Michael Coyle

Image courtesy of © David Dermer-Imagn Images Major League Baseball’s regular season is well underway; after months of waiting, fans can now watch their favorite teams' games count in the standings. The Kansas City Royals have got off to a sluggish start, sitting 5-7 in an American League Central Division that appears to be up for grabs. Just like spring training, but now with statistics that count, let’s take a look at who is off to a hot start and who is still looking to find their stride. Who's Hot? 🔥 Michael Wacha Wacha has looked brilliant to open the 2026 campaign. In two starts, Wacha is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.69 and a WHIP of 0.77. The veteran right-hander has struck out 10 batters across 13 innings, turning in two quality starts, first against the Atlanta Braves, then against division rival the Cleveland Guardians. In Wacha’s last start on Monday against the Guardians, the 34-year-old went seven innings, allowing only one run on three hits, striking out three and walking three. Wacha’s lone blemish of the night was a third-inning, solo home run allowed to Steven Kwan. The Royals’ rotation has a chance to be one of the best in the A.L., and Wacha has done his part in getting the group off to a strong start. Going into Cleveland for a divisional matchup is always a difficult task, but Wacha did his job to take the first of 13 meetings between the two clubs. Carter Jensen The Royals’ offense really needs Jensen’s bat to be a force in 2026. After hitting three home runs across 60 at-bats last season, Jensen has already matched that total through his first 26 at-bats during the 2026 campaign. Through 11 games this season, Jensen is batting .226 with three home runs and six RBIs. The left-handed batting catcher blasted home runs in back-to-back games to open the series against the Guardians, breaking a tie with his home runs on both occasions. Jensen’s underlying numbers back up his strong start, finding himself in the 96th percentile with an average exit velocity of 94.6 and 86th percentile for hard-hit %. Jensen’s three home runs are currently good for the team lead on the Royals through the club's first 12 games. Nick Mears After struggling through much of spring training, Mears has opened the regular season with five shutout appearances. In five innings, Mears has picked up one hold and struck out five batters, looking like the pitcher they hoped they were acquiring in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. In the five appearances, Mears has allowed two hits and two walks, giving himself a WHIP of 0.80 in the season’s early weeks, while also holding opposing batters to an average of .133. As a few of the other Royals relievers struggle to find their footing in April, Mears has given the bullpen a boost through the opening two and a half weeks. Who's Not? 🧊 John Schreiber Schreiber had a difficult spring training, and it appears those struggles have carried over into the early portion of the regular season. In five games, Schreiber has gone 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA and a 2.31 WHIP. The right-hander has allowed five hits and five walks in his 4 ⅓ innings, struggling with command, one of the strengths in Schreiber’s game from a season ago. Last year, Schreiber appeared in a team-high 74 games, pitching to a record of 3-3 with a 3.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and walking only 19 batters in his 64 innings. It’s still very early, and relievers only need a few outings to get back on track, but Schreiber’s FIP of 8.43 is a concerning development for the 32-year-old Schreiber, who has a career FIP of 3.63 and is being counted on for high-leverage innings out of the bullpen. Lane Thomas Thomas, who was signed by the Royals during the offseason to a one-year, $5.25 million contract, has struggled to find his footing in the early portion of the 2026 campaign with his new club. Through nine games, Thomas is batting .105 with a .292 OBP, recording only two hits and one RBI across 17 at-bats. The Royals’ offense could really use Thomas to become a consistent power threat in their lineup as the club hunts for a better offense than the one showcased in 2025. With a divisional matchup with the Chicago White Sox slated to begin on Thursday, Thomas has the opportunity to face Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, and Erick Fedde in the first three games, all pitchers who have career ERAs over 4.00, which could help get the 30-year-old back on track. Salvador Perez Perez has struggled out of the gate, turning in a slash line of .156/.224/.333 through 12 games played. The 35-year-old catcher has recorded seven hits across 45 at-bats, blasting two home runs and two RBIs. The most recent series in Cleveland was a struggle for the Royals captain. The nine-time All-Star failed to record a hit over 11 at-bats. The one bright spot so far in 2026 has been Perez’s limited strikeouts, as the catcher finds himself in the top six percent of MLB with an 11.1 strikeout percentage. Perez has been such a consistent force in the Royals’ lineup for his whole career, and the Royals are banking on him putting together another strong year as they look to return to playoff baseball. View full article

