India, Massey embrace learning LF in Spring Training

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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Welcome to the Royals’ Spring Training complex, where the schedule can get, well, quite complex.

Infielders are learning the outfield, several of them for the very first time as the Royals decide who their best 13 position players are in preparation for Opening Day -- and where they’ll all see playing time.

The whole thing can be a bit chaotic; even just looking at the team schedule can make your head spin with color-coded groups and drills and field numbers.

“Little bit more complicated,” bench coach Paul Hoover said. “A lot more communication.”

The Royals have two second basemen, Jonathan India and Michael Massey, getting reps in left field this spring. Neither have played in the outfield in the regular season, although India saw time out there last spring with the Reds. India is also going to get some reps at third base.

“This is the best chance we have to evaluate,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s different here in Arizona. The ball carries really well in the high sky. We have to trust our eyes, we have to listen to them, have good communication back and forth to see how they feel and what it looks like.”

The Royals knew this was coming when they acquired India this offseason, opting to solidify their leadoff spot and figure out the defensive positioning later. They view Massey as an everyday player as well, so versatility will be key to get both of them in the lineup.

Now it’s time to see it in action.

“It’s going to take some sorting out,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “It’s one thing to say so-and-so is going to play left field, so-and-so is going to play third base. You have to see them do it. Then we’ll make a more educated and informed decision on what’s best for us.”

The plan right now is to have India spend three days working in the outfield, then three days in the infield. Massey will be on the opposite schedule. That’s for drill work in the mornings specifically, and it might change once the game schedule is mapped out.

Also involved in this plan is Maikel Garcia, who will get work in center field. But he’s gotten more work out there already -- dating back to 2023 -- so it’s not the exact same as India and Massey. First baseman Nick Pratto is also spending a lot of time in the outfield as he competes for a spot on the team. The Royals have so many infielders getting reps in the outfield that they’ve told non-roster utility players Cavan Biggio and Harold Castro that most of their work this spring will come in the infield.

“It’s definitely more complex with the moving pieces we have,” Hoover said. “We’re doing that to create value for those players, to create value for our team. When it comes to scheduling, we collectively came up with a plan.”

Both India and Massey seem excited about learning a new position and increasing their versatility, even as they figure out their workload and routines.

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“I’m an athlete, so I told them, ‘Whatever it takes for me to be on the field every day, and in that leadoff spot for you guys, I’ll do it,’” India said. “The workload’s going to be a lot. I’m not 22 years old anymore. But I feel good.”

Massey began talking to the Royals about learning the outfield before the India trade, when he was on the injured list with back problems last year. The back flare-ups are more of an issue for Massey when playing defense -- bending over as an infielder -- so the Royals considered having him learn outfield to help ease that problem.

Now it’s for a different reason.

“All I want to do in my career is be a contributing player on a winning team,” Massey said. “If you can add a couple of things a day to help the team win, that’s kind of how I’ve built my identity. If I have to put the freakin’ gear on and go catch because guys are injured, and I got to get [foul] tips to the face, that’s fine.”

Learning the outfield isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially for career infielders who are more used to side-to-side movement than running back on balls on the grass and throwing much farther.

So it’s a learning process with teaching moments this spring.

“Once you get in the outfield, anything in the air, if you can tell yourself to get sideways as quick as you can and get back on the ball, that’s what we want,” outfield coach Damon Hollins said. “The routine balls, I don’t think they’ll have any problem with. It’s the balls that are smoked over their head that they’ll really have to get depth.”

There are plenty of unknowns when it comes to how this will all work out. But that’s what Spring Training is for.

“A lot of moving parts, a lot of guys who can play everywhere on this team, which is cool,” India said. “We’ll see how everything goes. It’s all going to work out in the end. You’re always going to put the best team out there. And I’m excited to see how they do it.”