3 Royals storylines to watch this spring

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers' Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

KANSAS CITY – In just a few days, these newsletters will be coming at you from Surprise, Ariz., home of the Royals’ Spring Training facility.

There will be plenty of batting-practice swings and pitchers’ fielding practice to analyze, but the Royals will also have roster battles to sort through as they choose the best 26 players to take with them from Surprise to Kansas City for Opening Day.

Here are three storylines to watch this spring:

1. The infield puzzle

The Royals have a new leadoff hitter in Jonathan India, and his on-base ability should surely help run production for the big three who come next: Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez. Where India fits in the infield is still to be determined. The 28-year-old has only ever played second base in his four-year career, and the Royals also consider second baseman Michael Massey as an everyday player.

India will get some time at third base – where he has experience in college and the Minors – as well as left field this spring to see how he handles it. If third baseman Maikel Garcia can play center field, as the Royals believe he can, that opens up third base on some days for India. Massey will also get reps in left field this spring. The designated hitter spot will also be a way for both to get in the lineup.

It’s all great in theory. The Royals just have to see how it works in game action.

“That’s going to be our biggest challenge of Spring Training,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “Jonathan and Michael Massey both said they’re willing to play left field, which is great, but they’re both infielders, so we need to see them out there in the outfield and see how they move around and figure out what’s the best combination for us.”

2. Is the outfield enough?

One of the biggest problems the 2024 Royals faced was the lack of outfield production. When Picollo targeted a middle-of-the-order bat this winter, a corner outfielder was the obvious opening.

That search didn’t wind up the way the Royals would have liked. They made their pitch to free-agent outfielders, only to see those outfielders sign with other teams for more money or years.

That turns the focus back on internal improvement – namely on MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe. Melendez, who is entering his fourth season in the big leagues, hit just .206 with an 87 OPS+ last year. Renfroe hit .229 with a 92 OPS+ during a season in which he dealt with some injuries. The Royals would love to see a breakout year for Melendez and a bounce-back year for the veteran Renfroe.

Perhaps one of the Royals’ Triple-A outfielders who have flashed their power tool before – Nelson Velázquez, Drew Waters, Tyler Gentry or even Nick Pratto, a first baseman who has expanded his skillset some to left field – gets an opportunity and runs with it.

“We’re looking for Renfroe [to have] a fully healthy season hopefully,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “You never have this game mastered, so we’re still relying on young guys in their Major League career, and we’re hopeful those steps forward for Massey and MJ and Maikel and those guys to continue to improve. We need them to take the next step offensively.”

3. The fifth starter competition… and what it means for the bullpen

The first four names in the rotation are set (barring health issues) in Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen. Those who will be built up as starters include Kris Bubic, Alec Marsh, Daniel Lynch IV, Kyle Wright and Jonathan Bowlan, as well as prospects Noah Cameron and Luinder Avila, who are both on the 40-man roster.

It seems like the two frontrunners for the fifth rotation spot are Bubic and Marsh. Wright might be a little behind the others in his throwing progression because of his long layoff after shoulder surgery. Lynch could pitch himself into a spot in the rotation or bullpen.

“I think to start the year, we’re going to go into it like Marsh and Bubic are competing for the fifth spot in the rotation,” Picollo said. “Whoever wins it, wins it. We know both guys can go into the bullpen and be a plus for us. And then as the season goes on, we just have to read it as we go and make the best decisions we can.”

Does that mean whoever does not win the fifth rotation spot immediately goes into the bullpen? That’s to be determined. The Royals will want depth built up in Triple-A.

“It’ll be a discussion at the end of Spring Training,” Picollo said. “Kris pitched so well in the bullpen last year. We’ve always had a belief that it would be an easy transition for Marsh to go to the bullpen. [But] if we had an injury to a starter, do you want somebody built up in Triple-A? There will be more discussions, but I think both guys are worthy of being on the team, whether starting or relieving, going into the year.”