Royals spring training roster breakdown
The Royals will take their first step toward 2014 on Friday, when pitchers and catchers report to the complex in Surprise, Ariz. After 2013, their most successful season since 1989, they enter camp with most of the roster set. The lineup is in place, and few position battles will be staged.
The major competition will involve the fifth spot in the starting rotation. With Bruce Chen back in the fold, general manager Dayton Moore listed Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy, Luke Hochevar, Wade Davis and Chris Dwyer as the most likely candidates. Those who miss out on the starting role could move into the bullpen.
Here is a look at the 40-man roster and the 20 others invited to camp.
40-MAN ROSTERPITCHERS| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 67 | Francisley Bueno | L-L | 5-10 | 215 | 32 | Finished 2013 with 2.66 ERA for Omaha. |
| 52 | Bruce Chen | L-L | 6-2 | 215 | 36 | Useful swingman is back again, will start in rotation. |
| 62 | Maikel Cleto | R-R | 6-3 | 250 | 24 | Talented right-hander showed flashes after joining Royals organization last summer. |
| 31 | Louis Coleman | R-R | 6-4 | 205 | 27 | Didn’t give up an earned run in his first 19 appearances last year. |
| 55 | Tim Collins | L-L | 5-7 | 165 | 24 | Still struggles with control, but successful against left-handed batters. |
| 43 | Aaron Crow | R-R | 6-3 | 195 | 27 | Former first-round pick has established himself as quality middle reliever. |
| 17 | Wade Davis | R-R | 6-5 | 225 | 28 | He’ll compete for rotation slot, but could be bound for bullpen. |
| 41 | Danny Duffy | L-L | 6-3 | 200 | 25 | On comeback trail from Tommy John surgery, team hopes for breakout. |
| 36 | Chris Dwyer | R-L | 6-3 | 210 | 25 | A fringe contender for fifth spot, but important as depth. |
| 11 | Jeremy Guthrie | R-R | 6-1 | 200 | 34 | Restructured his contract after making 33 starts with 4.04 ERA. |
| 40 | Kelvin Herrera | R-R | 5-10 | 200 | 24 | Flamethrower whiffed 11.4 batters per nine out of bullpen. |
| 44 | Luke Hochevar | R-R | 6-5 | 215 | 30 | The former first-overall pick is in his final year of team control. |
| 56 | Greg Holland | R-R | 5-10 | 200 | 28 | He flourished as the closer in 2013; now the team has to worry about his salary. |
| 49 | Donnie Joseph | L-L | 6-3 | 190 | 26 | Command is shaky, but punched out 84 batters in 54 2/3 innings at Class AAA. |
| 38 | John Lamb | L-L | 6-4 | 205 | 23 | Former high-profile prospect has endured rocky road back from Tommy John surgery. |
| 48 | Michael Mariot | R-R | 5-11 | 195 | 25 | Shifted to bullpen full-time in 2013, with decent results. |
| 46 | Justin Marks | L-L | 6-3 | 195 | 26 | Gave up more than a hit per inning in Omaha last year. |
| 33 | James Shields | R-R | 6-4 | 215 | 32 | The anchor of the rotation, he’s primed for a nine-figure contract next winter. |
| 51 | Jason Vargas | L-L | 6-0 | 215 | 31 | Far from flashy, the $32 million addition averaged 190 innings per year since 2010. |
| 30 | Yordano Ventura | R-R | 5-11 | 180 | 22 | He sizzled in a big-league debut, but his role for 2014 hasn’t been decided. |
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 12 | Brett Hayes | R-R | 6-0 | 200 | 29 | With George Kottaras gone, Hayes could become backup backstop. |
| 26 | Francisco Pena | R-R | 6-2 | 230 | 24 | Former Mets farmhand is son of Tony Pena. |
| 13 | Salvador Perez | R-R | 6-3 | 245 | 23 | The backbone of the defense hopes to build on a strong full-season effort. |
INFIELDERS
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 37 | Pedro Ciriaco | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | 28 | With Emilio Bonifacio out of the picture, could make club as utility man. |
| 24 | Christian Colon | R-R | 5-10 | 185 | 24 | Was the fourth choice in the 2010 draft, one pick after Manny Machado was taken. |
| 61 | Cheslor Cuthbert | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | 21 | Had trouble adjusting to action in Class AA last season. |
| 2 | Alcides Escobar | R-R | 6-1 | 195 | 27 | Can he rebound to be the .293 hitter he was in 2012? |
