Singer has strong start after 'unbelievable' Classic

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Fresh off an “unbelievable” World Baseball Classic experience, Brady Singer is back with the Royals and trying to use all he gained with Team USA as momentum for the 2023 season.

It’s hard to imagine a better first day back than Thursday, when Singer allowed one run in three innings, with no walks and five strikeouts in the Royals’ 6-3 loss to the Padres at Peoria Stadium.

Given that the right-hander only logged two innings in the WBC and tried to stay as prepared as he could in between, Singer looked sharper than some might have expected in his return. He threw around 55 pitches in the game and got around 10 more in the bullpen.

“It looked like he threw some good breaking balls, couple front-door two-seamers to lefties,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “Stuff looked good.”

Singer pushed for more pitches following his outing, saying his arm and body felt good, and he didn’t want his lack of innings at the WBC to significantly affect his progression toward the season.

“Obviously [you] have to be careful with that,” Singer said. “Didn’t throw as much as I wanted to [at the WBC], but it was preparing in between games, throwing sides, understanding what I need to do to stay built up as much as I could. Being able to go out and do that and feel that good is right where I wanted to be.”

The lack of game action at the WBC was unfortunate for Singer, but the experience there, surrounded by All-Stars and MVPs on the roster, was valuable for the 26-year-old.

“It was an experience I’ll never forget,” Singer said. "It was unbelievable. The fans there, and playing for your country was so much different. To see all the other countries and the pride they bring as well, it was just incredible. Playing in front of those crowds. Being around that many people, that many fans, that environment, and not the pressure, but how it felt to be pitching for your country.

“You’ve seen what they’ve brought to this game, the pitchers there, it was really cool just to be able to sit down and watch how they work. Obviously the success that some of those guys have had, that have pitched in the big leagues for 10-20 years, it’s just cool to sit around and watch what they did.”

Singer pitched two innings in USA’s loss to Mexico on March 12 at Chase Field, allowing four runs on four hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. He was available out of the bullpen in the following rounds, including Tuesday’s final, but manager Mark DeRosa went with other options.

The learning experience from those two innings, though, was well worth it.

“I should have done better at slowing my heart rate down,” Singer said. “Coming out of the ‘pen was a little tough. It was a piggyback situation there, but that’s something I took away from it is learning to pitch in that environment. Being able to slow your heart rate and understand just to make pitches, don’t let the moment get too big there.”

The Royals might have to get creative with their rotation with Singer not as built up as he would have been if he had pitched more this spring, as well as the unknowns stemming from Daniel Lynch’s shoulder injury sustained on Thursday. If Lynch’s injury is serious -- and Quatraro did seem concerned immediately following Thursday’s game -- Zack Greinke, Jordan Lyles and Brad Keller will likely be the only starters built up to go six-plus innings by Opening Day.

Kansas City could piggyback starters with Singer, using Kris Bubic and Ryan Yarbrough, both of whom will be built up for multiple innings. Mike Mayers has also been pitching every five days and building his pitch count up this spring. In Minor League camp, the Royals have Jonathan Heasley and Jackson Kowar throwing multiple innings.

Backfield action
Bobby Witt Jr.and MJ Melendez played in Minor League games at the Royals and Rangers facilities on Thursday afternoon, trying to get in as many at-bats as they could to make up for any they missed while away at the World Baseball Classic. Witt was also going to get a few innings in the field, and he should be back in Cactus League games this weekend.

Relievers Amir Garrett, Dylan Coleman and Scott Barlow all threw an inning in a Minor League game on Thursday, marking the first time they’ve had back-to-back appearances this spring.