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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans No-decision vs. Cleveland
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:25 PM
Ragans did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 10-inning loss to the Guardians. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out three.
Analysis: Ragans had to contend with traffic for most of his outing, as the Guardians had men on base in all but two innings. The left-hander was ultimately forced out of the game after Carlos Santana led off the sixth with a base hit. Expectations are understandably high for Ragans this year after he pitched to a 3.14 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and 223 strikeouts in 32 starts last season. He currently lines up to face the Brewers on the road in his next outing. |
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Cavan Biggio Cavan Biggio Starting at first base
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 10:24 AM
The Royals selected Biggio's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Analysis: In addition to winning a spot on the Opening Day roster, Biggio will draw a start at first base and will bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Guardians while Vinnie Pasquantino is limited to the designated-hitter spot. Biggio will fill a reserve role once Pasquantino is fully healthy. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Not in Thursday's lineup
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 10:21 AM
Garcia is absent from the lineup for Thursday's opener against the Guardians.
Analysis: The Royals have Vinnie Pasquantino at designated hitter as he protects a hamstring injury, and the domino effect has Michael Massey at second base, Jonathan India at third base and Garcia on the bench. Garcia should be in the lineup most days once Pasquantino is healthy, but he'll be the odd man out Opening Day. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino In lineup for Thursday's opener
Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 10:18 AM
Pasquantino (hamstring) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Thursday's season opener versus the Guardians.
Analysis: Pasquantino suffered a Grade 1-plus right hamstring strain just five days ago, but he made enough improvement that the Royals are comfortable with him at least playing in a non-defensive role on Opening Day. Cavan Biggio will occupy Pasquantino's usual position at first base. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Slated for full workout Wednesday
Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 3:12 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that Pasquantino (hamstring) will go through a full workout Wednesday before being re-evaluated Thursday morning, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Pasquantino -- who is dealing with a Grade 1-plus right hamstring strain -- did some cage work Tuesday and came out of it well. He has a chance of avoiding the injured list and playing Opening Day, but the Royals will wait to make a decision until they finalize their roster Thursday. If Pasquantino is in Thursday's lineup, it could be at designated hitter as the Royals look to ease some of the stress on his hamstring. An absence for Pasquantino would leave the Royals with Mark Canha, Salvador Perez and Cavan Biggio as options at first base. |
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Cavan Biggio Cavan Biggio Will make Opening Day roster
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:16 AM
Biggio is poised to make the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Biggio still needs to be added to the 40-man roster, but he has won the final spot on the Royals' bench. The 29-year-old will offer depth at multiple positions and could get some run at first base early on in the season if Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) misses time. |
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Brian O'Keefe Brian O'Keefe Fails to make cut
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:14 AM
The Royals reassigned O'Keefe to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Analysis: O'Keefe was attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a spot on the Opening Day roster with Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin both emerging from spring training fully healthy. He'll presumably report to Triple-A Omaha and serve as organizational catching depth for the second season in a row. |
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Joey Wiemer Joey Wiemer Goes to minors
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:14 AM
The Royals optioned Wiemer to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Analysis: Wiemer had a nice Cactus League showing, sporting an .838 OPS with two home runs and three stolen bases. In spite of that, he will begin the season at Omaha. |
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Drew Waters Drew Waters Optioned to Triple-A
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:13 AM
The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Analysis: Waters batted just .188 with a 46.2 percent strikeout rate this spring to earn a trip back to Omaha. Dairon Blanco and Mark Canha will open the season as the Royals' reserve outfielders. |
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Taylor Clarke Taylor Clarke Denied Opening Day roster spot
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:11 AM
The Royals reassigned Clarke to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Analysis: Clarke was unable to secure a spot in Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen, despite a strong showing during the Cactus League in which he allowed just two earned runs on six hits and three walks over nine innings. The 31-year-old righty worked as a swingman at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization throughout the 2024 campaign, logging a 4.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 64 innings in 21 appearances (14 starts). He looks set to move back into a more traditional relief role in 2025 and is expected to report to Triple-A Omaha. |