Image courtesy of © Denny Medley-Imagn Images Major League Baseball games are right around the corner. A week today, the games will count, the statistics will count, and the Kansas City Royals’ quest to return to postseason baseball will begin in Atlanta. Now is the time when fans want to see their players get into a groove and look ready to face MLB-caliber pitching. As always, these spring training statistics don’t matter, but here is one of the final looks at the hot and cold performers in Royals camp. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Bailey Falter Acquired at last year's trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Falter struggled to find his footing in a Royals uniform. After turning in a 7-5 record with a 3.73 ERA and 1.18 in Pittsburgh over 22 starts, the wheels fell off following the trade. In four appearances (two starts), Falter went 0-2 with an ERA of 11.25 and a WHIP of 2.25. Opponents hit .370, and Falter walked seven batters across 12 innings. With a clean slate this spring, Falter has been up-and-down, but the left-hander’s last outing gave belief that Falter could have a role on this team when camp breaks next week. Falter threw three shutout innings, allowing no hits, no walks, and striking out five. With Mason Black and Ryan Bergert being optioned to Omaha earlier this week, the door has opened for Falter to claim a long relief role in the Royals’ bullpen. If injuries do strike, Falter has put himself in a position to be an option to fill a role, based on his career ERA of 4.58. Daniel Lynch IV Lynch IV continues to build on a strong 2025 campaign this spring. Through seven spring outings, Lynch IV has pitched to a record of 1-0, an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.17. In the left-hander’s most recent outing, Lynch IV struck out the side, requiring only 16 pitches to set the Rangers aside. Last season, Lynch IV went 6-2 with an ERA of 3.06 and a WHIP of 1.36 over 57 outings. With the trade of fellow left-hander Ángel Zerpa during the winter, Lynch IV could be in line for more opportunities to continue to grow as a left-hander coming out of the Royals’ bullpen. Kyle Isbel Isbel got hot at the right time. After struggling through the earlier portions of camp, Isbel is making sure he finishes strong. Over his last three games, Isbel is 5-for-8, with one double, one triple, two RBIs, and one walk. Isbel’s spring slash line now sits at .276/.382/.379, while also chipping in two steals. If Isbel can provide this level of offense, to go along with his great defense, the Royals would be over the moon about the 29-year-old’s production. Last season, Isbel batted .255 with four home runs and 33 RBI’s, to go along with an OBP of .301. A raised OBP could help allow Isbel to challenge his career high of 11 stolen bases, set back in 2024. Who’s Not? 🧊 Nick Mears Spring training has been a struggle for Mears, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers during the offseason. The 29-year-old has appeared in seven games, posting an ERA of 10.80 and a WHIP of 2.10 across 6 ⅔ innings. Mears has struggled with both giving up hits and control, allowing nine hits and walking five. Last season, Mears was a key piece of the Brewers’ bullpen, going 5-3 with an ERA of 3.49 and a WHIP of 0.97. Opponents struggled to hit off Mears, generating an average of .213, while also only walking 13 in 56 ⅔ innings. With the regular season around the corner, the Royals are going to need Mears to find his stride to be a key piece in what could be a strong Royals bullpen. Noah Cameron Cameron put together a very nice rookie season in 2025. Over 24 starts, Cameron went 9-7, posted an ERA of 2.99 and a WHIP of 1.10, finishing fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. This spring, over five games (four starts), Cameron has gone 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. After holding opponents to a .214 average against during his rookie campaign, teams have been able to hit .343 off the left-hander, which is a concerning development. Cameron last pitched against the Cleveland Guardians on March 19, where the lefty went 4 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs on five hits, two home runs, two walks, while also hitting a batter. Having Cameron find his stride as the regular season opens could be one of the biggest storylines for the Royals, who could field one of the stronger rotations in MLB in 2026. Isaac Collins Collins, like Mears, was also acquired from the Brewers in the trade that sent Zerpa to Milwaukee. After batting .263 with nine home runs and 63 RBI’s and a .368 OBP with the Brewers last year, Collins has struggled to find his footing in his new home this spring. Through 21 at-bats this spring, Collins has batted .095 and posted an OBP of .174. The Royals’ outfield struggled to produce last season, so the acquisition of Collins was hoped to fill a hole that had persisted for much of the 2025 campaign. With four spring training games remaining on the exhibition schedule, players will want to start seeing results as the statistics begin to count in a week's time. View full article

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The clock continues to tick on Spring training as Major League Baseball’s open day sits two weeks away. The players are in their routines, teams are making decisions, and it’s just about time for the games to start counting. While statistics in the spring don’t mean a lot, it is still nice to see players finding their groove as the season fast approaches. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Jonathan India Having India be a key piece in the Royals’ lineup could help push this team back to playoff baseball. Through 17 at-bats, India has posted an average of .294, with one home run and three RBI’s. The former Rookie of the Year’s offensive production has really heated up as of late, going 5-for-11 over his last five games. The utility player has also posted four walks and zero strikeouts, showcasing an ability to put the ball in play. Last season, India underwhelmed, batting .233, with nine home runs and 45 RBI’s after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds. Signed to a one-year, $8 million contract to avoid arbitration in the offseason, India looks for better results in year two with the Royals. Mason Black Acquired in November in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, Black has impressed in Royals camp so far. In six appearances, the right-hander has yet to allow a run, throwing eight shutout innings, recording eight strikeouts and three walks. Black has pitched in 10 games across two seasons with the Giants, posting a record of 1-5, a 6.47 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.64. The 28-year-old has worked in the rotation and out of the bullpen, giving the Royals an option for length or spot starts should injuries arise. Helcris Olivárez The 25-year-old has looked good in spring training, making six appearances, totalling a record of 2-0, an ERA of 1.50, and a WHIP of 1.17. Olivárez’s last three outings have all been scoreless, striking out four batters over the three innings. Invited to Royals’ camp as a non-roster invitee, Olivárez is looking to make his MLB debut after spring training stops in Colorado, Boston, and San Francisco. Olivárez has absolutely put his name on the map with this stellar spring. Who’s Not? 