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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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Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Scoreless spring debut
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 10:16 AM
Strahm allowed a hit and no walks across a scoreless inning in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out one.
Analysis: Strahm entered in the fifth inning to make his spring debut, working around a leadoff single by Cooper Pratt to retire the side without allowing a run. The veteran left-hander, who began his big-league career with the Royals in 2016, was acquired by Kansas City from Philadelphia in December in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm is coming off a 2.74 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 across 62.1 regular-season innings out of the bullpen last season and figures to handle plenty of high-leverage opportunities for the Royals in 2026. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Slow start to spring
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 10:15 AM
Collins went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers.
Analysis: Collins notched his first Cactus League hit, lining an opposite-field double off Craig Yoho in the fifth inning. Kansas City slow-played the left fielder at the outset of camp after he received platelet-rich plasma injections in both knees over the offseason, and the 28-year-old is off to a sluggish start at the plate since making his spring debut, going 1-for-9 in game action. Acquired from the Brewers in December alongside Nick Mears in exchange for Angel Zerpa, Collins projects to see fairly regular playing time in left field for the Royals in 2026, though Lane Thomas is also in the mix for reps. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Clean spring outing
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 9:08 AM
Wacha allowed no hits or walks across two scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out three.
Analysis: Wacha followed Sunday's starter, lefty Kris Bubic, and looked in control, recording three strikeouts and allowing no baserunners over two innings. The veteran right-hander bounced back from a shakier first Cactus League outing Tuesday, when he surrendered a run on three hits and three walks across two frames. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 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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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Strikes out three in spring debut
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 9:05 AM
Bubic (shoulder) allowed a run on four hits and no walks across two innings in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out three.
Analysis: Bubic wasn't dominant in his spring debut, allowing four hits over two frames, but he did record three strikeouts in his first game action since July 26 after being sidelined by a left rotator cuff strain. The southpaw was in the midst of his strongest season to date in 2025 before the injury, posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 20 starts and 116.1 innings. Bubic should log additional Cactus League appearances before slotting back into the Royals' rotation to begin the 2026 regular season. |
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Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Velocity down early
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 12:59 PM
Estevez's fastball has averaged just 89 mph in his first two appearances of spring training.
Analysis: A pitcher showing reduced velocity early in camp is hardly unique, but the fact that Estevez's fastball is down nearly seven mph from his 2025 average is a little worrisome. The right-hander led MLB with a career-high 42 saves in 2025 while finishing with a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB across 67 outings. There's been no indication of an injury to this point, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on Estevez's velocity as he continues to build up during spring training. Lucas Erceg would likely be the next man up for Kansas City in the ninth inning, should Estevez's effectiveness take a big step backwards. |
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Starling Marte Starling Marte Signs with Royals
Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 1:31 PM
Marte signed a one-year contract with the Royals on Saturday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Marte is coming off his most efficient season in three years, as he finished 2025 with a .270/.335/.410 slash line to go with nine homers, 34 RBI, 37 runs scored and seven steals in 329 plate appearances. That being said, the 37-year-old outfielder hasn't appeared in more than 100 games since 2022, and he likely isn't slated for a full-time role in Kansas City either. Instead, he'll presumably work in tandem with Jac Caglianone in right field and Carter Jensen at DH, filling in for one of the two against left-handed starters. |
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Dairon Blanco Dairon Blanco Starting Saturday
Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 9:51 AM
Blanco (head) will start in left field and bat ninth in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Blanco made two plate appearances off the bench in Friday's contest -- his first spring action since he was hit in the head by a pitch in Sunday's game. The 32-year-old outfielder will now return to the starting nine and continue his pursuit of a spot on Kansas City's Opening Day bench. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Has Grade 1 oblique strain
Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 11:31 AM
Kolek has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: As Rogers reported Thursday, Kolek will be shut down for at least the next week before determining the next steps in his recovery. Kolek is competing for a spot in Kansas City's rotation this spring. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Picks up pair of hits
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 10:44 PM
Massey went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: Massey got in on the action during the Royals' high-scoring affair, collecting a pair of hits, highlighted by an RBI double in the fifth inning. The 27-year-old is off to a much-needed strong start this spring as he looks to prove himself heading into the regular season after a disappointing, injury-riddled 2025 campaign in which he slashed .244/.268/.313 with nine doubles, three homers and 20 RBI across 77 games. His versatility is a plus, though that alone is far from a guarantee of regular opportunities in the lineup. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Diagnosed with left oblique strain
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 11:00 AM
Kolek has been diagnosed with a left oblique strain and will be sidelined for at least the next 5-to-7 days, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: As Rogers notes, Kolek could be sidelined even longer if his Thursday scans reveal the injury is more severe. Kolek felt his side grab while warming up in the bullpen during Wednesday's Cactus League bout with the Mariners. Kolek is competing for a spot in Kansas City's rotation this spring after he was acquired from the Padres at the trade deadline last summer. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Nursing side injury
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 5:30 PM
Kolek felt tightness in his left side while warming up in the bullpen during the Royals' 8-8 tie against the Mariners in Wednesday's Cactus League game, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kolek went into the clubhouse to have his left side evaluated by medical staff, and an update on his status should be made Thursday. The 28-year-old right-hander was acquired by the Royals from the Padres at the trade deadline in late July and is competing for a spot in Kansas City's rotation for the 2026 season. Across five starts with the Royals in 2025, Kolek posted a 1-2 record with a 1.91 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB across 33 innings. |
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Jac Caglianone Jac Caglianone Drives first homer of spring
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 8:00 AM
Caglianone went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to the Reds.
Analysis: Caglianone showcased his raw power, launching a tape-measure blast off Brandon Williamson that left the bat at 115.2 mph and traveled 460 feet in the fourth inning. It marked his first homer of the spring and came against a southpaw after he slashed .180/.254/.377 with five extra-base hits and five RBI in 67 plate appearances versus left-handers last season. After a disappointing debut campaign in which he posted a .532 OPS with 14 extra-base hits and 18 RBI over 62 games, there remains plenty of intrigue and excitement surrounding the 2024 first-round pick, though Caglianone still has much to prove heading into the 2026 regular season. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Pair of hits from leadoff spot
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 8:23 PM
Garcia went 2-for-2 in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Cubs.
Analysis: Garcia showed some pop Monday, collecting a pair of singles that both left the bat at over 100 mph in his two plate appearances before being lifted. Notably, the third baseman was slotted into the leadoff spot as manager Matt Quatraro evaluates options atop the lineup for the regular season. The 25-year-old broke out with an .800 OPS across 160 games last year while hitting most often in the cleanup spot, but a one-two combination of Garcia and Bobby Witt would give the Royals a dynamic duo to open the lineup. |
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Dairon Blanco Dairon Blanco Cleared of possible concussion
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 12:22 PM
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Monday that Blanco has been cleared of a full concussion but will be limited to light activity over the next few days, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Blanco was struck in the helmet by a pitch during Sunday's Cactus League game against the Brewers. He will continue to be evaluated but appears to have avoided a serious injury. The speedy Blanco is competing for a reserve role with the Royals. |
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