Spring Temperature Check: Who's Hot and Who's Cold in Royals Camp? (Feb 23-25)

The Kansas City Royals are now a week into spring training, posting a record of 2-3. While statistics and records don’t mean much in February, it is still nice to see players put together strong springs in anticipation of the regular season. 

With only six games played, the sample size is still relatively small as we look into who is off to a strong or not-so-strong start in spring training. 

Who’s Hot? 🔥

Seth Lugo: Lugo fired two scoreless innings on Monday against the Chicago Cubs. Over the two innings, Lugo allowed two hits, while walking none and striking out one. The 36-year-old faced the minimum over his two innings, needing 27 pitches to get through the two frames. Lugo was able to retire 2025 and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on three pitches to open the game with a ground out to first base. 

Lugo missed time last year with two trips to the injured list, making 26 starts, a step back from the 33 during his All-Star season in 2024. With a veteran pitcher like Lugo, health is the main concern, so seeing the right-hander get through two clean innings is a good start to the spring, especially with Lugo participating in the World Baseball Classic. 

Bobby Witt Jr.: Witt Jr. impresses each year. Through four games in the spring, Witt Jr. has batted .364, with a double and a triple. The double came on Wednesday when facing Seattle Mariners ace Bryan Woo. Having an exit velocity of 99.8, Witt Jr. gave center fielder Víctor Robles no opportunity to make a play. 

Seeing Witt Jr. look sharp prior to the WBC is a welcome sight for Royals fans. If the Royals want to return to postseason baseball, Witt Jr. is going to be the driving force of this team. 

Noah Cameron: Cameron made his first start of the spring on Wednesday against the Mariners, pitching two shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out two. The left-hander required 36 pitches to get through the two frames. 

Cameron struck out Robles and induced a weak ground ball off the bat of Josh Naylor, looking good against MLB-caliber players as Cameron tries to recapture the success he showed in his rookie season.

Who’s Not? 🧊

Jonathan India: 2026 is a big year for India. After struggling during his first season with the Royals, India was re-signed on a one-year, $8 million contract. India will be a free agent at season's end and is looking for fortunes closer to what he showed during his rookie season. 

Through three spring training games, India is hitless through five at-bats, while recording one walk. Like I mentioned to open the piece, spring training statistics are often a moot point, but I’m sure many Royals fans would feel more comfortable if India can see some success before the year begins. 

José Cuas: Cuas has pitched in three games this spring, totalling three innings. In the three outings, Cuas has allowed three hits, four runs, two home runs, and one walk, pitching to an ERA of 12.00. 

With opponents hitting .250 off the right-hander and a deep Royals pitching staff, Cuas doesn’t appear to be working his way onto the Royals’ roster. 

Lane Thomas: Through seven at-bats, Thomas has recorded only one hit, while striking out four times. A season after batting .160, the Royals need Thomas to provide a steady production of offense from one of the outfield positions. 

While it’s still way too early to get upset, similar to India’s situation, Royals fans want to see Thomas’ production get closer to the version of the 2023 season where Thomas blasted 28 home runs.