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Royals' Kyle Wright: Throws live BP Thursday
Wright (shoulder/hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wright was initially behind early on in camp as he continues to work his way back from October 2023 right shoulder surgery, and he suffered an additional setback in the form of a hamstring strain in late February. The righty is now ramping things back up, but it's not clear when he might be ready to pitch in a game.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: Poised for bullpen role
Lynch is expected to open the season in the Royals' bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
He had been competing with Kris Bubic for the final spot in the rotation, but Lynch made a relief appearance Wednesday and is set for another one Friday as the Royals prep him for a bullpen role. Lynch proved to be a weapon in relief last season, collecting a 1.84 ERA and 27:8 K:BB over 29.1 regular-season innings.
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Royals' Kris Bubic: Appears locked into No. 5 spot
Bubic is likely to open the season as the Royals' fifth starter, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Daniel Lynch gave himself a fighting chance to nab a rotation spot with a strong showing this spring, but he made a one-inning relief appearance Wednesday and is scheduled for another relief outing Friday, which points to Bubic opening in the rotation. Bubic has yielded six runs with a 13:3 K:BB over 13 innings this spring and will look to carry over his success last season as a reliever (32.2 percent strikeout rate over 30.1 regular-season innings) into the rotation.
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Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Sluggish spring at the plate
Pasquantino went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's spring training loss to the Giants. He's hitting .238 (10-for-42) with two home runs this spring.
Pasquantino is locked in as Kansas City's starting first baseman and No. 3 batter, and it isn't worth looking too closely at his spring numbers. More important than the spring production, the 27-year-old is healthy this spring after suffering a broken thumb that limited him late last season.
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Royals' Alec Marsh: Appears in minor-league game
Marsh (shoulder) pitched in a minor-league game Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wednesday marks Marsh's first taste of competitive action this spring after spending most of camp working his way back from right shoulder tightness. He is now back on a normal spring training buildup, though he may not have enough time to be ready for Opening Day.
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Royals' Kyle Isbel: Unimpressive spring at the plate
Isbel went 2-for-3 in Monday's spring training win over Arizona. He's hitting .265 (9-for-34) with a .686 OPS this spring.
Isbel will return as Kansas City's starting center fielder but likely needs to improve at the plate to keep from losing playing time. He hit just .240 last season with a .662 OPS, but his elite glove kept him in the lineup. Isbel has ranked in at least the 95th percentile in Outs Above Average each of the last three seasons. He'll also sit against most left-handed pitching as he hit just .161 with a .450 OPS against lefties last season. The Royals have experimented with Maikel Garcia in center field this spring, so Kansas City could look at other options if he struggles at the plate.
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Royals' Jac Caglianone: Cut from big-league camp
The Royals reassigned Caglianone to minor-league camp Monday.
Caglianone never had a real chance to make the Royals' Opening Day roster, but he nonetheless turned heads in camp, putting up a 1.871 OPS with three home runs over 13 Cactus League tilts. The 22-year-old is likely to begin the season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and could push to debut in 2025 if he's able to make enough contact.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Gets Opening Day nod
Manager Matt Quatraro announced Thursday that Ragans will start Opening Day against the Guardians on March 27, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The announcement comes after Ragans surrendered two runs across 2.2 innings on 83 pitches in a Cactus League game against the Rockies on Sunday. The 27-year-old has had a bumpy spring training, but in 2024 he notched a 3.14 ERA across 186.1 innings in 32 games. This will be the ace's second Opening Day start after getting the nod in 2024.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Will start 2025 in Triple-A
Cruz was optioned by the Royals to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Cruz had a good showing during spring training, posting a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across seven frames. The 25-year-old right-hander didn't allow a run in 5.2 big-league innings last season and could be among the first players called up when the Royals bullpen needs reinforcements.
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Royals' Jonathan Bowlan: Optioned to Triple-A
The Royals optioned Bowlan to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Bowlan gave up one earned run over his first six spring outings but struggled against the Reds on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk over 1.2 innings. He appeared in 35 games (16 starts) with Omaha last season and posted a 12-4 record with a 4.67 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 98:34 K:BB across 104 innings.
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Royals' Evan Sisk: Optioned to Triple-A
The Royals optioned Sisk to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Sisk spent the entire 2024 regular season in Triple-A and logged a 6-2 record with 15 saves, a 1.56 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 57.2 innings. Given his impressive numbers last season, Sisk could make his way to the majors in 2025 when the Royals need to bolster their bullpen with a southpaw.
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Royals' Bobby Witt: Returning to lineup
Witt (forearm) will start at shortstop and bat second in Saturday's Cactus League game versus the Guardians.
