Royals’ newcomers marvel at great team chemistry

Left-hander David Huff was talking recently about the importance placed on the Royals’ bullpen, when he casually mentioned another key to the team’s success.

“It obviously works, they went to the World Series the last two years in a row,” Huff said of the relievers. “There’s no pressure on their starters, because everyone knows the bullpen is going to shut the door. It’s a comforting feeling.

“On top of that, what separates these guys from everyone else is the team chemistry. It’s like a big family in here. Everybody is pulling for one another. Everybody is bummed when a guy doesn’t do his job.”

Huff, who is trying to earn a job with the Royals as a reliever, is no wide-eyed rookie. He’s a 31-year-old who is with his fifth major-league organization in the last five years.

Nevertheless, Huff has compared notes with Wade Davis on throwing a cutter and never felt like he’s overstepped his boundaries.

Huff is not the only newcomer to the Royals who, without prompting, mentioned the good vibes in the clubhouse.

First baseman Cody Decker, who spent seven seasons in the San Diego Padres’ organization before signing a minor-league contract with the Royals in the offseason, said the clubhouse atmosphere has been an eye-opener this spring training.

“I can’t speak to everything in the majors, because I’ve only been in the majors once,” said Decker, who appeared in eight games last year with the Padres. “But in pro ball, like in any athletics, you run into unfriendly clubhouses. Well, it’s not so much unfriendly, it’s just teams that aren’t totally together. You come here and everyone is extremely welcoming of everyone that comes in, they’re very supportive. That’s the coaching staff and the players. No one sees everyone in this clubhouse as competition, and that is beyond refreshing.

“Everyone is kind of pulling toward the same goal. It sounds so cliche, but honest to God, that’s the culture that they’ve developed here, and it’s kind of something to marvel at.”

Decker, 29, has taken note of the playful manner in the clubhouse. Laughter is a constant soundtrack.

You’d think that might make it tough for an outsider to come in and feel at home, but that’s hardly the case.

“I’m new here, and not at any point did they make me feel like I was the new guy or anything like that,” he said. “I was made to feel extraordinarily welcome. This is great, it’s a fantastic place.”

Royals manager Ned Yost, who was a coach for the Atlanta Braves from 1991-2002, said that is a key component to the team’s success.

“I’ve been to the World Series eight times, and the one constant on those championship teams was always the chemistry inside the clubhouse,” Yost said. “That’s a very, for me, special component. The chemistry here is as strong as it’s ever been anywhere else, if not just a little bit stronger.

“It’s a fantastic group. They love playing with each other, and they love being together.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Royals’ newcomers marvel at great team chemistry."