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Ryan Bergert Ryan Bergert Struggles in spring loss
Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 9:03 AM
Bergert allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk over 3.2 innings in Saturday's Cactus League loss to the Athletics. He struck out four.
Analysis: Bergert struggled to find a rhythm, allowing runs in each of his four frames and serving up four homers, three of them by Shea Langeliers. Prior to Saturday's outing, the right-hander had allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings in his first three spring appearances. While this outing wasn't stellar, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports that the Royals are considering deploying a six-man rotation to open the regular season, which increases Bergert's chances of being part of the starting staff, with Stephen Kolek (oblique) and Bailey Falter also in the mix. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Resting with groin injury
Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 8:47 AM
India (groin) will receive a few days off as a precautionary measure, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: India left Friday's Cactus League game due to right groin tightness but reportedly felt fine Saturday. He's been cleared for activity, though the Royals will err on the side of caution and hold the second baseman out of Sunday's contest before an off day Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. This development helps ease concerns about India's availability for Opening Day, as the 29-year-old will look to carry a strong spring at the plate into a bounce-back 2026 campaign after a lackluster 2025 in which he slashed .233/.323/.346 with 29 doubles, nine home runs and 45 RBI across 136 games. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Exits game with groin injury
Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 9:55 PM
India was removed from Friday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks due to right groin tightness.
Analysis: India went 1-for-1 with a double and a run scored before being removed in the third inning. He'll undergo further tests and the Royals should have an update in the coming days, but the timing of the injury puts India in jeopardy of being sidelined for Opening Day. Michael Massey is nursing a low-grade calf strain, but assuming he recovers over the next couple of weeks, he would be a top candidate to start at second base if India were to miss time, though Maikel Garcia and Nick Loftin could also see some reps at the keystone. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Dealing with back/side tightness
Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 5:24 PM
Collins has been dealing with mild back/left side tightness since Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Collins has been idle the last few days, and the Royals are being cautious with the 28-year-old, according to Rogers. Acquired from the Brewers over the offseason, Collins has had a slow spring at the plate, slashing .111/.200/.167 across 20 plate appearances. He's competing for at-bats with Lane Thomas and Starling Marte. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Punches out four in spring outing
Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 9:01 AM
Bubic allowed two hits and a walk over three scoreless innings in Thursday's Cactus League win over the Padres. He struck out four.
Analysis: Bubic delivered another solid spring effort, keeping the opposition off the scoreboard for a second straight appearance. Through three outings and eight innings in Cactus League play, the southpaw has allowed one run on nine hits and three walks. After posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 20 starts and 116.1 innings last season before a left rotator cuff strain ended his campaign prematurely, Bubic will look to maintain his health and deliver strong results out of the Royals' rotation in 2026. |
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Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Returns Thursday, as expected
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 4:39 PM
Loftin (thumb) is starting in left field and batting third in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Padres.
Analysis: Loftin has been sidelined the past couple days due to a jammed thumb, but he's ready to rejoin the lineup Thursday. The 27-year-old is expected to open 2026 in a reserve role for Kansas City after posting a .635 OPS in 67 regular-season games last year. |
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Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Powers Italy in WBC win
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 10:08 AM
Pasquantino went 3-for-4 with three solo home runs and a walk Wednesday in Team Italy's 9-1 win over Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
Analysis: Pasquantino had gone 0-for-12 through Italy's first three WBC games, but his bat woke up in the final game of Pool B. The Royals first baseman's solo blasts in the second, sixth and eighth innings were all the offense that Italy needed to dispatch Mexico and advance to the knockout round of the WBC after going a perfect 4-0 in pool play. |
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Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Expected back Thursday
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 12:31 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Loftin is dealing with a jammed left thumb but should return to the lineup for Thursday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Loftin was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with the injury, but he's feeling better and is expected back in action imminently. The utility player is competing for a reserve role with the Royals and has had a nice spring, slashing .318/.423/.682. |
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Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Day-to-day with soreness
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 6:05 PM
Manager Matt Quatraro said Loftin was scratched Tuesday due to "general soreness," Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: There was nothing else disclosed for Loftin's status other than more information will be known Wednesday. Aside from this being a possible road bump for the outfielder, he has been having a good spring with a .318/.423/.682 slash line in 26 plate appearances. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Nursing low-grade calf strain
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 11:16 AM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Tuesday that Massey has a "low-grade" calf strain and will be sidelined "hopefully just about a week," Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Massey tweaked the calf during a Cactus League game versus the Dodgers this past Friday and the Royals sent him for imaging after he didn't bounce back as hoped. It does not seem at this juncture like an injury that could threaten Massey's Opening Day availability, but he can't afford any setbacks. |
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Nick Mears Nick Mears Allows three runs in spring outing
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 9:18 AM
Mears allowed three runs on three hits over one inning in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Mears was done in by the long ball, surrendering back-to-back homers to Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio with two outs in the fifth inning. After being acquired by the Royals from the Brewers in December, the reliever has made four Cactus League appearances, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks across four innings, with Monday's outing accounting for much of that damage. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears figures to slot in as a middle-relief option in the Kansas City bullpen for 2026. |
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Steven Cruz Steven Cruz Scoreless spring outing
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 9:17 AM
Cruz allowed no hits or walks across 1.1 scoreless innings in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Cruz entered to record the final out of the seventh inning before retiring the side in order in the eighth frame. Monday marked his third scoreless outing of the spring, though it was the first time the right-hander failed to record a strikeout after punching out a pair in each of his first two appearances. The 26-year-old's fastball, which averaged 98.2 mph last season, sat at 96.6 mph against the Guardians, though velocity dips during spring training are common and not overly concerning unless they persist into the regular season. Cruz will look to continue producing strong results in Cactus League play as he competes for a spot in the big-league bullpen to open the 2026 campaign. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Playing catch
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 12:32 PM
Kolek (oblique) began playing catch from up to 60 feet Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kolek was shut down for more than a week after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. He will be slowly ramped back up before returning to Cactus League action. The right-hander should be healthy for Opening Day, barring setbacks, but the injury has significantly lessened his chances of obtaining a spot in the Royals' rotation. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Big bop in spring win
Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 10:25 AM
India went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's Cactus League win over the Reds.