Witt suffered a bruised left forearm after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday, but the soreness has now subsided, and he's been given the green light to resume playing in exhibition games. With a .276/.364/.586 slash line alongside two home runs, four RBI and five runs scored over 11 contests this spring, the 24-year-old looks poised to have another great season in 2025.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Poor numbers this spring
Wacha gave up three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk in Friday's spring start against the Angels. He has a 12.38 ERA with a 10:3 K:BB in eight innings this spring.
There shouldn't be much worry about Wacha's poor spring numbers since he's a veteran with a secure spot in the rotation. He still has a strong 10 strikeouts in eight innings. Wacha has been a quality source for ERA and WHIP three years running, and he returns to a pretty good situation after re-upping with Kansas City on a multi-year deal.
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Royals' Carlos Estevez: Makes spring debut
Estevez (back) made his first appearance of spring training Friday, giving up one unearned run and two hits over an inning. "I feel great," Estevez told MLB.com. "Everything is going well with my body, and I'm in a good spot. For me, it usually takes me three, maybe four outings to say, 'OK, this is it, this is the point I want to be at.'"
Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness, but the Royals say they are confident he'll be ready for Opening Day. He'll make six appearances between major-league and minor-league games barring any setbacks before spring training ends, according to MLB.com. Estevez is expected to be the primary closer for the Royals, with Lucas Erceg also getting some save chances.
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Royals' Kyle Wright: Aims to face hitters next week
Wright (shoulder) hopes to progress to throwing a live batting practice session next week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wright is coming off a lost 2024 season due to shoulder surgery and had a minor early-camp setback with a hamstring issue. The right-hander will need time to get built back up, so it's going to be a while before he's game-ready.
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Royals' Bobby Witt: Increases activities Friday
Witt (forearm) increased his baseball activities, including hitting, Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Witt was hit by a pitch in the left forearm during Wednesday's game against the Mariners, but he managed to escape with just a bruise and is easing back into workouts. It's not clear when Witt might be ready to play in Cactus League games again, but it shouldn't be long.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Back in action Friday
Velazquez (calf) is starting in right field and batting cleanup in Friday's spring game against the Angels.
Velazquez departed Wednesday's contest due to calf cramps but is ready to rejoin the lineup after a day off. The 26-year-old hasn't put himself in a strong position to earn a place on the Opening Day roster, as he's gone 2-for-16 through eight spring games.
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Royals' Hunter Renfroe: Feeling good despite slow spring
Renfroe is hitting just .188 (3-for-16) with a home run this spring, but he says a return to full health has been his priority after a back injury, a broken left toe and right hamstring strain slowed him last season, MLB.com reports. "It was a big issue," Renfroe said. "Toward the middle part of the season, some things popped up. And that led to lower back, hamstring. It's all connected. But it feels good now. I was hoping that when I started up this offseason that I wouldn't feel it, and I didn't, which was great."
Renfroe had a disappointing 2024 season by hitting just .229 with 15 home runs and a .689 OPS over 120 regular-season games. His performance this spring isn't inspiring confidence that he'll have a bounceback season, but he appears set for an everyday role in right field.
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Royals' Bobby Witt: Has forearm contusion
Witt, who was hit by a pitch in Wednesday's game, has a left forearm contusion and will continue to be evaluated in the coming days, MLB.com reports. "It was scary in the moment," he said. "But any time that happens, it's always scary. You never know what the results are going to be. But if it was October or April or March 27, I'd be good."
X-rays on Witt's forearm did not show any broken bones, but the report adds if it doesn't improve he'll have more imaging. He'll have limited activity the next few days as a result. Still, given his comments there's currently no reason to think he'll miss Opening Day. Witt has had a great spring by hitting .276/.364/.586 with two homers, four RBI and five runs scored over 11 games.
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Royals' Daniel Lynch: In mix for rotation spot
Lynch has put himself in contention for the fifth starter role with a strong spring, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. He has a 1.80 ERA with nine strikeouts and no walks in 10 Cactus League innings.
Kris Bubic was seen as the leading candidate for the fifth starter role but has struggled a bit this spring with a 5.59 ERA, although that comes with an 8:2 K:BB across 9.2 innings. It's more likely Lynch begins the season in the bullpen, but he could join the rotation if there's an opening -- and Alec Marsh is currently dealing with a shoulder injury.
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2024 Team Statistical Rankings
| Avg | R | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
.248 (8th) |
735 (13th) |
170 (20th) |
3.76 (8th) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| K. Wright SP Kyle Wright SP | Shoulder |
| A. Marsh RP Alec Marsh RP | Shoulder |
| J. McArthur RP James McArthur RP | Elbow |
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