🧊 Brandon Drury Drury was signed to a minor league contract in February, but has slumped through large parts of the spring. Through 22 at-bats, Drury has batted .182, totalling only four singles and two RBI’s. The 33-year-old has struck out eight times, failing to make consistent contact. After spending all of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, split between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels organizations, Drury appears poised to return there in 2026. In 53 AAA games last year, Drury batted .214, with three home runs and 17 RBI’s. Kyle Isbel One of the Royals’ outfielders vying for playing time in 2026, Isbel has slumped through the majority of the spring. In 21 at-bats, Isbel has batted .143, with no home runs and only two RBI’s. All three hits this spring have been singles for the 29-year-old. Last season, Isbel appeared in 135 games, batting .255 with four home runs and 33 RBI’s, while also chipping in four stolen bases. With the additions of Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins, and Starling Marte, the Royals’ outfield picture is getting crowded, and Isbel’s struggles are not helping his case. John Rave Rave, like Isbel, is a struggling outfielder in a crowded Royals outfield picture. Through 26 spring training at-bats, Rave has batted .154, with only one RBI. With an OBP of .241, Rave appears destined to begin the season in Omaha. Last season, Rave made his big league debut, appearing in 72 games with the Royals, batting .196, with four home runs, 14 RBIs, and recording seven stolen bases. A left-handed bat, Rave figures to see playing time if a few of the other lefties go down throughout the season. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images The excitement is building for baseball fans. As the calendar hits the first Friday in March, the Kansas City Royals are only three weeks away from opening day in Atlanta. As always, spring training statistics don’t mean a lot in the big picture, but with the countdown until the regular season begins, players will be getting close to wanting to find their groove before camps break at the end of March. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Carter Jensen Jensen continues to show why he is ready to be a full-time Major League Baseball player. After appearing in 20 games last season, where the catcher batted .300 with three home runs and 13 RBI’s, Jensen has followed that up with a .400 average through his first 15 spring training at-bats. With two home runs and five RBI’s this spring, Jensen is making a case to become a middle-of-the-lineup bat, which would be a great boost to the Royals’ lineup after last season’s offensive struggles. Ryan Bergert Bergert made his third appearance of the spring on Tuesday, pitching two shutout innings against Team Cuba. Through six spring training innings, Bergert has yet to allow a run, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out six. Bergert remains in the mix to earn a spot on the Royals’ opening day roster, especially with the injury to Stephen Kolek. After posting an ERA of 3.66 and holding opposing batters to a .215 average last season, Bergert is setting himself up to be a strong option for the Royals. Lucas Erceg Erceg made his first appearance of the spring on Tuesday, recording a scoreless inning with one strikeout. A major factor in the Royals’ bullpen last season, Erceg will be tasked with helping set up for closer Carlos Estévez. Last season, Erceg went 8-4 with an ERA of 2.64 and a WHIP of 1.17 across 61 ⅓ innings. Erceg will look to strikeout more batters in 2026 after recording only 48 last year. Who’s Not? 🧊 Cole Ragans Ragans was roughed up by the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, allowing six earned runs over 1 ⅔ innings. The left-hander allowed one home run, one walk, and hit one batter, requiring 52 pitches to get through his outing. Ragans likely has three more outings prior to opening day, giving him a chance to get right before the 2026 season kicks off. The likely candidate to be named the Royals’ opening day starter, the main concern is a healthy spring after last year’s injury troubles. Kevin Newman Signed to a minor league contract in December, Newman has struggled across 18 at-bats. Newman has hit .211, with zero home runs and no RBI’s. In 114 at-bats, last season with the Los Angeles Angels, Newman hit .202 with two home runs and 11 RBI’s. After recording an on-base percentage of .209, Newman is on the outside looking in at a big league spot. John Schreiber Schreiber was hit hard by the Rangers on Thursday night, giving up five hits in one inning of work. The right-hander allowed four runs, while walking one and striking out one. Facing many of the Rangers’ regulars, Schreiber allowed four straight hits to Corey Seager, Jake Burger, Kyle Higashioka, and Josh Smith. Last season, Schreiber appeared in a team-high 74 games, going 3-3 with an ERA of 3.80 and a WHIP of 1.19. The 32-year-old will be a big part of the Royals’ bullpen in 2026. View full article

Image courtesy of © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images 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. View full article

Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images As spring training gets underway, the Kansas City Royals have made an addition to the club's pitching depth, a day after pitchers and catchers reported to open camp. The Royals acquired right-hander Mitch Spence from the Athletics in exchange for minor league right-hander A.J. Causey. Spence, a former 10th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019, was taken first overall by the then-Oakland Athletics during the 2023 Major League Baseball Rule 5 Draft. Spence spent the past two seasons in the Athletics’ organization, pitching to a record of 11-16, 4.77 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 1.40 WHIP, across 67 games and 236 career innings. Over the two years, Spence has shown an ability to be used both as a starting pitcher and in a relief role. Last season, Spence appeared in 32 games, with eight of those being starts, and went 3-6, with a 5.10 ERA, an identical 5.10 FIP, and 1.44 WHIP in 84 ⅔ innings. Spence’s hits allowed, home runs allowed, and walk rates all jumped from his rookie year, where Spence went 8-10 with a 4.58 ERA, a slightly better FIP of 4.21, and a WHIP of 1.38. The Royals’ rotation will likely consist of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron, and Kris Bubic. Spence will likely slot into the depth group with Bailey Falter, Stephen Kolek, and Ryan Bergert as options in case injuries strike. As many Royals fans know, 2025 saw significant injuries to both Ragans and Bubic, so depth is vital across an 162 game season. Spence’s ability to pitch in multi-running roles could allow the 27-year-old to be called up when injuries strike, when the team is playing through a long stretch without a day off, or to help limit some innings on a taxed bullpen. Heading to the Athletics is Causey, who reached as high as Double-A last season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Used solely as a reliever across both Single-A and Double-A, Causey appeared in 48 games, across 73 ⅓ innings, pitching to a 11-5 record, 1.72 ERA, and 0.90 WHIP, holding opposing batters to a .186 average against. The 23-year-old is a former fifth-round selection of the Royals during the 2024 MLB draft. The Royals begin their season in Atlanta on Friday, March 27, at 7:15 p.m. EST. View full article

Image courtesy of © Denny Medley-Imagn Images Team United States of America’s official roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is in, and Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will be a part of the team. The announcement of Wacha’s addition will mean that Team USA will have both Wacha and Bobby Witt Jr. from the Royals. Wacha becomes the eighth Royal to be named to the WBC, joining Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, Seth Lugo, and Carlos Estévez. Wacha is entering his third season with the Royals in 2026. Last season, the right-hander started 31 games, pitching to a record of 10-13, an earned run average of 3.86, and a WHIP of 1.22. Wacha led the Royals pitchers in innings with 172 ⅔ in 2025. Signed to a three-year extension worth $51 million in November of 2024 with a club option for 2028, Wacha has posted a 23-21 record, 3.61 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP in 60 starts in the 34-year-old’s two seasons with the club. Wacha will hope to help the USA bounce back from the 2023 WBC, in which they fell to Japan in the championship game, 3-2. Wacha is a USA Baseball alumnus, as he was a member of the 2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. A 13-year MLB veteran, Wacha has a career record of 111-75, an ERA of 3.89, and a WHIP of 1.27 across 309 games in his career. Team USA kicks off its tournament on Friday, March 6th, in Houston, Texas, against Brazil. View full article

Image courtesy of © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images As Major League Baseball teams prepare to enter spring training, a new season will be on their minds, but for many players, the season kicks off in early March with the 2026 rendition of the World Baseball Classic. The tournament will begin on March 5th and wrap up on March 17th before the regular season kicks off for the Kansas City Royals on March 27th in Atlanta. Seven Royals players have been selected for the 2026 WBC: Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, Seth Lugo, and Carlos Estévez. Team United States of America Witt Jr. will be appearing in his second straight WBC, after debuting in 2023 when the USA fell to Japan 3-2 in the finals. Witt Jr. went 1-for-2 in the 2023 tournament at the age of 22 years old. This time, Witt Jr. is expected to take on a bigger role as one of the faces of MLB. “It’s an honor, and the last time we did it, we fell a little short,” Witt Jr. said. “So I just wanted to help the team win gold and help the country win gold.” Witt Jr. is coming off a season that saw the shortstop bat .295 with 23 home runs, 88 runs batted in, and 38 steals. A career .290 hitter, with an on-base percentage of .340, Witt Jr has the chance to be an integral piece of bringing a championship to the USA’s side. Team Venezuela Both Perez and Garcia will be representing Venezuela when they square off with the Netherlands on March 6th in Miami. 