 MLB Draft looking to select the best player on their board. Gamble was among the guys who left a strong impression. The Royals held a June workout with him at Kauffman Stadium and both sides fell in love.
Royals scouting director Brian Bridges felt Gamble had top range at his position. The organization plans to feature him primarily in center field but will still give him opportunities to utilize his infield skill set. The club sees him as a prototypical leadoff hitter.
“He’s a 70-run (grade), so real excited,” Bridges said.
The Royals introduced Gamble alongside his family at Kauffman Stadium. He received his official jersey and is currently adjusting to his first month as a professional athlete.
It’s a transition not unlike his IMG Academy journey. And one his family believes will turn into a worthwhile career.
“I always knew he had it growing up,” Beau said. “To be quite blunt, he was better than everyone else and he worked harder than everyone else. He sacrificed more than everyone else and he deserves it. He earned it, and it’s what you do with the opportunity that matters the most.”
The Royals paired Gamble with fellow top pick Josh Hammond in Surprise, Arizona. They are roommates and currently playing in the minor-league bridge season designed to help high school players adjust to professional baseball.
Hammond was selected with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Both players have an opportunity to help the Royals in the future.
“I’m glad to go through this process with him and with someone that is out of high school,” Hammond said. “He’s awesome and he is obviously a really good player. It’s awesome to kind of share that moment with him and hopefully go through our career together on a similar path and kind of help the team win on our highest level possible.”
Gamble is ready as well. He looks forward to suiting up for the Royals and proving them correct for selecting him.
“It means the world,” Gamble said. “I trained for this and prepared for this all my life. You know, I think I ended up in the best organization with the best people. And I’m just thrilled to keep going.”
This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM with the headline "This Royals draft pick was 14 when he left home. Now he’s living his MLB dreams."
