Alec Marsh Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

On Monday afternoon, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reported that right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh had a labral repair on his right shoulder last month. According to Rogers, the 27-year-old, who missed all of 2025 due to a shoulder injury, may be looking at up to a year of recovery. 

Marsh was a key pitcher for the Royals during their 86-76 season in 2024. In his first full season with the Royals, he posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 129 IP. While his ERA was high, it was an improvement from his 5.69 ERA in 74.1 IP in 2023, and his 4.34 FIP and 3.15 K/BB ratio illustrated that he may have been better than his ERA in 2024. 

Before his injury, the Royals were unsure whether Marsh would return to the rotation or remain in the bullpen, where he pitched at the end of the 2024 season. However, he suffered his injury early in Spring Training and didn't throw a single pitch at the Minor or Major League level in 2025. 

The injury to Marsh hurts the possible depth of a Royals staff that was heavily affected by injuries last year. Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic missed significant time due to shoulder injuries, though Ragans returned in September. Kyle Wright pitched in the Minor Leagues, but was shut down during his rehab and didn't throw a pitch at the MLB level. Seth Lugo was also shut down at the end of the season due to a back issue. 

With Michael Lorenzen a free agent, the Royals may look for pitching on the free agent or trade market to replace Marsh's spot on the 40-man roster for 2026. 

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