2026 will be Perez’s fourth WBC, and he was named captain of Venezuela. In 2023, Venezuela lost 9-7 to the USA in the quarterfinals. Perez batted .429 with one home run and six RBIs in 2023, earning himself a nod to the All-WBC team. Last season, Perez batted .236 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Garcia will be representing Venezuela for the first time at the WBC, after a strong 2025 season that saw the third baseman bat .286 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, .351 OBP, and 23 steals. The 25-year-old won his first Gold Glove in 2025 and was nominated for a Silver Slugger at the utility position. In December, the Royals and Garcia agreed to a five-year contract worth $57.5 million with a club option for 2030. Team Italy Pasquantino and Caglianone will be joining forces on Team Italy, as they look to build on a strong 2023 WBC, which saw them fall 9-3 in the quarterfinals to the eventual champions, Japan. This will be the second straight tournament for Pasquantino, who was a part of the 2023 team, batting .200 with a .273 OBP across 20 at-bats. Last season, Pasquantino batted .262 with 32 home runs and 113 RBIs, leading the Royals in both home runs and RBIs. The 22-year-old Caglianone will be making his WBC debut in 2026, after debuting in MLB in 2025. Last season, Caglianone batted .157 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 62 games. Team Puerto Rico Lugo will be making his second career trip to the WBC in 2026, after pitching for Puerto Rico in 2017. At the 2017 tournament, Lugo appeared in three games, going 2-1 with a 4.20 ERA. Lugo recorded 12 strikeouts across 15 innings, including seven strikeouts in the Gold Medal game against the USA. Lugo was charged with the loss after allowing four runs across four innings, in an eventual 8-0 USA win. Last season, Lugo pitched in 26 games, posting a record of 8-7, an ERA of 4.15, and a WHIP of 1.29 across 145 ⅓ innings. The 36-year-old dealt with two separate trips to the injured list, so the Royals will want to make sure his health is 100% before leaving for the tournament. Team Dominican Republic After a 2025 season that saw Estévez lead MLB with 42 saves, the 33-year-old will be returning to the Dominican Republic team, looking for better results than 2023, a tournament that saw them knocked out in the first round. Dominican Republic finished third in Pool D after going 2-2. In 2025, Estévez went 4-5 with an ERA of 2.45 and a WHIP of 1.06. The Royals’ closer pitched in 67 games, recording 54 strikeouts. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images / © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images The Kansas City Royals’ offense was in the middle to bottom half of Major League Baseball for many of the offensive categories. To name a few, the Royals finished 26th in runs, 18th in hits, 26th in home runs, 15th in average, 22nd in on-base percentage, and 18th in slugging. The 82-80 record in 2025 was a reflection of the poor offense at times, but there is reason to believe that the lineup in 2026 could help lead to better results for a Royals team looking to get back to playoff baseball. The Silver Slugger Group Last season, the Royals had four players nominated for an American League Silver Slugger Award. Salvador Perez was nominated at the catcher position, Vinnie Pasquantino was nominated at first base, Bobby Witt Jr. was nominated at shortstop, and Maikel Garcia was nominated for the utility position. These four combined to hit 101 of the Royals’ 159 total home runs, really driving the force for a team that lacked offensive firepower. Speaking at the Royals rally on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium, Royals general manager J.J. Picollo spoke about the level of production from this group and how they continue forward. “Trying to evaluate our offense, it’s like the tale of two stories,” Picollo said. “You’ve got an outfield that didn’t produce at all, and then you’ve got an infield that was the best infield in baseball.” The Royals were one of only three teams that had at least four players nominated for the Silver Slugger award, showing that the top end of their lineup can produce with the best teams in baseball Perez, Pasquantino, and Witt Jr. have all hit 30-plus home runs in a season before. Mixed in with the power-speed combo that Garcia brings, these four give the Royals a chance to have a special top half of the lineup in 2026. The Recent Acquisitions In the past two offseasons, the Royals have brought in Jonathan India and Isaac Collins by way of trade and Lane Thomas on a one-year, $5.25 million contract. These three players are going to be key to help lengthen the Royals’ lineup in 2026. India’s first season as a Royal didn’t go as he or the team alike had hoped for when they acquired the former Rookie of the Year from the Cincinnati Reds. India batted .233 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs, while also posting a career low .346 OBP. A career .249 hitter, the Royals need India to find that 15-20 home run range, which could only get easier with the recent dimension change at Kauffman Stadium. Collins was brought in along with reliever Nick Mears in December for reliever Ángel Zerpa in mid-December. In Collins’ first full season at the MLB level, the outfielder batted .263 with nine home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .368 OBP. Part of what Picollo was talking about this past Saturday is the need for more outfield production, and the hope is that Collins can provide that from the left side of the plate. One cause for concern is the second-half slump Collins entered. Over the 28-year-old’s final 30 games, the average dipped to .189 with one home run and 13 driven in. Where Collins struggled with the bat at times, the sharp eye remained, finishing the season in the top 10 percentile in MLB for base on ball rate, walking at a 12.9% clip. Thomas was brought in to help bring more production to an outfield that struggled for much of 2025. A bounce-back candidate after a tough 2025 that saw Thomas appear in only 39 games, batting .160, with four home runs and 11 RBIs. The three seasons prior, Thomas blasted 17, 28, and 15 home runs, so the power threat is there. A career .292 hitter against left-handed pitchers, Thomas brings what Picollo was looking for to the Royals lineup. “Going back to the beginning of the offseason, I think we were pretty clear that we needed to address our outfield,” Picollo said at the time of the signing. “The more we had our meetings, the more we dove into things, the more we talked about what players fit us well, right-handed became very apparent to us. And then versatility. Somebody who could play all three