Pivotal camp at hand for Royals' Coleman
Out of options, right-hander battling for 'pen spot
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- This could be one of those life-changing Spring Trainings for Royals right-hander Louis Coleman.
Clearly on the bubble to make the club's bullpen, Coleman, 28, is out of options, meaning if he doesn't make the team, he cannot be sent to Triple-A, thus making him a candidate to be designated for assignment.
Coleman said he is fully awary of his situation. He is trying not to think about it, though.
"The thing is, if you just go out and pitch well," he said, "everything takes care of itself. You can't worry about being out of options."
Sometimes, being out of options can work to a player's advantage -- if the club perceives a player has value, the club is less likely to jettison him.
"That's true, but you can't assume anything," Coleman said.
Coleman is just hoping this spring gets off to a better start than last spring, when he sustained a broken middle finger on his throwing hand on the first day of camp during a fielding drill.
"It really didn't feel right again until August," Coleman said. "But everything feels good now. I'm ready to go."