How do you make the KC Royals? For one prospect, being fast & versatile could be the way

Tyler Tolbert enters his third spring training with a chance to make a jump in the Kansas City Royals organization.

He’s not known for hitting home runs or driving the ball into the gap. Primarily a centerfielder and second baseman, what he brings to the table is not so easily quantified.

Tolbert is known for his speed on the basepaths and defensive versatility. Last season, between Double-A and Triple-A, he connected on 48 of 53 stolen base attempts and played four different positions.

“I want to stay healthy and get one percent better each day,” he said. “The goal is to do anything to help the team win.”

Last season was a roller-coaster for Tolbert, who started out with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Royals’ Double-A affiliate. As May ended, his batting average was below .175.

It took a toll on him mentally, but he reminded himself to be patient. He’d been through ups and downs before since being selected by KC in the 13th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft.

“When you are in a rut, you don’t really look at the outside,” he said. “You need to just put one foot in front of the other.”

Sure enough, Tolbert flipped a switch in the second half of the season, hitting above .260 the rest of the way. He was promoted to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers for the final seven games of the year.

The Storm Chasers won the league championship, but Tolbert was less than satisfied personally.

“It was a year of growth,” he said. “Numbers-wise, it wasn’t where I wanted to be. I learned a lot about myself as a player and a human.”

After an up-and-down 2024, Tolbert decided to play in the Dominican Winter League. There, players from all over can play more games when their seasons are over. Tolbert was assigned to the Gigantes del Cibao, a team in Duarte, Dominican Republic.

Tolbert repeatedly mentioned how the culture and environment in the Dominican League can only be compared to a big-league playoff game.

“It’s a playoff atmosphere every night,” he said. “There are a lot of loud drums and music. Everything is like Game 7. You just do whatever you need to win that game.”

Tolbert played 20 games in the Dominican League, and the most important thing to him was getting a chance to play everywhere on the field. He got time at the corner outfield spots and third base.

Tolbert knows the importance of making himself as versatile as possible. And in spring training with the Royals, he’s learning from a familiar face, in Damon Hollins.

Hollins, first base coach for the Royals, first met Tolbert six years ago in Idaho. Tolbert played for the Idaho Falls Chuckers, the Frontier League affiliate of the Royals, and Hollins coached first base there at the time.

They developed a strong connection in the Gem State, and that paid off later as everyone in the organization convened in Surprise, Arizona, to gear up for the 2025 season.

“We have a really good relationship on and off the field,” Tolbert said. “He is a mentor for me.”

Tolbert and Hollins discuss the tendencies opposing pitchers might have toward baserunners, but what Tolbert can do doesn’t end with steals.

“It’s not just the stolen bases, but the doubles and triples, too,” Hollins said. “He puts constant pressure on the other team. That’s where his value comes in.”

In today’s game, exit velocity and bat speed are glitzy analytics. Tolbert? He brings versatility and sprint speed.

He might never become a 50-home run hitter batting third for the Royals, but he believes he can still help the major-league club.

“It’s about understanding your job and that everyone has a role on the 26-man roster,” he said.

Tolbert fits that mold perfectly for a club that saw firsthand in 2015 how every part of a team — and the game of baseball itself — is needed to win a championship.

Ten years later, with manager Matt Quatraro at the helm, that championship team and this year’s Royals have similarities. Each player has his role, and Tolbert’s right now is trying to prove how valuable he can be.

“It’s huge, especially with Q, who will use his entire roster,” Hollins said. “You might start in the outfield and then shift to the infield.

“It’s very important to wear many hats; they enhance your value, and that’s what every coach appreciates.”

Tolbert will most likely start in Triple-A this year. But he could see some playing time at Kauffman Stadium as the MLB season progresses.

In seven games of spring training action, he already has two extra-base hits.

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

This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM.