After ’24 breakout, this KC Royals prospect is whiffing lefties at spring training

Anthony Simonelli’s path to the big leagues has not been linear.

But last season, the right-handed pitcher’s journey stopped just one step short of the majors.

Now the native of Winchester, Virginia is experiencing his first spring training with the Kansas City Royals. His road to this point has included three colleges, off-and-on struggles and development of a new pitch.

Simonelli started his college career at Coastal Carolina, thinking the Chanticleers would be his home for the next four years. That didn’t work out, so he transferred to St. John’s River, a junior college in Lakeside, Florida.

After one season there, he returned to the Division 1 level at Virginia Tech. Two years later, Simonelli was selected by the Royals in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

He had a breakout season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, KC’s Double-A affiliate, in 2024, striking out 75 batters with a 2.35 ERA in 57.1 innings.

That earned him a promotion to Triple-A Omaha, where he finished the year one level from the majors.

So, what changed for Simonelli in his fourth year of pro baseball? He added a new pitch, a changeup, which he had never thrown before. He’d leaned on his fastball, curve and cutter in college and struggled against left-handed hitters.

He had no issues getting out right-handed batters in 2023, holding opponents to a .188 batting average from that side of the plate. But left-handed hitters were a problem, hitting .325 against Simonelli.

He knew he had to fix those splits.

And that’s how he arrived at the changeup. Incorporating the breaking pitch into his arsenal last season, Simonelli held opposing left-handed batters to a stingy .121 average.

Northwest Arkansas pitching coach Larry Carter deserves credit for helping Simonelli develop his changeup. Carter spent six seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers’ system (1987-92) and since 1994 has been a pitching coach across various levels of the Royals organization.

Outfielder Gavin Cross has known Simonelli since his freshman year at Virginia Tech. They were teammates for two seasons before the Royals drafted Simonelli (KC selected Cross a year later, ninth overall, in 2022).

Cross said he has seen his longtime friend and roommate’s pitching repertoire develop. He can tell the new changeup is a difference-maker — even if he was careful not to give his buddy an ego boost.

“I’ve stood in (the batter’s box) on it a few times and it’s pretty good,” Cross said. “I just don’t want to admit it to him.”

Catcher Carter Jensen, another top prospect in the Royals’ farm system, said Simonelli’s improvement and new pitch still throws him off at times.

“It’s nasty, and it’s only getting better,” Jensen said. “It’s hard to catch sometimes, as well, which is tough for the catcher but even tougher for the hitter.”

Having impressive stuff is always important, but Jensen also mentioned how easy it is to work with Simonelli. He spoke about their 50-50 relationship as battery-mates and said he hopes it continues — eventually, in Kansas City.

“His (MLB) debut is bound to happen and I’m excited to catch him in the following years,” Jensen said.

Simonelli also has an ardent supporter — and, at times, critic — in his father. He said his dad attended all of Anthony’s games during his senior year at Virginia Tech, whether in Florida, Pittsburgh or at home in Blacksburg, Virginia.

“I give him a phone call after every single time I throw,” Anthony said, “unless I do bad. Then I tell him I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

Simonelli does hope to make it to the big leagues this year. He’ll likely start the season in Omaha, but if things go well he could find his way to Kauffman Stadium.

“It would be everything,” he said. “This is what I’ve dreamed of since I was 5 years old. My dad and I talk about it all the time. It would mean the world to me.”

The Star is partnering with the Cronkite School at Arizona State University for Royals coverage during spring training in Surprise, Arizona.