outfield spots, and more importantly, take time in center field. We went through several meetings with our pro personnel department and front office,e and we kept coming back to Lane.” The Rookies 2025 saw both Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen make their MLB debuts. Both players flashed potential that could help make them mainstays in the Royals’ lineup for years to come. Caglianone went through struggles many power-hitting rookies face while adjusting to pitching at the MLB level. The 22-year-old batted .157, with a .237 OBP, slugging seven home runs and driving in 18 runs. The 22.8% strikeout rate is concerning, but the outfielder flashed the ability to drive the ball, posting a max exit velocity of 114.1 MPH, which slots in the 10th percentile for all MLB batters. Jensen was called up to make his MLB debut on September 1 and impressed during the final month of the regular season. The catcher batted .300 across 60 plate appearances, swatting three home runs and driving in 13 runs, to go along with an impressive .391 OBP. In the 20 games, Jensen’s barrel percentage was 20.8%, a strong number for the 22-year-old. If Jensen builds on what was a strong September showing, the Royals will find ways to keep both Perez’s and Jensen’s bat in the lineup by utilizing catcher, first base, and designated hitter to bring a steadier offense to the lineup. The Rest Of The Offense The rest of the Royals’ lineup will be made up of Michael Massey, Kyle Isbel, and a couple of Dairon Blanco, Nick Loftin, Kameron Misner, John Rave, and Drew Waters as the Royals hunt for better offensive results in 2026. View full article

Image courtesy of © William Purnell-Imagn Images Sources told MLB.com that on Thursday, the Kansas City Royals and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino agreed to a two-year deal worth more than $11 million guaranteed contract, avoiding the need for the two sides to head to an arbitration hearing. Pasquantino will have one more year of arbitration eligibility in 2028 before becoming a free agent for the 2029 season. Pasquantino’s camp filed for $4.5 million, while the Royals filed for $4 million. The deal could reach $16 million, including incentives. Last season, Pasquantino appeared in a career high 160 games, posting a slash line of .264/.323/.475, turning in a career high in slugging across 621 at-bats. The 28-year-old totalled a career high in hits with 164, doubles with 33, home runs with 32, and runs batted in with 113. All four of Pasquantino's big league seasons have been with the Royals. The former 11th-round selection in 2019 has a career average of .266 with a .330 OBP, 70 home runs, and 262 RBIs, often occupying one of the top five spots in the Royals' batting lineup. In 2025, Pasquantino had the highest barrel percentage of his career, coming in at 10.8%, up from the previous high of 8.8% set back in year one. Pasquantino was ranked in the 84th percentile in terms of squaring up the ball, while also being in the 84th percentile in whiff and 83rd for strikeout percentage, all strong numbers by the power-hitting first baseman. Pasquantino will be in action when the World Baseball Classic kicks off in early March, representing Team Italy. Pasquantino also represented Italy in 2023, when Italy was knocked out by the eventual champions Japan in the quarterfinals by a score of 9-3. In five games, Pasquantino batted .200 with a .273 OBP across 20 plate appearances. Pasquantino could be in line for another big season in 2026, with Kauffman Stadium moving the dimensions to make the park more hitter-friendly; the Royals’ first baseman could be set for another big year in the power department. The walls are being lowered from 10 feet to 8 feet, and the left-field corner will move in from 356 feet to 353 feet. The left-center and right-center gaps are going to be brought in from 389 feet to 379 feet, making the power alleys much more reachable. Center field remains untouched at 410 feet. View full article

Image courtesy of © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Kansas City Royals bullpen put together a strong season in 2025, seeing Carlos Estévez lead Major League Baseball in saves, Lucas Erceg lead all Royal receivers with a FIP of 3.49, and John Schreiber appeared in the 10th most games amongst all relievers, totalling 64 innings. The off-season has seen the Royals go out and acquire Matt Strahm from the Philadelphia Phillies and Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers, to help bolster a Royals bullpen that recorded the seventh-lowest earned run average and eighth-least home runs in MLB. Héctor Neris was picked up on a minor league deal, Luinder Avila flashed potential in September, and Daniel Lynch IV found success in the left-hander’s first full season as a reliever. With under one month until pitchers and catchers report for spring training, here is a look at Luke Jackson, Justin Wilson, and Scott Barlow, as relievers the Royals could look to add prior to camp opening. Luke Jackson Jackson appeared in 52 games in 2025, totalling 51 innings across three teams. The 34-year-old pitched for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers before closing out the season with the Seattle Mariners. Jackson totalled a record of 2-5 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. The numbers don’t jump off the screen at you, but it was Jackson’s third stop of 2025 with the Mariners that gave reason to believe that Jackson still has the ability to be elite. The Mariners have a history of helping pitchers reach a new level, and that is what pitching coach Pete Woodworth may have helped Jackson do. In 10 games after being acquired by the Mariners, Jackson posted an ERA of 2.38, FIP of 2.69, WHIP of 0.88, and held opposing batters to an average of .162 in those 11 ⅓ innings. The strikeout numbers also jumped, sitting down 10 batters via a punch out across those appearances. Justin Wilson Wilson has pitched with