OSA predicts the Royals to have another winning season, and a 1-game improvement on their 2030 prediction although a differential regression from +108 to +84. At 89-73, the Royals would go back-to-back as AL Central Champs, with Chicago predicted to finish one game back. Once again both teams are scheduled to make the post-season.
No hitter makes the individual performance list although
Cade Townsend is predicted to offer 183 IP, with a 3.30 ERA and a K/9 of 9.0.
Catcher
The team will hand over the catching duties to their 2027 draft class as
Dave Holcombe will back up All Star
Jonathan Gerew. Holcombe (109 wRC+) had a solid Spring and with plus Catcher rating behind plus-plus blocking and framing may even be locked down to a long-term contract. Gerew may already be too expensive for the Royals to extend.
Starter
Jonathan Gerew (2027 8th Round)
Back Up
Dave Holcombe (2027 9th Round)
Infield
There was limited competition for roster places in the infield, but there was both competition for the starting roles and to line up as ‘next man up’. In the latter case,
Kiyotake Takenaka (216 wRC+) did his chances no harm, especially with a defensive profile at 2B and playable ratings for SS.
Jeremy Rogerson (141 wRC+) was the standout of the Spring, making
Isaac Paredes a trade consideration during the season.
At first base,
Luke Adams (140 wRC+) hit 4 HRs over a strong spring. Second Base was a Spring struggle for both
Nick Loftin (36 wRC+) and
Gregory Barrios (17 wRC+). Loftin, as the incumbent, will get the start but with Team Options for the next two years the end could be in sight for the consistent performer.
Bobby Witt Jr. (55 wRC+) got up to speed with 59 PA and the Royals are confident he will be ready to go.
Along with Takenaka,
Boston Baro will return to AAA (although his effectiveness against RHP is attractive for a RH dominant infield, as will
Jake Adolphus who got some reps against elite pitching and still has some potential (contact and power) to round out in the Minors.
1B
Luke Adams (2024 Trade LAA)
2B
Nick Loftin (2020 1st Round)
3B
Jeremy Rogerson (2027 2nd Round)
SS
Bobby Witt Jr. (2019 1st Round)
INF
Gregory Barrios (2027 Rule 5 MIL)
INF
Isaac Paredes (2030 Free Agent)
DH
Owen Hunter (2023 4th Round)
Four of the starting five (including DH) for 2031 are home developed players which must have Royals fans excited.
Outfield
Sheng-En Lin’s (133 wRC+) injury over the final weekend of Spring Training was a real blow for the Royals after he had a strong Spring. He will miss 7 weeks and will see MiL FA
Dominic Fletcher called up to start the season. His plus-plus range is his greatest asset, although he retains plus contact which saw him produce a 120 OPS+ for the Angels in 2030. His promotion earns him a $1.62m contract.
The rest of the outfield picks itself with Lin’s injury. Great Glove winner
Wyatt Langford (112 wRC+) will start in LF and offseason contract extension
Jimmy Goodman (79 wRC+) will start in RF.
Will Gasparino (126 wRC+) comfortably beat out
Braylin Tavern (33 wRC+) and
Henry Bolte (25 wRC+) for the 4th OF position.
Bolte is out of options and so the 2029 MiL FA was offered out. The Yankees offered their 2028 8th Round pick,
Dan Colligan, a 2B with above average contact and eye and average power potential, along with $750k.
LF
Wyatt Langford (2028 Trade TEX)
CF
Cristhian Vaquero (2030 Trade WAS)
RF
Jimmy Goodman (2027 1st Round)
OF
Dominic Fletcher (2030 MiL FA)
OF
Will Gasparino (2026 3rd Round)
IR
Sheng-Em Lin – 7 weeks (2029 Waivers LAA)
The starting rotation was settled going into the Spring with
Chase Burns (33 ERA+) back from injury to replace
Josiah Gray, with
Cade Townsend (127 ERA+) keeping his spot alongside
Drew Beam (175 ERA+),
Mason Barnett (231 ERA+), and
Aiden May (77 ERA+). Burns struggled a lot but has credit in the bank; May didn’t pitch well either and is the most at risk from
Marcos Paz or any of the pitchers down in the Minors.
Paz (236 ERA+ will start in the bullpen with a host of returning arms. The only real question in the Spring was whether Rule 5 pick
Jack Leiter (99 ERA+) could knock one of those arms out of the pen down to AAA and, with a league average ERA+ over Spring ball the answer was that he couldn’t and was released back to Houston.
William Schmidt (392 ERA+) had an exceptional Spring and with some development left will head back to Omaha in a starting role.
Juan Caraballo (80 ERA+) did not fare as well, 4 HRs given up across 4 appearances offsetting 7 hitless innings. The 2027 draft pick has some growth left and will head to Omaha looking to return to the Big Leagues later in the season.
Wen-Hui Pan will start as a Stopper, and
Marcos Paz will join him – the Stopper role ensuring Paz gets plenty of innings as he looks to prove his capacity to start later in the season.
SP
Drew Beam (2027 Trade LAA)
SP
Mason Barnett (2022 3rd Round)
SP
Chase Burns (2027 MiL FA)
SP
Cade Townsend (2029 Trade NYY)
SP
Aiden May (2028 Trade LAA)
RP
Raimon Gomez (2026 Rule 5 NYM)
RP
Marcos Paz (2025 1st Round)
RP
Yusuke Matsumura (2028 International Free Agent)
RP
Wen-Hui Pan (2029 Trade PHI)
RP
David Hagaman (2028 Trade PIT)
RP
Isaac Morton (2026 3rd Round)
RP
Frank Mozzicato (2021 1st Round)