KANSAS CITY -- Eric Hosmer, the Royals' top choice in this year's First-Year Player Draft, is headed to play for Idaho Falls. He stopped through Kansas City on Friday long enough to say hello and take batting practice.

Hosmer will join the rookie classification club at Idaho Falls and work out with the Chukars this weekend. He's scheduled to make his professional debut as the designated hitter on Monday.

J.J. Picollo, in charge of player personnel, said there are 12 games left in the Pioneer League schedule in which Hosmer, a first baseman, could play.

Hosmer, who signed on Aug. 15 for a $6 million bonus, is taking the same route as another late signee from Scott Boras' stable, infielder Mike Moustakas. Moustakas played 11 games for Idaho Falls last summer and this year is with Class A Burlington, Iowa.

"It's very exciting," Hosmer said. "I got a chance to talk to Mike Moustakas last year, and he gave me a head's up on what everything was about. He's been a big help as to how to handle myself, and I'm very excited."

Royals general manager Dayton Moore said that Hosmer will not be rushed.

"He's going to move at his own natural rate and we're not going to put an artificial timetable on him," Moore said. "He's going to start at Idaho Falls and move from there."

Hosmer was introduced at a news conference, where Moore presented him with Royals uniform No. 25. A left-handed batter, he took batting practice with the Royals, spraying line drives to both sides of the field and even splashing a home run ball into the Kauffman Stadium fountains.

"Eric Hosmer is probably one of the finest amateur players that I've been able to see in my years as a scout," senior director of scouting Deric Ladnier said. "He is a piece to the puzzle of where we are trying to get, and that is to win a world championship."

Hosmer decided to spend the summer playing for the amateur Midland (Ohio) Redskins, a team that finished second in the Connie Mack World Series. His move into pro ball rather than taking a college scholarship was a family decision, he said.

"A couple days before the draft, Dayton and J.J. came to the house and my family talked about it afterward," Hosmer said. "Just hearing their presentation -- they want to win and it seems like they know how to win, and they're going to, and we're excited about that."