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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Idle against southpaw
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 12:09 PM
Caglianone isn't part of the starting lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: The lefty-hitting Caglianone will dodge a matchup with Chris Sale on Friday, allowing Starling Marte to draw the start in right field. Caglianone and Marte are expected to platoon to begin the season, but Caglianone could earn looks against left-handed pitching with a strong start. |
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Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel On bench for season opener
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 12:06 PM
Isbel isn't part of the starting nine for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Isbel will take a seat for the Royals' season opener, as southpaw Chris Sale takes the mound for Atlanta. Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte will fill the outfield from left to right Friday. |
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Eli Morgan Eli Morgan Optioned after getting 40-man spot
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 1:54 PM
The Royals selected Morgan's contract from Triple-A Omaha and optioned him to Omaha on Wednesday.
Analysis: The Royals will give Morgan a spot on the 40-man roster -- presumably to keep him from opting out of his minor-league deal -- but will stash him in the minors. Morgan had a rough 2025 season with the Cubs, but he posted a 3.27 ERA from 2022-to-2024 out of the Guardians' bullpen. |
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James McArthur James McArthur Out with elbow inflammation
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:27 PM
The Royals placed McArthur (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: McArthur had surgery last offseason to insert two screws into his right elbow to help stabilize a stress fracture and then had another procedure in July to remove the screws after they had caused an allergic reaction. The Royals are calling his injury elbow inflammation, and it's unclear when he might be ready for his season debut. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Sent to IL with strained calf
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 11:43 AM
The Royals placed Massey (calf) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Massey has been ramping things back up, and because the IL move is backdated to Sunday, he will be eligible for activation April 1. It's unclear whether he'll be ready to return from his calf strain by that time, but his absence is projected to be brief. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Out with strained oblique
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 11:40 AM
The Royals placed Kolek (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Kolek strained his left oblique in late February. He's been throwing off a mound and appears close to returning to game action, though the righty could be assigned to Triple-A Omaha rather than the major-league club once he's healthy. |
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Drew Waters Drew Waters Booted from 40-man roster
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 11:35 AM
The Royals designated Waters for assignment Wednesday.
Analysis: Waters failed to crack the Opening Day roster and doesn't have minor-league options remaining, so he's headed to waivers. The 27-year-old outfielder sports a career .234/.300/.369 batting line and 31.1 percent strikeout rate over parts of four major-league seasons. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Tosses five frames in exhibition
Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 10:23 AM
Wacha allowed two runs on four hits and three walks across five innings in Monday's exhibition loss to the Rangers. He struck out five.
Analysis: In his final outing before the start of the regular season, Wacha turned in his longest appearance of the spring, tossing five serviceable frames, with the primary blemish coming on a Brandon Nimmo two-run homer in the third inning. It wasn't a stellar spring for the right-hander, who posted a 6.89 ERA and 1.72 WHIP with a 21:10 K:BB across 15.2 innings, though there shouldn't be too much stock put into the preseason performances of an established veteran. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he registered a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 31 starts and 172.2 innings -- his fourth consecutive season with an ERA below 4.00 -- Wacha will aim to remain a steady presence in the Royals' rotation entering 2026. |
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Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Delivers clean appearance
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 1:54 PM
Strahm (leg) tossed a perfect inning of relief Friday in the Royals' 5-2 loss to the Giants in Cactus League play.
Analysis: Strahm had been lifted from his previous spring appearance Wednesday after being struck in the left leg by a line drive, but he suffered nothing more than a contusion and felt well enough to get back on the mound two days later. The 34-year-old lefty is ready to go for Opening Day as he kicks off his second stint in the Royals organization after being acquired from the Phillies over the winter. Strahm is expected to be a key part of the bridge to closer Carlos Estevez. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Progressing in rehab
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:17 AM
Kolek (oblique) threw a bullpen Saturday and could pitch in minor-league games next week, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kolek is gradually building back up as he recovers from the Grade 1 left oblique strain he suffered Feb. 25, logging bullpen sessions Wednesday and Saturday. The right-hander is making progress, but it remains likely he opens the season on the injured list before reporting to Triple-A Omaha. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Iffy for Opening Day
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:01 AM
Massey (calf) will not travel to Texas for Monday and Tuesday's exhibitions and will instead remain in Arizona to see action in minor-league games and test his running ability, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Massey is dealing with a low-grade left calf strain that has kept him out of Cactus League games since March 8. The 28-year-old has been able to take at-bats in back-field games, but his status for Opening Day hinges on his ability to run at 100 percent. If Massey is unavailable for the start of the regular season, Nick Loftin and Drew Waters are strong candidates to make the 26-man roster instead, with Tyler Tolbert also in the mix. |
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Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Homers in return from WBC
Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 8:06 AM
Perez started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's Cactus League loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Perez opened the scoring, blasting an Adrian Houser sinker to the opposite field for a two-run homer in the first inning. Friday marked the veteran backstop's first Cactus League appearance since winning the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela, though he went just 4-for-22 with an RBI across five WBC games. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he slashed .236/.284/.446 with 35 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBI in 155 contests, Perez will have to battle Father Time entering his age-36 season, though there's no question his power remains intact. With Carter Jensen in the fold and set for his first full big-league season, Perez figures to split time between catcher and designated hitter, with occasional starts at first base also a possibility. |
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Steven Cruz Steven Cruz Sent down to Triple-A
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:31 PM
The Royals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: Cruz has performed well in the Cactus League, allowing just one earned run while striking out seven batters in 5.2 frames, but he will come up short in the race for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The 26-year-old owns a 3.66 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 64 career innings with the Royals, so it is likely a matter of time before he returns to Kansas City. |
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Luinder Avila Luinder Avila Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:25 PM
The Royals optioned Avila to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Analysis: Avila entered spring training as a candidate to make the Royals' Opening Day bullpen after giving up just two earned runs in 14 innings toward the end of last season. He continued to find success on the mound in the Cactus League, allowing one run in four frames, but he will officially head back to Triple-A to open the new campaign. The Royals may wait until the 24-year-old righty is stretched out as a starter before giving him another trial in the majors. |
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Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Hurt by homers in spring start
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 8:59 AM
Cameron allowed four runs on five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch across 4.1 innings in Thursday's Cactus League loss to Cleveland. He struck out four.
