Royals

SportsBeat KC: Hot stove extended with baseball delay. Is the Royals’ pen improved?

Kansas City Royals’ Nick Heath, center, jogs with teammates before a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Kansas City Royals’ Nick Heath, center, jogs with teammates before a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) AP

The start of baseball season has been delayed by strikes and lockouts. A pandemic? This will be a first.

Spring training facilities have closed down two weeks before opening day and the new start has been pushed back until at least May. KC Star Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy discusses how spring training was unfolding in Surprise, Ariz., and how some veteran talent provided encouraging signs in the bullpen.

You won’t hear “Play Ball” for a while, but you can definitely hear Lynn and Blair Kerkhoff talk baseball on this episode of the SportsBeat KC podcast.

Story links:

MLB acknowledges season will start later than April 9, Royals staff to work from home

Mellinger MInutes: Keep your social distance, and let’s get through this together

Royals letter to fans: Sports should never stand in the way of greater good

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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