The special reason Est¨¦vez changed number with Royals
Anne Rogers
@anne__rogersSURPRISE, Ariz. -- When the Royals introduced Carlos Estévez as their newest reliever earlier this month, they had him put on a No. 54 jersey at the press conference. But by the time he took the field at their Spring Training complex last week, he was wearing his preferred No. 53.
There¡¯s a special meaning behind the number, anyway.
Est¨¦vez chose it after needing a new number when he signed with the Angels in 2022. He started thinking about days that were important to him and began adding up the dates that his wife, Margaret Nunez, and his two daughters, 5-year-old Samantha and 2-year-old Scarlett, were born.
The only problem was that it didn't get him to a very high number.
¡°And I feel like bullpen guys need to have a higher number,¡± Est¨¦vez said.
So he expanded the circle to all the people closest to him, adding the birthdays of his dad Ygnacio, mom Kenya, brother Cesar and sister Susane. All seven added up to No. 53.
Now it¡¯s like Est¨¦vez brings ¡°the people I love most¡± to the mound with him every time he takes the ball.
¡°I know how much they¡¯ve had my back throughout the years, and it feels good knowing that I¡¯m out there with them,¡± Est¨¦vez said. ¡°It¡¯s my circle, my group, and I have them with me whenever I¡¯m out there competing.¡±
The Royals were happy to switch up Est¨¦vez¡¯s number for him ahead of his first season in Kansas City. And now he¡¯s settling into camp, getting used to wearing Royal blue -- which he loves, by the way. He¡¯s thrown one bullpen session since camp officially began and has another scheduled for Monday before facing hitters in batting practice later this week.
Pasquantino¡¯s PFPs
Pitchers fielding practice is a staple of Spring Training, with pitchers working through drills on the days between their bullpen or live BP sessions. Usually when they¡¯re throwing a chopper or soft grounder to first base, it¡¯s to a fill-in first baseman -- a coach, a staffer, sometimes even video coordinator Bill Duplissea.
This spring, it¡¯s a little different. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino has started to help out as much as his schedule allows, making his way over to the PFP fields in between hitting or his own defensive work. He wants to catch as many throws as he can from the pitchers he¡¯ll be working with during the regular season. Creating the trust and confidence now might pay off later when the games matter.
Pasquantino was the one who brought the idea to the Royals¡¯ coaching staff, and they were all-in on it.
¡°I feel like it¡¯s a good live read for me and it¡¯s a good live read for them,¡± Pasquantino said. ¡°I thought it was important.¡±
Caglianone arrives
Royals top prospect and baseball¡¯s No. 22 prospect Jac Caglianone arrived in Surprise this weekend. On Sunday, he participated in batting practice and faced lefty Noah Cameron and righty Junior Fernandez in BP later in the afternoon. The Royals¡¯ first full-squad workout, when all the position players will be in camp with the pitchers, is set for Monday.
In his first Spring Training after being drafted No. 6 overall out of Florida last year, Caglianone is joining big league camp as one of Kansas City¡¯s top prospects and biggest pieces of the future. A two-way player in college, Caglianone will be only a hitter this year because that¡¯s the fastest way he can impact the Major Leagues -- and that might be soon based on how far ahead the Royals believe he is in his development.
Before he came to Surprise, Caglianone made a quick stop from Florida to Kansas City, where he was honored at the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday night in Overland Park, Kansas. Caglianone won the John Olerud Award as the nation¡¯s top two-way college player after he hit 34 home runs and went 5-2 on the mound for the Gators.
With the college season kicking off this weekend, Caglianone is watching his Gators from afar, this time as a pro, and he¡¯ll be surrounded by his future big league teammates starting Monday.