Projecting the Royals’ opening-day roster — with these questions still remaining
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals must set 26-man roster by Wednesday; bullpen and bench decisions pending.
- Massey’s calf strain could lead to IL stint; Tolbert or Loftin could fill spot.
- Lange and Falter likely make roster; Waters could be DFA’d amid crowded outfield.
It’s opening week across Major League Baseball.
On Wednesday, the 2026 regular season opens with a Netflix-exclusive game between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. From there, the remaining 28 teams will begin their quest to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers (or in their case, repeat) as World Series champions.
The Kansas City Royals will open on the road against the Atlanta Braves. KC’s opening day is set for Friday, March 27. The Royals will turn to All-Star ace Cole Ragans to begin the 2026 campaign at Truist Park in Atlanta.
First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. Central.
The Royals have until Wednesday to set their 26-man roster. There are just a few remaining decisions to be made in the upcoming days. The club still needs to finalize the bullpen and bench spots.
In recent days, the Royals decided to preserve their overall depth. Young pitchers Ryan Bergert, Luinder Avila and Steven Cruz were optioned to Triple-A Omaha. They are likely to be among the first names called upon if an injury occurs.
The trio all had minor-league options.
Then there are the non-roster invitees, several of whom took advantage of increased playing time due to the World Baseball Classic.
The Royals have enjoyed watching Abraham Toro, Josh Rojas, Kevin Newman and Brandon Drury at different points this spring. The MLB veterans are versatile and can impact winning in various roles.
“He puts up competitive at-bats,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Toro. “He works counts and he doesn’t seem overmatched by much of anything.”
The question is whether a roster spot will be available. A lot of that comes down to how Royals manager Matt Quatraro wants to tailor different matchups. Could the Royals opt for more speed — like Tyler Tolbert — or more professional at-bats. The latter thought could bring the veteran NRIs into the mix.
The Royals will play two exhibition games against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Monday and Tuesday. Afterward, the Royals will convene and set their opening-day roster.
Here are the dynamics surrounding the Royals’ final decisions:
Health will factor into Royals’ final choice
A few Royals are nursing injuries at the moment.
Second baseman Michael Massey is battling a left calf strain and most recently appeared in minor-league games last week. The Royals continue to monitor his status and will make a decision soon.
MLB.com reported that Massey will stay behind in Surprise, Arizona, to continue getting at-bats and resume testing. Massey must show he can run at full speed and have no lingering effects.
His status could go down to the wire as the club mulls whether a possible injury list stint is needed.
If Massey is cleared, he is expected to take one of the remaining roster spots. From there, the final spot could come down to Tolbert or Nick Loftin.
Tolbert has a niche role with the Royals. He thrives in late-inning situations as a speed threat on the basepaths. Meanwhile, Loftin can play across the diamond and has thrived in Cactus League play.
Loftin hit .300 (12-for-40) with two homers and 12 RBIs. He also produced a .916 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in 16 games.
The Royals could opt for both players if Massey is placed on the IL.
Other roster decisions to monitor
The Royals have three key players out of minor-league options.
Those players are Alex Lange, Bailey Falter and Drew Waters. It’s likely that Lange and Falter make the 26-man roster due to their veteran experience. Lange can operate in a high-leverage role and Falter could lend support as a hybrid reliever early in the season.
Waters could be the odd man out. The Royals are full in the outfield with Isaac Collins, Jac Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte.
If Waters doesn’t make the team, he will likely be designated for assignment. At that moment, 29 other teams have a chance to claim him on waivers.
Royals hope WBC spotlight carries over
If you tuned into the World Baseball Classic, there’s a good chance a Royal was plastered across your television screen.
Royals stars Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez were the darlings of the WBC stage. Witt shined defensively, Garcia won the MVP award, Pasquantino made history and Perez was the life of the party.
“You know, we almost are starting the season in Kansas City, and now I’m focused on the Royals,” Garcia said after his WBC experience.
The Royals hope the goodwill continues this season. If the club wants to make noise in the American League Central, it will take strong campaigns from the core leaders.
Keep an eye on how the offense performs early in the season. The lights are on and the long journey toward the postseason is about to begin.
Roster Projection
Starters (5): Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron
Relievers (8): Carlos Estevez, Matt Strahm, Lucas Erecg, John Schreiber, Alex Lange, Nick Mears, Daniel Lynch IV, Bailey Falter
Catchers (2): Salvador Perez, Carter Jensen
Infielders (6): Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia, Jonathan India, Michael Massey*, Nick Loftin
Outfielders (5): Isaac Collins, Jac Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, Lane Thomas, Starling Marte
*Contingent on Massey’s health. If he is sidelined, it’s possible Tyler Tolbert gets a spot.
