Royals closer Ian Kennedy continues slow build towards opening day
The reality for Kansas City Royals closer Ian Kennedy is that he saved 30 games in the majors last season, and none of the Cactus League outings in Arizona will simulate the type of environment he faced in crunch time situations that decide wins and losses.
“No, it’s not possible,” Kennedy said of replicating the adrenaline of closing big-league games. “Even sometimes when you’re starting, you might be more calm. Because at least I’m coming in and the run from the bullpen gets your heart pumping a little bit just because you forget how long it is.”
Kennedy pitched two scoreless innings without allowing a hit or a walk for a Royals split squad Tuesday in a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Surprise Stadium.
After having given up five runs combined in his first two spring training appearances (two innings), Kennedy has tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his last two appearances, and he hasn’t allowed a hit in that span.
“As every outing goes on my delivery feels better,” Kennedy said. “All my pitches start to feel a little bit better just because you’re throwing them a lot more. Everything is starting to come around a little bit more.”
Kennedy made the transition from starting pitcher to reliever in spring training last year, though he went into camp expecting to pitch as a starter. He spent much of the regular season learning to adjust to life in the bullpen.
“This spring has been a lot better, mentally,” Kennedy said.
Coronavirus concerns
Tuesday marked the first day MLB teams, including the Royals, completely closed their clubhouses to members of the media out of concerns related to the potential spread of the coronavirus.
Royals players and manager Mike Matheny conducted all interviews in a room next to the media workroom in Arizona.
“I know that the league is doing what they can to protect players,” Matheny said of the changes. “So whenever that’s happening you can’t go wrong, the motive is right. So we’ll just do what we can.”
Aside from being informed by the public relations staff about the changes to the interactions with the media, Matheny said he’d not had many discussions with the players about keeping their distance from media or fans and autograph seekers.
“We haven’t had a lot of time to really talk about what the messaging is, but interaction with the fans will be no different from me, but we need to follow what the league wants to see,” Matheny said.
First baseman Ryan O’Hearn downplayed the impact the spread of the virus has had on his daily dealings with people.
“I’m a believer that it is what it is,” O’Hearn said. “I’m not going to change my lifestyle or whatever. Obviously, you don’t want to get sick. Maybe wash my hands a few more times this spring, but I don’t think it has been a huge concern for me.”
Keller finds a rhythm
Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller, last season’s opening day starter, allowed one run on five hits and a walk in four innings against the Brewers.
He struck out three and seemed to have much better command of his pitches than his previous outing when he gave up eight runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Colorado Rockies on March 5.
“We threw quite a bit of breaking balls today,” Keller said. “(I was) really trying to differentiate the slider and curveball today. The Curveball was probably the best feel I’ve had for it since I started throwing it. I felt like I was spinning it better, got a strikeout on it. That was kind of a main focus today.”
Keller threw 17 more pitches in the bullpen after exiting the game.
Staying hot
Royals second baseman Nicky Lopez and first baseman O’Hearn entered Tuesday’s split squad games having enjoyed productive spring performances at the plate, and they added to their success on Tuesday.
Lopez, who entered the day batting .318, hit a solo home run in the first at-bat of the Royals 4-2 split squad victory in Mesa against the Oakland Athletics. Meanwhile, O’Hearn entered the day batting .313 before he hit an RBI double and a solo home run in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Surprise. O’Hearn has five home runs this spring.
Roster moves
After Tuesday’s games, the Royals optioned left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin, outfielder Nick Heath and catcher Meibrys Viloria to Triple-A Omaha and infielder Jeison Guzmán to Class A Wilmington. Pitchers Ofreidy Gómez, Arnaldo Hernandez and Jake Kalish, catchers MJ Melendez and Sebastian Rivero and infielders Gabriel Cancel, Kevin Merrell and Emmanuel Rivera were sent to minor league camp.
After the moves, 50 players remain in major league camp, including 16 non-roster invitees.
Up next
The Royals will play the Cleveland Indians on the road Wednesday at Goodyear Ballpark. Right-hander Brady Singer, rated the club’s top pitching prospect by MLBPipeline.com, will start for the Royals.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 6:35 PM.