Analysis: Cameron was burned by the long ball, surrendering a solo homer to Jose Ramirez in the first inning before giving up a three-run blast to Kyle Manzardo in the second frame. It's been a lackluster spring for the southpaw, as he's allowed 11 runs on 23 hits and five walks while striking out 11 across five Cactus League appearances (16 innings). With Stephen Kolek (oblique) banged up, Bailey Falter working out of the bullpen and Ryan Bergert optioned to Triple-A, Cameron is in line to open 2026 in the Royals rotation. However, given the competition and depth, he'll need to produce better results in the regular season to firmly hold onto that spot. |
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Carter Jensen Carter Jensen Tallies RBI in spring loss
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 8:39 AM
Jensen went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Angels.
Analysis: Jensen has cooled off from his hot start to the spring but has still put together a solid showing, hitting .250/.308/.500 with three homers and eight RBI across 12 Cactus League appearances. The 22-year-old impressed with the Royals after being called up in September last season, slashing .300/.391/.550 with six doubles, three homers and 13 RBI in 20 MLB games. In his first full big-league season, Jensen is expected to split time at catcher with franchise icon Salvador Perez but should remain in the lineup at designated hitter, particularly against right-handers when Perez is behind the plate. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Drives spring homer
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 8:25 AM
Thomas started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a solo homer, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Angels.
Analysis: Thomas opened the scoring, taking Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi deep to center field in the first inning. The outfielder has put together a strong spring, slashing .289/.349/.579 with a double, two triples, two homers, 12 RBI and two stolen bases across 13 games. The 30-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Royals this offseason after undergoing right foot surgery in September and has reportedly shown no signs of lingering effects. Thomas doesn't project to be an everyday starter for Kansas City, but his ability to play all three outfield spots bodes well for him seeing a solid amount of game action. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Sees MiLB action in return from WBC
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 8:11 AM
Lugo threw five innings in a minor-league game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lugo threw 72 pitches without issuing a walk and worked through some traffic, reportedly feeling great as he returned to Royals' camp after participating in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico. It was a mixed bag for the right-hander in the WBC, as he tossed four scoreless innings in his first start against Colombia but was chased after recording just one out and surrendering four runs in the quarterfinals against Italy. After posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 26 starts and 145.1 innings, Lugo was shut down in September to close the 2025 campaign due to a back injury, though it doesn't appear to be lingering into the spring. The veteran will slot into a solid Kansas City rotation and will look to improve on last year's results and get closer to his 2024 production, when he posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 33 outings and 206.2 innings. |
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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Closes strong WBC with Italy
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 9:17 AM
Caglianone went 4-for-14 with a double, a home run, four RBI, a stolen base and five walks across five games for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
Analysis: Caglianone got off to a hot start in Cactus League play and carried that momentum into the WBC, highlighted by a two-run blast against the United States on March 10 in pool play. He flashed his exciting power while also showing solid plate discipline, drawing five walks. After a disappointing rookie campaign in which the 23-year-old hit .157/.237/.295 with six doubles, seven homers and 18 RBI across 62 big-league appearances, the Royals wanted him to earn his spot in the lineup. With his strong spring showing, Caglianone figures to see consistent playing time in right field, though the 2024 first-round pick could sit in favor of Starling Marte against left-handed pitching. |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Decent showing in WBC
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 8:56 AM
Witt went 6-for-24 with two doubles, three stolen bases, three runs scored and six walks across six games for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
Analysis: Witt was a fixture atop the United States lineup, starting at shortstop and leading off in six of seven WBC contests. He didn't dominate at the plate or flash much power, but he still reached base at a .400 clip and showcased his speed with three stolen bases. After a monster 2024 in which he hit .332 with a .977 OPS, the 25-year-old followed up by slashing .295/.351/.501 with 47 doubles, 23 homers, 88 RBI, 99 runs scored and 38 stolen bases across 157 appearances in 2025. Witt has firmly established himself as a legitimate all-around superstar and enters 2026 with lofty expectations. |
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