seven franchises over his 13-year career, most recently spending 2025 with the Boston Red Sox. In 61 games, Wilson posted a record of 4-1, an ERA of 3.35, and a WHIP of 1.41. This was the second straight season that the left-hander pitched in at least 60 games, and the seventh time overall. Wilson totalled a FIP of 2.95 in 2025 and struck out 57 batters in 48 ⅓ innings. Wilson held left-handed batters to an average of .212 and would give Royals manager Matt Quataro another trusted arm alongside the current lefties, Strahm and Lynch IV. In Wilson’s career, the 36-year-old has made the postseason seven times, recording a career ERA of 1.29, while limiting opposing batters to an average of .129. Wilson pitched in one playoff game in 2025 for the Red Sox, going 1 ⅔ innings against the New York Yankees, allowing no hits. The veteran presence could help give a young Royals team someone to turn to as the development of arms continues in 2026. Scott Barlow A potential reunion of the former Royals closer, Barlow, who spent the 2025 season with the Cincinnati Reds. In 75 games, Barlow posted a record of 6-3, totalling 4.21 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. In 68 ⅓ innings, Barlow struck out 75 batters. Barlow is a pitcher who takes the ball when his name is called. In the past five seasons, Barlow has appeared in 71, 69, 63, 63, and 75 games. As many fans know, injuries can mount at any time, and having a durable arm that can routinely take the ball can help save bullpens from being overworked. Barlow’s FIP totalled in at 4.70 in 2025, the highest of the right-hander’s career, but the strikeouts were still there. Barlow retired 75 batters via the strikeout, up from 2024 when Barlow struck out 68. Opposing batters were only able to hit .200 off Barlow, the second-lowest average against of the 33-year-old’s career. View full article

Image courtesy of © Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images During November of the 2024 offseason, the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds teamed up for a trade, with the Royals acquiring utility player Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer for starting pitcher Brady Singer. The headliner was India, who was expected to come in and provide stability atop the Royals' lineup, giving Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez a chance to drive in India, who posted a .352 on-base percentage during the 2024 season with the Reds. Speaking at the time of the trade to the media, Royals general manager J.J. Picollo talked about the excitement in bringing in the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year. “Clearly, we were looking for a leadoff hitter,” Picollo said. “We wanted to address on-base. We wanted somebody to provide stability for us in that leadoff spot, and Jonathan’s going to do that. We were very happy to acquire him.” Flash forward to today, India wrapped up his first season with the Royals with a slash line of .233/.323/.346, through 136 games played. Over 497 at-bats, India hit a career low, nine home runs, and drove in 45 runs. India gave the Royals positional flexibility, making starts at second base, third base, and left field, but career lows in average, on-base percentage, slugging, and on-base-plus-slugging put a damper on the acquisition. The change in home ballparks could have played a factor in the regression. Great American Ball Park, the home of the Reds, ranks near the top of the list in terms of hitter-friendly ballparks, compared to Kauffman Stadium, which is in the middle to bottom in most categories. Over the past three seasons, Great American Ball Park trails only Dodger Stadium for average home runs given up per season. Kauffman Stadium ranks 24th on per Baseball Savant. Kauffman Stadium has long been known to have a spacious outfield, as seen by giving up the second-most doubles and triples in the past three years, per Baseball Savant. India was unable to take advantage of that, totalling only 29 doubles and zero triples. India’s BABIP reached a new career low in 2025, coming in at .279, well below the previous low of .293 set in 2024, so while there were concerns in year one with the Royals, there are some positives to take into 2026. Belief in Jonathan India With Dimension Change The Royals showed their belief in India during the offseason, bringing back India for his final year of arbitration on a one-year, $8 million contract. With one more year before reaching free agency, India should be motivated more than ever to put together a strong season. Comparing India’s Rookie of the Year season to his first with the Royals, India’s average exit velocity was very similar, 87.6 in year one to 87.9 this past season. India improved his launch angle from 13.1 to 14.7, which should correlate to more extra base hits in the spacious Kauffman. As many fans know, Kauffman Stadium is changing its dimensions for the 2026 season. The walls are being lowered from 10 feet to 8 feet, and the left-field corner will move in from 356 feet to 353 feet. The left-center and right-center gaps are going to be brought in from 389 feet to 379 feet, making the power alleys much more reachable. Center field remains untouched at 410 feet. When comparing India’s new look home to his old home in Cincinnati, where left field sits at 328 feet, left-center is 379 feet, center field is 404 feet, right-center is 370 feet, and right field is 325 feet. The gap in left field is now the same, and while there is a further distance in left field, the wall is shorter at Kauffman, sitting at eight feet as opposed to 12. India, which boasts a launch angle of a player who hits more line drives, could start to find more home runs with the lower walls. While season one didn’t go as planned in Kansas City for India, underlying numbers and a dimension change at Kauffman could result in a better year for India as the Royals hunt down a return to October baseball. View full article

