Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals Saturday tonight they have acquired left-handed pitcher Carter Holton and right-handed pitcher Lucas Braun from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter.
Holton will be assigned to Class-A Columbia and Bruan will be assigned to Triple-A Omaha.
Holton, 23, was selected by the Braves in the 2nd round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt. He missed the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John Surgery and began this season on the Injured List. In 10 appearances (8 starts) this season between the Florida Complex League and Single-A Augusta, Holton is 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA (20 ER in 41.2 IP) and 41 strikeouts (8.9 K/9).
Braun, 24, was selected by the Braves in the 6th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of California State Northridge, and was listed as Atlanta’s No. 8 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Braun reached Double-A in his first full professional season (2024) and Triple-A in his second (2025), recording 293.1 innings over those two seasons. In 19 appearances (17 starts) this season between Double-A and Triple-A, he’s 8-6 with a 3.53 ERA (37 ER in 94.1 IP), a 2.6 BB/9 and just 7 HR allowed (0.7 HR/9).
Thomas, 30, signed with Kansas City last offseason and in 97 games with the Royals, he slashed .232/.326/.393 (66-for-285) with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. Nine of his 10 HR came in 52 games since June 1, a stretch in which he recorded a .777 OPS.
Falter, 29, made 5 appearances (2 starts) with the Royals this season and allowed 15 runs on 24 hits and 6 walks in 9.2 innings. Falter has pitched in parts of six seasons in the Majors with the Phillies (2021-23), Pirates (2023-25) and Royals (2025-26). Most of his time this year came with Triple-A Omaha, where he made 17 appearances (7 starts) and recorded a 3.35 ERA (16 ER in 43.0 IP).