Royals Rumblings - News for February 26, 2025

The best slugger in Northwest Arkansas Naturals history is back in Kansas City.

MLB.com’s Anne Rogers and David Adler look at some of the intense work from Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. this spring at getting better on the basepaths.

They’re incorporating audio components along with the visual technology on when to react, as well as ways to objectively measure the drill instead of just feeling whether it was a good reaction. Live reads are important, too, so Witt and other runners have been getting on the bases during live BPs.

Legislators are adding urgency to where both the Royals and Chiefs could be playing in the near future.

Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, last week told reporters “time is running out” to come up with an incentive plan for in-state stadium projects. He indicated that Missouri would not act on state financing unless Jackson County first came up with a team funding plan — perhaps involving a Chiefs-only sales tax vote in November. Some county legislators unsuccessfully pitched similar measures last year, after voters in April rejected a 40-year sales tax for both teams. Patterson’s comments came the week after Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, teased during a committee hearing that his state is in active stadium negotiations and “very close to bringing at least one team over, maybe two.

The Kansas City Star’s Jaylon Thompson caught up with Kansas City starter Seth Lugo after Tuesday’s outing.

The final stat line didn’t matter. Lugo made it clear his goal was to challenge hitters and fill up the strike zone. “I mixed in, I think, every pitch,” Lugo said. “That was the idea of the work today, and I got the pitch count up. So that’s right where we want to be.”

MLB.com’s Anne Rogers detail’s Michael Massey’s first game action out in left field on Tuesday.

“A little different being out there,” Massey said. “I haven’t played out there since I was a kid. But just seeing the ball and getting reps, I feel like it’s going to be really good for me. … I’m excited. Any way I can help the team is what I’m trying to do. It’s a good challenge.”

The American Association’s Kansas City Monarchs announced they signed former Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio for the 2025 season.

“We are really excited about signing Jorge Bonifacio,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said.”He’s a right-handed power bat that has plenty of veteran experience. We have some quality hitters right now, and he’ll be right in the middle of that.”

Farm to Fountains’ Preston Farr releases his second Royals roster projection, with one volatile reliever not looking so good in Arizona.

On the way out is Carlos Hernández who hasn’t looked great early on. His velocity is down — there’s still time for that to ramp up, of course — but his command has been more alarming. In his lone spring outing thus far, Hernández allows three hits and a walk, ultimately letting four runs score. He gave up a huge home run but did strike out two batters in the process. In a bullpen competition that’s going to come down to the razor-thin details, Hernández needs to bounce back quickly to keep pace.

MLB.com’s Theo DeRosa looks at the Royals moving Jonathan India to the outfield. Or the third base?

In 2024, India — who has played exclusively second in the Majors — was rated as a plus fielder for the first time by Outs Above Average. The 2021 National League Rookie of the Year was drafted in 2018 as a third baseman and will be receiving occasional reps at the hot corner with the Royals, too. But with MJ Melendez’s struggles in left (-6 OAA in 2024), Kansas City could benefit from trying India and Massey in the outfield.

Either that outfield wall is very soft or that ball was hit very hard. Maybe both?

Kings of Kauffman’s Rachael Millanta wrote about starter Cole Ragans working on his slider in spring training.

Farm to Fountains’ Matt Chatbot ranks each bullpen in the AL Central.

Royals Data Dugout releases their outlook on Kansas City’s spring training at the four-game mark.

FanGraphs’ Jay Jaffe looks at some of the top remaining pitchers in free agency.

Lewis Pollis breaks down the value of starting pitchers going deep in games, “a fascinating approach,” according to Tom Tango.

Chicago White Sox prospect Kyle Teel demolishes this pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki in a simulated game.

Chinese Taipei defeated Spain on Tuesday to advance to World Baseball Classic.

Are former MLB players going to be baseball executives in the future?

The Dallas Cowboys are a mess, as usual.

Worried if your obsession with sports is a poor investment?

WNBA star Diana Taurasi retires after 20 seasons.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni responds to push for tush push to be pushed out of NFL.

AP film writers predict this Sunday’s Oscars selections (go watch “Conclave”).

Colombian police caught a man red-haired trying to smuggle cocaine under a toupee.

There is a cliffside in China that looks like a puppy.

Ticket sales for the celebrity softball game Big Slick began yesterday.

Read how the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation is helping early childhood education in the Kansas City area.

Madden 2003 was the first video game my dad played with me, so I logged an incredible amount of hours playing it. If you did as well, you know Party Hard by Andrew W.K.