Image courtesy of © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Last season, the Kansas City Royals’ pitching staff was one of the better groups of arms in all of Major League Baseball, finishing sixth in earned run average while allowing the 12th fewest hits and eighth fewest home runs in the league. The Royals return a large portion of the arms in 2026. Here is a look at starting rotation options for the Royals for the upcoming 2026 season. Cole Ragans The Royals' ace was limited to only 13 starts in 2025 after dealing with two separate stints on the injured list. The left-hander missed just under three weeks with a left groin strain before returning for one start on June 5th, in which Ragans would last only three innings before leaving with shoulder discomfort. The former first-round pick was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, holding Ragans out of action until Sept. 17. Even when healthy, Ragans struggled to find the form the all-star from 2024 showcased, pitching to a 3-3 record, 4.67 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP over 61 2/3 innings. The area where Ragans was still elite was the strikeout category, fanning 98 batters over those 62 1/3 innings. The 14.3 K/9 innings led all Royals starters. If Ragans can stay healthy and return to the 2024 season form, where Ragans went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, he gives the Royals a dominant force at the top of the team’s rotation. In 2024, Ragans held opposing hitters to a .213 average as opposed to .228 in 2025. In 2024, Ragans finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting. Seth Lugo Lugo was extended in July of 2025, to remain with the Royals on a two-year $46 million contract through the 2027 season. Through 26 starts, Lugo went 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Lugo, like Ragans, spent two separate trips on the injured list in 2025, missing two weeks with a right finger strain in May, then heading to the IL again on Sept. 4, with a lower back strain, a move that would end the right-hander’s season. The now 36-year-old finished runner-up to Tarik Skubal in AL Cy Young voting in 2024, a season that saw Lugo go 16-9, post a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. During the 2024 campaign, Lugo made 33 starts, tied for the most in MLB. A healthy Ragans and Lugo give the Royals two different looks at the top of the team’s rotation, while providing them with a chance to win on any given day. Michael Wacha Signed to a three-year extension in November of 2024, Wacha has been durable over the right-handers’ first two seasons with the Royals. Wacha has made 29 and 31 starts, accumulating 166 2/3 and 172 2/3 innings for the team. Over 31 starts last year, Wacha pitched to a 10-13 record, 3.86 ERA, and 1.22 WHIP, similar to 2024, where the now 34-year-old went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. In year one with the Royals, Wacha allowed 17 home runs, followed by 15 last season. Wacha led the Royals rotation in 2025 with 13 quality starts. If Wacha can continue to provide around 30 starts, an ERA under 4.00, and a WHIP close to 1.20, that will give the Royals many quality innings through the middle of the rotation. Noah Cameron Cameron put together a very strong rookie year for the Royals, pitching in 24 games, posting a 9-7 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP over 138 1/3 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .214 batting average against. For his efforts during the 2025 season, Cameron finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, trailing only Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, and Roman Anthony. The 26-year-old comes into 2026 with a spot in the rotation and higher expectations as the former Royals seventh-round selection in 2021 looks to build on what was an incredible rookie season. Over the 24 starts, Cameron posted 10 quality starts, so continuing to work deeper into games will be on the watch in year two for the left-hander starter. Kris Bubic 2025 was a breakout year for Bubic, posting a record of 8-7, 2.55 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP over 20 starts after spending 2024 as a reliever. Unfortunately for Bubic, the season ended in July after suffering a left rotator cuff strain, which would ultimately require surgery, ending the left-hander’s season. Bubic is expected to be ready for the 2026 season after beginning a throwing program late in 2025. Bubic only appeared in three games in 2023 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, so this is a pitcher who has struggled to remain healthy throughout his six-year career. In Bubic’s 20 starts in 2025, 11 of them were quality starts, while also posting nine strikeouts per nine innings, giving the Royals strong swing and miss ability when healthy last season. Ryan Bergert Acquired in July from the San Diego Padres as part of the return for Freddy Fermin, Bergert gives the Royals a strong depth arm in case of injury. In 19 appearances last season, Bergert pitched to a 2-2 record, 3.66 ERA, and 1.26 WHIP over 76 1/3 innings. After the trade, Bergert made eight starts for the Royals, totalling 40 2/3 innings, a 1-2 record, 4.43 ERA, and 1.33 WHIP. The 25-year-old will look to build off what was a nice rookie year in 2025. Stephen Kolek Also acquired from the Padres in July, Kolek turned in his best numbers when the former 11th-round selection in 2018 became a Royal. In five starts, Kolek went 1-2, with a 1.91 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over 33 innings. All five of Kolek’s starts were of the quality variety, and the 28-year-old held opposing hitters to a .168 average after the trade. For the year, Kolek pitched to a 5-7 record, 3.51 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. In today’s day and age of baseball, having these quality depth rotation options is huge for a Royals team looking to return to the postseason. View full article