| 9 | Johnny Giavotella | R-R | 5-8 | 180 | 26 | Team went after Omar Infante to fill long-standing void at second base. |
| 35 | Eric Hosmer | L-L | 6-4 | 220 | 24 | After a strong second half, Hosmer could become a superstar in 2014. |
| 14 | Omar Infante | R-R | 5-11 | 195 | 32 | The team stretched its budget to add this former Tiger. |
| 8 | Mike Moustakas | L-R | 6-0 | 210 | 25 | Patience is wearing thin after another troubled campaign. |
| 19 | Danny Valencia | R-R | 6-2 | 220 | 29 | He excelled against left-handed pitchers in 2013. |
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 63 | Lane Adams | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | 24 | Hit 30 doubles between Class A and AA. |
| 23 | Norichika Aoki | L-R | 5-9 | 175 | 32 | The new leadoff hitter has a .355 on-base percentage in his two MLB seasons. |
| 6 | Lorenzo Cain | R-R | 6-2 | 205 | 28 | Still an excellent defender; his bat remains middling. |
| 1 | Jarrod Dyson | L-R | 5-9 | 160 | 29 | He stole 34 bases in just 87 games last season. |
| 4 | Alex Gordon | L-R | 6-1 | 220 | 29 | The organization’s premier player, he is coming off his weakest offensive season since 2010. |
| 27 | Justin Maxwell | R-R | 6-5 | 220 | 30 | He looks dynamic at times, but consistency is his issue. |
| TBA | Carlos Peguero | L-L | 6-5 | 260 | 27 | The Royals just acquired the hefty slugger from Seattle. |
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 16 | Billy Butler | R-R | 6-1 | 240 | 27 | Power dipped in 2013, and finished with lowest OPS (.787) since 2008. |
NON-ROSTER INVITESPITCHERS
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 66 | Jason Adam | R-R | 6-4 | 219 | 22 | Overland Park native struggled in Class AA in 2013. |
| 73 | Scott Alexander | L-L | 6-1 | 186 | 24 | Reliever posted 3.00 ERA between Class A and AA. |
| 70 | Aaron Brooks | R-R | 6-4 | 220 | 23 | Walked just 22 batters in 160 minor-league innings last season. |
| 71 | Sugar Ray Marimon | R-R | 6-1 | 195 | 25 | Figures to be Class AAA depth after decent AA campaign. |
| 68 | Guillermo Mota | R-R | 6-6 | 240 | 40 | After 100-game suspension in 2012, did not pitch in majors last year. |
| 53 | Brad Penny | R-R | 6-4 | 230 | 35 | A two-time All Star, last pitched in relief for Giants in 2012. |
| 60 | Jon Rauch | R-R | 6-11 | 290 | 35 | Posted a 7.35 ERA for Marlins in 2013 after solid year for Mets in 2012. |
| 25 | Everett Teaford | L-L | 6-0 | 165 | 29 | Recently cleared waivers and accepted assignment to Class AAA Omaha. |
| 47 | Cory Wade | R-R | 6-2 | 185 | 30 | Former Dodger and Yankee appeared for Mets, Rays and Cubs in minors last year. |
| 39 | P.J. Walters | R-R | 6-4 | 215 | 28 | Pitched sparingly for Twins out of bullpen in recent years. |
| 15 | Kyle Zimmer | R-R | 6-3 | 215 | 22 | Team hopes top prospect will shine in majors by midseason. |
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 69 | Juan Graterol | R-R | 6-1 | 170 | 24 | Part-time backstop for Class AA Northwest Arkansas last year. |
| 50 | Ramon Hernandez | R-R | 6-0 | 220 | 37 | 15-year veteran posted a .728 OPS in 17 games with Dodgers. |
| 32 | Adam Moore | R-R | 6-3 | 215 | 29 | Batted .191 in Omaha, with eight homers. |
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 45 | Jason Donald | R-R | 6-1 | 195 | 29 | Former part-timer for Indians spent all of 2013 in minors. |
| 34 | Brandon Laird | R-R | 6-1 | 215 | 26 | Played sparingly for Astros last two seasons, can handle corners. |
| No. | Player | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Age | Comment |
| 7 | Jorge Bonifacio | R-R | 6-1 | 195 | 20 | Tantalizing power prospect flashed potential in minors last year. |
| 54 | Gorkys Hernandez | R-R | 6-0 | 190 | 26 | Traded to Royals from Miami last July. |
| 65 | Melky Mesa | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | 27 | Toolsy switch-hitter washed out of Yankees system. |
| 72 | Paulo Orlando | R-R | 6-2 | 210 | 28 | Has been a consistent contributor to Royals minor-league teams in recent years. |
This story was originally published February 8, 2014 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Royals spring training roster breakdown."