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KANSAS CITY – In our lead-up to Spring Training, we took a look last week at the Royals’ position player outlook for camp. This week, we’ll shift to the pitching side.
Kansas City’s full spring roster was released this week, including 25 non-roster invitees, so we have a better idea of who will be in Surprise, Ariz., when pitchers and catchers hold their first workout on Feb. 11.
Let’s get into it:
Starters
Locks: Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans
Competing: Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Bailey Falter, Luinder Avila
Depth: Mason Black, Ben Kudrna, Steven Zobac, Hunter Patteson, Aaron Sanchez, Frank Mozzicato, Shane Panzini
Barring injuries, it’s probably a safe bet that the rotation will be the five returning pitchers who made most of the starts last season: Lugo, Wacha, Ragans, Bubic and Cameron. Lugo and Wacha are returning as the veteran starters; their spots aren’t up for debate. Ragans ended the year healthy, and if that remains the case, there shouldn’t be any reason he’s not the Opening Day starter again this season.
All indications are that Bubic has had a healthy offseason, but we’ll have to see that play out on the mound this spring. And Cameron should get the nod for a rotation spot, too -- he earned it with his performance in 2025. How hitters adjust to him this season, and how he adjusts back, will be something to monitor.
But the spring is all about competition and building pitching depth. Bergert and Kolek showed last season following the Trade Deadline that they deserve to be in consideration for a rotation spot. A strong spring would only help their case; perhaps they even nudge their way into the bullpen if there’s no room in the rotation. Regardless, they should be the first two up if another starter goes down, and both have options remaining to give the Royals flexibility. That’s really good depth to have in Triple-A, and if last season taught us anything, it’s that good depth is extremely important. Kansas City views Avila as a starter entering spring, and he can be depth in Triple-A or earn a spot in the bullpen, where he impressed in a small sample last season.
Falter is similar to this group, but he is out of options, which means he has to be on the 26-man roster, traded or designated for assignment. The Royals could put him in the bullpen if there’s not an open rotation spot.
The depth pieces listed here aren’t strong candidates to make the club out of spring -- at least right now -- but they could be in the big leagues at various points in the season. Black was acquired in November and has some intriguing stuff if he can get some velocity back. Pitching prospects Kudrna (Kansas City's No. 7 prospect) and Zobac (No. 11) were added to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft and still need seasoning in the Minors before they make it to Kansas City, but they could be close. Sanchez is an NRI, while Patteson, Mozzicato (No. 22) and Panzini will all benefit from being in big league camp as young starters in the upper levels of the Minors.
Relievers
Locks: Carlos Estévez, Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm, John Schreiber, Nick Mears
Competing: Alex Lange, Daniel Lynch IV, Steven Cruz, James McArthur, Eric Cerantola, Jose Cuas, Hector Neris, Helcris Olivarez
Depth: AJ Causey, Dennis Colleran, Chazz Martinez
Estévez, the MLB saves leader last season with 42, figures to close games again for the Royals in 2026, and Erceg will likely be his setup man, while Strahm takes over high-leverage spots against lefties.
But there’s real competition for the final spots of this unit, made even stiffer if Kansas City moves a starter to a relief role out of camp.
Lange signed as a free agent in November, and if he can get back to what he did with the Tigers a couple of years ago, he would be a real asset to the bullpen. Schreiber and Mears will likely fill those middle- to high-leverage positions, but they’re both right-handers -- the Royals will want another lefty in the 'pen along with Strahm. It looks like that competition will be between Lynch and Falter unless Kansas City can make another addition there.
Cruz showed some good stuff out of the bullpen last season, posting a 3.74 ERA in 45 2/3 innings, while McArthur is attempting a comeback a year removed from right elbow surgery that repaired an olecranon fracture. He began a throwing program this offseason, but it wouldn’t be surprising for his progression to be slow as he makes his way back. Cerantola was added to the 40-man roster ahead of the 2025 season and spent all of last season in Triple-A. He could make his debut this year.
Cuas, Neris and Olivarez are all NRIs competing for a spot, and a strong spring could very well net them one. And Causey, Colleran and Martinez are young pitchers looking to make a strong first impression in big league camp. Relievers can move fast, so there’s certainly a chance these are names we return to throughout the year if the club needs help at the Major League level.