Royals Rumblings - News for January 29, 2025
Bobby Witt Jr. isn’t the video game cover boy?
MLB.com’s Anne Rogers detailed how the rotation stands now. She writes as if five pitchers, including Kris Bubic, are competing for the final rotation spot.
The Royals are confident in Bubic’s potential return to the rotation, even after seeing how much success he had in the bullpen last year when he returned from Tommy John surgery and posted a 2.67 ERA. There are certainly questions about the bullpen without Bubic in it, but the Royals are counting on a healthy Hunter Harvey to help out in the back-end. And if Bubic can see his reliever mindset and stuff translate back into the rotation, there’s a lot of value there.
The MLB The Show 25 is supposed to be “showcasing the future of baseball,” yet Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was not one of the three players featured.
“MLB is entering this dynamic era, with electric young talent coming up to The Show and changing the way the game is played,” Liss said. “We wanted to tell the story of this era by highlighting three of the most exciting young players in the world right now: Elly, Gunnar and Paul.”
The Athletic’s Keith Law debuted his top 100 MLB prospects list, featuring two Kansas City Royals prospects: Jac Caglianone and Blake Mitchell. [$]
Mitchell has already made some big adjustments since he signed, which is the best harbinger of a player’s ability to make further adjustments. I’m encouraged by the progress in his swing decisions; if he continues that trend, he’s going to end up an above-average regular, even if it takes him another three or so years to get to the majors.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter first-round mock draft sends slugger Ethan Conrad and pitcher Kyson Witherspoon to Kansas City.
If Oregon State infielder Aiva Arquette is the most notable transfer among position players heading into the 2025 season, Conrad is a close second after hitting .389/.467/.704 with 40 extra-base hits in 55 games at Marist College in 2024. He posted a .385/.433/.486 line over 30 games in the Cape Cod League to showcase his skills against high-level competition, and now he will look to follow in the footsteps of Seaver King who went D-II to first-round by way of Wake Forest a year ago.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield lists Kansas City among the best remaining fits for outfielder Harrison Bader. [$]
The thin list of free agent outfielders has been picked through, leaving a group of fourth-outfielder types to choose from. Bader didn’t have a good season at the plate with the Mets in 2024 (.236/.284/.373), but he can still run and play center field and has historically hit left-handers. He’s a good fit as a platoon outfielder, although the Mets have apparently moved on with Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri both capable of playing center.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden lists the “breakout candidates” he wants to see in spring training. [$]
MLB executives talk about international pitching prospect Roki Sasaki.
Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo reports on external first base trade options being discussed by the New York Mets.
Baseball’s second-best prospect, Roman Anthony, is joining the Boston Red Sox for spring training.
The Texas Rangers unveil a vast broadcast deal, including free over-the-air games.
Trevor Bauer crashes out on Twitter, and Hall of Famer Chipper Jones roasts the former MLB pitcher.
The Athletics squatting in Sacramento for the 2025 season is causing more schedule changes.
Former All-Star infielder Jake Lamb lands with the San Francisco Giants on a minor-league deal.
Former Cy Young winning pitcher Max Scherzer’s suitors remain numerous, but the Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly the favorites right now to sign the veteran.
The Paul brothers tease partnership with HBO Max.
Dark Horse Comics drops British author Neil Gaiman as he faces multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
President Donald Trump says Microsoft is one of the companies looking to acquire the polarizing social media platform TikTok.
Scientists set the “Doomsday Clock” to 89 seconds before midnight, the group's theoretical end of the world.
Fire chief uses beer and milk to save two homes from California fires.
Today’s song is nostalgia track 2 thousand 10 by elijah woods.