Est¨¦vez dealing with back tightness; Witt launches 1st spring homer
Anne Rogers
@anne__rogersPHOENIX -- Royals reliever Carlos Estévez is dealing with left lower back tightness that has delayed his first Cactus League appearance, manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday, but the club doesn¡¯t seem concerned right now that Est¨¦vez will miss significant time.
Est¨¦vez was supposed to pitch in Wednesday¡¯s game against the Rockies, but he felt the tightness a few days ago that put his pitching plan on hold. Instead of pitching in the game, he threw off the mound in a modified bullpen session on Wednesday and is scheduled to throw another side session in a few days.
¡°That tightness was just not going away a few days ago,¡± Est¨¦vez said. ¡°We came back, started using cleats, and we¡¯ve got to walk a lot. I felt it and just thought it was normal, whatever, but then it got tighter on me, and I was like, ¡®I need to go check this out,¡¯ because it was getting tough to do everything. So they were like, ¡®Just relax, let¡¯s get you some treatment.¡¯ I¡¯m still playing catch.¡±
Veteran relievers in camp usually don¡¯t get into spring games right away, as it doesn¡¯t take as long for them to build up and be ready for Opening Day. Because it¡¯s still so early in the spring with over 20 games left on the Cactus League schedule, the Royals wanted to be precautionary with Est¨¦vez. Aside from feeling good about their stuff in one-inning stints, one of the biggest boxes relievers have to check as Opening Day approaches is to get back-to-back days on the mound.
¡°We still have plenty of time to get him six or seven outings, whatever it is, later in camp,¡± Quatraro said. ¡°We¡¯re not really concerned with that at all.¡±
Est¨¦vez, too, didn¡¯t seem concerned on Thursday.
¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said. ¡°Relievers are a bit different, because with starters, they got to get to work and go. And for us, you can find spots to pitch. Go on the road, B games, another inning in a few more days. We do have room to pitch more and get ready.
¡°... Honestly, I feel way better than two days ago. But I feel good about it. It¡¯s just precautionary. It¡¯s still early, you¡¯re going to get your innings in. Just staying on top of it. And let¡¯s do that. I¡¯d rather be 100% than be 80% throughout camp and then try to get ready for the season.¡±
Bobby blasts first spring homer
Bobby Witt Jr. found his way into his first Cactus League homer on Thursday, in the top of the fourth inning of the Royals¡¯ 12-5 loss to the Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix. The Royals shortstop is 2-for-11 now this spring with two walks, including one Thursday.
¡°Trying to get better everyday with the swing,¡± Witt said. ¡°Get back on timing because you want to be ready Day 1.¡±
¡°He smoked that ball,¡± Quatraro added. ¡°And he took the walk in his first plate appearance. So a couple of good things from him.¡±
Witt has been batting second behind leadoff hitter Jonathan India in every Cactus League game they¡¯ve played, like they will do in the regular season, and already Witt is learning what it¡¯ll be like to have India setting the tone in front of him. India is 4-for-9 in four spring games this year.
¡°The at-bats he¡¯s taking are professional,¡± Witt said. ¡°To see him work, do his thing, he sees a lot of pitches, too. So it helps me a lot hitting behind him. It¡¯s a lot of fun seeing him work.¡±
¡®B¡¯ game action
While several regulars were headed to Maryvale, Ariz., and play the Brewers on Thursday, some of the Royals¡¯ squad stayed back in Surprise to play in a ¡®B¡¯ game on George Brett Field against the Rangers. Starter Michael Lorenzen pitched the first two innings of the six-inning game, the first game action he¡¯s seen since battling the flu earlier in camp. He¡¯s back on a normal progression now and allowed one run on two hits Thursday.
The lineup featured MJ Melendez at designated hitter, Nelson Velazquez in left field and top prospects Jac Caglianone (Royals 2024 No. 1/MLB No. 22) and Gavin Cross (Royals 2024 No. 6) at first base and center field, respectively. Cross and catcher Freddy Fermin were the only batters to log a hit at one apiece.