Analysis: India opened the scoring, driving a Nick Lodolo sinker over the left-field fence to lead off the bottom of the first inning. The second baseman has put together a strong showing at the dish so far in Cactus League play, going 4-for-13 with two extra-base hits, three RBI and five walks through seven appearances. India is looking to bounce back from a lackluster first season with the Royals in 2025, when he slashed .233/.323/.346 with 29 doubles, nine homers and 45 RBI across 136 games. |
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Mason Black Mason Black Viewed as reliever
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 11:03 AM
Black allowed no hits and two walks over a scoreless inning in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Rangers. He did not record a strikeout.
Analysis: In a high-scoring affair, Black managed to work a scoreless eighth inning, albeit while issuing a pair of walks. The right-hander has worked primarily as a starter throughout his professional career, but Royals manager Matt Quatraro said, "We view him more as a reliever. Just as a reliever? Not necessarily. If you need a spot start, maybe that would be the case," per MLB.com. After being traded from the Giants in November, a retooling of his repertoire with the assistance of Kansas City's coaching staff has proven effective thus far in Cactus League play, as Black has tossed five scoreless innings across four appearances. The 26-year-old may be ticketed to open the season with Triple-A Omaha, but the club appears to believe he can contribute at the big-league level in 2026. |
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Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Roughed up in spring start
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 10:47 AM
Ragans allowed six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch over 1.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Rangers. He struck out two.
Analysis: Ragans was ambushed early, allowing the first three hitters of the game to reach before Jake Burger launched a homer from the cleanup spot that quickly put the Rangers ahead by four in the first inning. Kansas City allowed Andrew Perez to finish the first frame before sending Ragans back out for the second inning, where he surrendered another home run to Wyatt Langford. While it certainly wasn't a banner outing for the southpaw, his velocity wasn't a concern, as his fastball averaged 96.8 mph and topped out at 98.5 mph. It was an injury-riddled and disappointing 2025 season for the 28-year-old, who posted a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 13 starts and 61.2 innings. However, a 2.50 FIP, 14.3 K/9 and a career-worst .354 BABIP are data points that have Kansas City believing Ragans can rebound and return closer to his 2024 form in 2026. |
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Lucas Erceg Lucas Erceg Scoreless frame in spring debut
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 9:33 AM
Erceg (shoulder) allowed no hits or walks across a scoreless inning in Tuesday's exhibition win over Team Cuba. He struck out one.
Analysis: Erceg made his first appearance of the spring and didn't show any lingering effects from the right shoulder impingement that ended his 2025 season early, an encouraging sign for his health moving forward. The right-hander posted a 2.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 22 holds across 61.1 innings last season, though a diminished 7.0 K/9 and elevated 3.49 FIP are worth noting. Erceg is expected to serve as the primary setup man to Carlos Estevez and could see opportunities in the ninth inning if Estevez falters. |
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Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Struggles in spring outing
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 11:56 AM
Cameron allowed three runs on six hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch over 2.2 innings in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Angels. He did not record a strikeout.
Analysis: Cameron struggled in Monday's outing, allowing plenty of traffic on the basepaths and having difficulty finishing hitters. He's never been overpowering, but the 26-year-old averaged just 90.3 mph on his fastball (topping out at 91.8 mph) against the Angels after sitting at 92.4 mph last season. The southpaw posted a strong 2.99 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 24 starts and 138.1 innings in 2025, though a 4.17 FIP and 7.4 K/9 point toward potential regression. Cameron is currently tracking toward a spot in the Royals' rotation, but strong depth options such as Stephen Kolek (oblique), Ryan Bergert and Bailey Falter will push him. |
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Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Strong spring continues
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 11:54 AM
Loftin started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Angels.
Analysis: Loftin consistently squared the ball up Monday, rocketing both of his hits at 103.8 mph, with his lone out coming on a 99.4 mph groundout. The 27-year-old is off to a strong start in Cactus League play, going 5-for-17 with two doubles, a homer, six RBI and a stolen base through seven appearances. The utility man hit just .208/.278/.357 with 15 extra-base hits and 20 RBI across 67 MLB appearances last season but is competing for a spot on the Kansas City bench in 2026. With 10 Royals on the 40-man roster away competing in the World Baseball Classic, Loftin stands to benefit from additional spring opportunities, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. |
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Dairon Blanco Dairon Blanco Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 5:54 PM
The Royals designated Blanco for assignment Monday.
Analysis: The Royals needed to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Starling Marte, whose signing was officially announced Monday. Known for his blazing speed, Blanco has stolen 59 bases in the majors despite receiving only 285 plate appearances. The 32-year-old could draw interest on waivers from a team seeking outfield depth. |
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