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Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Sent to Omaha
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:08 AM
The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Analysis: Loftin fell shy of an Opening Day roster spot despite a 1.052 OPS during Cactus League play. He will play regularly at Omaha while awaiting another chance at the big-league level. |
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Harold Castro Harold Castro Cut from big-league camp
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 11:07 AM
The Royals reassigned Castro to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Analysis: Along with Castro, fellow infielders Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin were sent out to minor-league camp, a likely indicator that Cavan Biggio will open the season in a utility role with Kansas City. The 31-year-old Castro saw big-league action in six straight seasons from 2018 through 2023 between stops with Detroit and Colorado before spending the entire 2024 campaign in the Mexican League. |
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James McArthur James McArthur Officially lands on IL
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 10:22 PM
McArthur (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
Analysis: McArthur is still on the mend from offseason surgery on his right elbow, so this move isn't an indication of his progress after it was reported a few days earlier that he'd begin the year on the IL. The team has yet to reveal a timetable for the right-hander's return. |
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Kyle Wright Kyle Wright Beginning year on IL
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 10:19 PM
Wright (shoulder/hamstring) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
Analysis: Wright is continuing his rehab from right shoulder surgery and also picked up a hamstring strain in camp, so he's not yet ready for game action. The club should have more news on a timetable for his return shortly considering he tossed a live batting practice session Thursday. |
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Alec Marsh Alec Marsh Moved to 15-day IL
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 10:16 PM
Marsh (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
Analysis: It was reported a few days prior that Marsh would begin the season on the injured list, so this transaction is simply procedural. The Royals have yet to announced a timetable for his return after he picked up a right shoulder injury Wednesday while pitching in a minor-league game. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Has Grade 1-plus hamstring strain
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 4:53 PM
Pasquantino has been diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus right hamstring strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Pasquantino -- who suffered the injury during Saturday's Cactus League game -- said Monday that he plans on playing in Thursday's opener, but he added, "that's just me speaking as a player." The ultimate decision lies with the Royals, and they may very well choose to hold Pasquantino out. He will not play in the team's final two exhibition games Monday and Tuesday but will hit in the batting cage Monday and on the field Tuesday. If Pasquantino isn't ready for the start of the season, Mark Canha and Salvador Perez represent options at first base for Kansas City. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Held out of lineup Monday
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 3:35 PM
Pasquantino (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Monday's Cactus League contest versus the Rangers, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Pasquantino strained his right hamstring during Saturday's Cactus League game. While the first baseman has downplayed the injury, he might need to show he can play in the Royals' final exhibition tilt Tuesday before being cleared to play Opening Day. If Pasquantino isn't ready to play at the start of the season, the Royals could use Salvador Perez and/or Mark Canha at first base. |
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Mark Canha Mark Canha Officially added to roster
Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 3:04 PM
The Royals selected Canha's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Analysis: Canha was acquired via trade from the Brewers last week with the anticipation that he would be added to the roster, and the Royals have now made that move official. The 36-year-old should operate mostly in a reserve role, although he might see some starts at first base early on if Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) has to miss time. |
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Nelson Velazquez Nelson Velazquez Outrighted to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 3:44 PM
Velazquez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Analysis: Velazquez posted a .595 OPS over 29 plate appearances during spring training, so Kansas City won't keep him on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old clubbed 14 homers in just 40 games for the Royals in 2023 but delivered a .200/.274/.366 slash line in 64 regular-season contests last year. |
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Nick Pratto Nick Pratto Outrighted to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 3:42 PM
Pratto cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Analysis: The 26-year-old missed out on Kansas City's Opening Day roster after slashing .200/.351/.333 with 13 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances during spring training. Pratto made just one appearance with the Royals last year and had a .728 OPS in 116 contests at Omaha. |
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