Here's how KC's roster could look on Opening Day

Here at MLB.com, we¡¯ll make a few roster predictions before the Royals announce the real thing ahead of Opening Day on March 27.

Following is our first crack at it:

Catcher (2): Salvador Perez, Freddy Fermin

Perez will be the Royals¡¯ Opening Day backstop as he enters his 14th big league season. Fermin, an American League Gold Glove finalist last season, returns as Perez¡¯s ¡°backup¡± -- or, perhaps more accurately, his co-catcher. Perez will likely still hold the edge in innings logged behind the plate, but the two will continue to share the workload.

First baseman: (1): Vinnie Pasquantino

Pasquantino will look to build off a 97-RBI season as the everyday first baseman, with Perez his main backup. The two will also serve as the designated hitter at times to get both bats in the lineup.

Second baseman (2): Jonathan India, Michael Massey

The Royals acquired India from the Reds this offseason to hit leadoff, now they have to figure out the infield puzzle. India and Massey are both primarily second basemen. This spring we¡¯ll see India get work in at third base, and both players in left field, to see how they handle it. The DH spot will also be a way for these two to get in the lineup at the same time.

? India's arrival could shake up defense

Shortstop (1): Bobby Witt Jr.

Witt is fresh off the best season of his young career; what might he have in store for 2025? Maikel Garcia is considered the backup shortstop, and the Royals should have another utility player on their bench who could back up around the infield, too.

Third baseman (1): Maikel Garcia

The Royals know Garcia can play a solid third base, but this might be the season he moves around more, including seeing how he handles center field as a potential right-handed platoon option for Kyle Isbel. And if Garcia does move around the field, that opens third base for India.

Outfielders (3): MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, Hunter Renfroe

The Royals are hoping for -- and need -- better years from Melendez and Renfroe in the corner outfield positions. Isbel is considered the everyday center fielder, and the Royals value his defense. But as mentioned above, he could get more days off -- especially against left-handed pitching -- if Garcia is able to play there.

Bench/Utility (3): UTIL Cavan Biggio, OF Dairon Blanco, OF Nelson Vel¨¢zquez

The Royals must decide what they want from their bench, as quite a few players will be competing for a spot. Do they stack it with power? Or with speed and defense?

We went with these three for a little bit of everything. Blanco played a valuable role as a pinch-runner last season. Biggio, who is on a Minor League deal, can play all over the field, giving the Royals a backup at nearly every position, and is left-handed.

Vel¨¢zquez, who is out of options, brings power, but he only hit .200/.274/.366 in 205 Major League at-bats last season before he was optioned at the end of June. Maybe the Royals will give Drew Waters -- who is more versatile and a threat on the bases -- a chance after he slashed .290/.379/.494 in Triple-A last year.

Nick Pratto is another power threat from the left side (and he is also out of options), but since he is a first baseman and (sometimes) left fielder, there isn¡¯t a lot of room for him. Joey Wiemer, the other piece of the India trade, is another center-field option and will get his first look with the Royals this spring.

Starting Pitchers (5): Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Michael Lorenzen, Kris Bubic

The first four are set, with the big competition coming for the fifth starter. Bubic and Alec Marsh seem like the frontrunners, but the Royals will also have Daniel Lynch IV, Kyle Wright, Jonathan Bowlan and Noah Cameron building up as starters. This will be Bubic¡¯s first full season of pitching after Tommy John surgery, so he might have an innings limit, which means we could see a rotating cast in that rotation spot this year.

Relief Pitchers (8): Alec Marsh, Lucas Erceg, Carlos Est¨¦vez, Hunter Harvey, Chris Stratton, John Schreiber, Angel Zerpa, Sam Long

Bubic and Marsh would both bring real value as relievers, so it seems likely that whoever doesn¡¯t win the starting job will go to the bullpen, unless the Royals decide they would rather have either one stretched out in Triple-A. The closer by committee will be Est¨¦vez, Erceg and Harvey. Zerpa and Long are the left-handed options.

Others in consideration for a spot would be Carlos Hernandez (who is out of options), James McArthur, Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz, as well as the pitchers building up as starters in camp.