Royals' Kyle Wright: Hopes to be 100 percent for spring
Rotowire
Wright (shoulder) hopes to be fully healthy for spring training and compete for a spot in the Royals' rotation, Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.
Wright underwent surgery in October of 2023 to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. He's now more than a year removed from that operation, and in October he touched 90 mph during a bullpen session. That's a far cry from the 95.1 mph Wright averaged with his four-seamer during his breakout 2022 campaign when he won 21 games and posted a 3.19 ERA, but the hope is that his velocity will continue to tick up as he further distances himself from surgery. It's no guarantee his stuff will bounce back as he returns from a major shoulder procedure, but Wright will be one to keep a close eye on during spring training.
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Royals' Maikel Garcia: Expected to be ready for spring
Rotowire
Garcia (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, MLB.com reports.
Garcia reported soreness in his right elbow while playing catch recently and an MRI revealed bone chips, which he had surgically removed Thursday. The Royals are calling the procedure "minor" and do not expect the infielder's availability for the beginning of spring training to be impacted. Garcia slashed .231/.281/.332 with seven home runs and 37 stolen bases for Kansas City during the 2024 regular season.
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Royals' Maikel Garcia: Undergoes elbow surgery
Rotowire
Garcia underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Garcia didn't spend any time on the injured list in 2024 and was available throughout the postseason, leaving it unclear when he suffered the injury. The Royals haven't commented as to whether Garcia's recovery will cost him any time during spring training or even regular season contests.
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Royals' Jordan Groshans: Latches on with KC
Rotowire
Groshans signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Most of Groshans' time last season was spent in Double-A, where he slashed .237/.313/.318 across 320 plate appearances between the Yankees' and Athletics' affiliates. He could potentially receive a bump to Triple-A upon joining the Royals, though major-league at-bats are likely out of the question for the 25-year-old.
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Royals' Kris Bubic: Returning to rotation
Rotowire
The Royals intend to move Bubic back into their starting rotation in 2025, per Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
After recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in April 2023, Bubic appeared exclusively out of the bullpen during the final three months of the 2024 campaign. In 27 regular-season appearances, the lefty posted a strong 2.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP alongside a 39:5 K:BB over 30.1 frames. Assuming the 27-year-old is able to turn in similar numbers during spring training, he should have little trouble securing a spot in the Royals' rotation, which lost some depth after the trade that sent Brady Singer to Cincinnati.
The Royals acquired India (ankle) and Joey Wiemer in exchange for Brady Singer on Friday.
India enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the Reds while serving as their primary second baseman. However, with Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand back from injury, there was a projected playing time squeeze along Cincinnati's infield. India should immediately slot into the starting second base job with the Royals ahead of Michael Massey, and he could hit near the top of the order given his career .352 OBP.
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Royals' Joey Wiemer: Headed to Kansas City
Rotowire
The Reds traded Wiemer and Jonathan India to the Royals on Friday in exchange for Brady Singer.
Wiemer went just 4-for-26 with nine strikeouts in 21 big-league games played between Milwaukee and Cincinnati last season. His performance in the minors wasn't great either, as he slashed .189/.277/.226 in 119 plate appearances with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate after being traded at the deadline. Once regarded as a top prospect in the Brewers' farm system, the 25-year-old Wiemer will look to turn things around with the Royals, though he will likely report to Triple-A Omaha.
The Royals selected Cerantola from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Cerantola started 2024 in Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he held a 2.93 ERA across 24 games (seven starts). He worked exclusively as a reliever at Omaha, posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 14.1 innings over 13 appearances. The 24-year old is now protected from the Rule 5 Draft in December.
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Royals' Luinder Avila: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Royals selected Avila from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Avila made just one appearance for Triple-A Omaha in 2024 but played in 19 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, posting a 6-5 record, 3.81 ERA and WHIP of 1.39 across 82.2 innings over 19 appearances at the latter affiliate. The 23-year-old right-hander is now protected from the Rule 5 Draft in December.
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Royals' Noah Cameron: Selected to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Royals selected Cameron from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Cameron made nine starts for Triple-A Omaha after beginning the year in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He posted a 2.32 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across 54.1 innings in Omaha, tallying three wins. The 25-year-old is now shielded from the Rule 5 Draft in December.
