Who will make the Kansas City Royals’ opening day roster? Here’s our current projection
Kansas City Royals fans can rejoice: Opening day is just one week away.
The Royals begin their 2025 Major League Baseball season against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, March 27.
The club has announced that pitcher Cole Ragans will be the opening day starter. He received a sizable contract extension this offseason after finishing fourth in voting for the American League Cy Young Award.
Ragans will headline a veteran pitching staff. Offensively, the Royals will pair AL MVP frontrunner Bobby Witt Jr. with a new running mate: KC acquired infielder Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds in November.
India has made a strong impression this spring. He was hitting .368 (14-for-38) with two home runs, seven RBIs and eight runs this spring entering Thursday’s Cactus League action in Surprise, Arizona.
The Royals have also bolstered their bullpen. KC signed top closer Carlos Estévez in free agency to pair with young reliever Lucas Erceg. Both will garner save opportunities and chances to finish games this season.
The Royals will use this last week of spring training to finalize their roster. Here is our current projection for who will make the cut as Kansas City trims that roster to 26 players for opening day:
Starting pitchers (5)
LHP Cole Ragans, RHP Seth Lugo, RHP Michael Wacha, RHP Michael Lorenzen, LHP Kris Bubic
The Royals kept their starting rotation intact. KC returns the same veterans that guided the club to the postseason last season.
Lugo finished second in the AL Cy Young voting and the Royals brought back Wacha and Lorenzen in free agency.
The lone question mark here surrounds the fifth-starter spot. Bubic, a full-time starter this spring, is considered the favorite. He has a 4.15 ERA in five spring games (four starts) with 13 strikeouts and three walks.
Bubic was competing with Daniel Lynch IV, Alec Marsh and Kyle Wright for the last rotation spot. Injuries have delayed both Marsh and Wright this spring while KC has utilized Lynch out of the bullpen of late.
Lynch thrived as a reliever last season. He is open to assuming a bullpen role again in order to help the team. The Royals will decide if it’s better to have Lynch on the opening day roster or down at Triple-A Omaha to get consistent starts.
Relief pitchers (8)
RHP Carlos Estévez, RHP Lucas Erceg, RHP Hunter Harvey, RHP John Schreiber, RHP Chris Stratton, LHP Angel Zerpa, LHP Sam Long, LHP Daniel Lynch IV
The Royals have made a sizable investment in their bullpen. The difference in the relievers available for opening day 2025 and who the Royals had last year at this time is stark.
General manager J.J. Picollo deserves credit. The Royals sought high-velocity relievers and the GM acquired Harvey, Erceg and Estévez in recent months. This, after Zerpa and Long stepped up in the 2024 MLB playoffs.
It’s likely Stratton will earn a spot as a veteran leader with a chance to rebound from a forgettable 2024 season. The Royals are tied to him with a $4.5 million financial obligation, as well.
Lynch could take the final bullpen spot. And another contender is right-hander Carlos Hernandez.
Hernandez is out of minor-league options and will be designated for assignment if he doesn’t make KC’s opening day roster. He has electric stuff but struggles to locate his pitches at times. He has a 6.97 ERA in eight outings this spring.
Catchers (2)
Salvador Perez, Freddy Fermin
No mystery here. The Royals will begin their 2025 season with Perez and Fermin as their backstop duo.
Perez continues to remain steady in the Royals’ lineup. He will turn 35 this season and his workload will be monitored closely. His playing time this year could include more starts at first base and/or DH.
Meanwhile, Fermin remains one of the best defensive catchers in the league. He was a Rawlings Gold Glove finalist last season.
Infielders (6)
1B Vinnie Pasquantino, 2B Michael Massey, 2B Jonathan India, 3B Maikel Garcia, SS Bobby Witt Jr., UTIL Cavan Biggio
The Royals return the same infield this season. India will add to the infield’s production in multiple ways, but it remains to be seen where he will line up defensively.
India and Massey have gotten regular work in left field this spring. India will also get time at third base and second base.
Garcia was the Royals’ primary third baseman last season. That’s likely to continue in 2025. The Royals have experimented with him in center field, too, and he will likely spell Kyle Isbel there at times.
Club officials’ evaluation of KC’s defensive configuration figures to continue well into the regular season. For now, team brass seems content to exchange some defensive viability for more firepower at the plate.
Biggio is in contention for a bench spot as a left-handed utilityman who can play multiple infield positions. There are questions regarding his offense, however: He has an .859 OPS this spring.
Others in contention include utilitymen Nick Loftin and Harold Castro.
Outfielders (5)
LF MJ Melendez, CF Kyle Isbel, RF Hunter Renfroe, OF Dairon Blanco, OF Nick Pratto
The Royals are confident in Melendez, Isbel, Renfroe and Blanco. They all hold specific roles, especially Blanco with his speed as a pinch-runner.
The Royals’ biggest decisions could pertain to their outfield mix. The club is weighing whether to keep Nelson Velázquez or Nick Pratto.
Both are out of minor-league options and offense is a concern with each. Velázquez has raw power but struggles to make consistent contact. He also has some defensive liabilities that could limit his opportunity to play on a regular basis.
.jpg "BeFunky-collage (2).jpg")
Pratto is a homegrown talent. The Royals drafted and developed him in the minor leagues. But he is blocked at first base and transitioned to the outfield this spring. Pratto also strikes out a ton and spent much of the 2024 season in Triple-A Omaha.
The Royals could go several different ways here. Pratto or Velázquez would add a power element. Or KC could favor speed and defense — in this case, Drew Waters or Joey Wiemer might remain in the mix.
The likely bet is for Pratto to earn the final outfield spot. He’s a strong defender and could be a left-handed bench option late in games.
