Royals reliever Richard Lovelady felt like he was on track for a breakout year last spring before COVID-19 shut down baseball. But when he got back on the field for Summer Camp, Lovelady admitted that the uncertainty of the shutdown had “toyed” with his mind enough to leave him feeling unprepared.

He made sure that didn’t happen again this year.

“That’s on me, failed preparation, honestly,” Lovelady said Friday night after the Royals’ 8-1 loss to the Rangers at Surprise Stadium. “I would say that I treated this year as if we were going to start on time, as we all hoped and banked on. Just knowing to be ready, and then I had the experience of that situation and knowing how my body would do and how long it would take to [ramp up].”

Lovelady has had another stellar Spring Training, allowing two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings. On Friday, he walked left-hander David Dahl, which he wasn’t pleased about, but then settled down to strike out Joey Gallo and Nate Lowe swinging.

“He’s been more on the plate, [Friday] probably wasn’t his best representation, but he should be a guy and has been in the past, with the level of movement that’s made him very difficult to hit,” manager Mike Matheny said. “You can tell he’s strong and healthy, and he’s been throwing more strikes. He’s had a pretty good spring, and he’s definitely controlling strikes better.”

A right-handed-heavy Royals bullpen could see one or two more lefties join the fold come Opening Day, and Lovelady has helped his case with a strong camp. The 25-year-old hasn’t seen his Minor League performance translate to the bigs -- he posted a 7.65 ERA in 20 innings in 2019 and made just one appearance in ’20 -- though he has a revamped two-seamer that he’s thrown for strikes this spring.

“That was a big thing for me, was to come in and have that two-seam working down and away and not up and in.” Lovelady said. “Just keeping it simple. Don’t try to nip at the corner, don’t try to throw to the corner, but you know how the ball’s going to move. Throw it right down the middle and let it move. There’s no point in trying to pick at the corners and try to get a strike here and there. You’re just going to get behind.

“Right now, I’m completely focused on finishing Spring Training strong. Whatever the decision might be, we’re going to have to go with it and continue to get better. I’m not here to play coach or anything, but I’m going to give you my best every time I go out there.”

Royals mourn Mike Bell
The Royals sent a statement Friday afternoon, joining Major League Baseball in mourning Twins bench coach Mike Bell, who died Friday at the age of 46.

“The Royals join the rest of Major League Baseball to mourn the passing of Twins bench coach Mike Bell earlier today. Mike, who was raised in a historic baseball family, touched so many lives, first as a player and then transitioning into baseball operations roles prior returning to the field as a coach in 2020. He had friends throughout our sport including many members of our organization and he will be missed by all.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kelly, children Luke, Mikayla and Madeline and his entire family including his father, Buddy, who managed our ballclub for three seasons, and brother, David, currently the manager of the Reds.”

Royals starter Brad Keller was in the D-backs organization and worked closely with Bell, who was Arizona’s director of player development from 2011-16.

Brach working through adjustments
Veteran reliever Brad Brach hasn’t thrown a pitch in a Cactus League game since Saturday against the D-backs, when he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in one inning. It was his second bad outing after he allowed five runs in one-third of an inning on March 16, leading pitching coaches Cal Eldred and Larry Carter to work with Brach on his mechanics away from game environments to see if they can get him back on track.

“We just took a little break from going out and competing,” Matheny said. “Larry and Cal had some things they wanted to point out, going back to some video where he was really good with Baltimore, and just trying to get him to see a couple things mechanically that he needed to see. He’s going to keep getting his work in some controlled environments for a bit.”

Brach, a non-roster invite after signing a Minor League deal, is running out of time to earn an Opening Day roster spot, but nothing is official yet. The 34-year-old former All-Star could bring a different look to the Royals bullpen this year, but he will have to shore up his location issues first.

Worth noting
• The Royals issued eight walks in the first three innings Friday night. Lefty Jake Kalish was the first Royals pitcher to get a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth.

“Didn’t control the fastball,” Matheny said. “It’s going to be a long day when you can’t get the fastball where you want it to be. Just one of those rough ones.”

• Matheny saw a few different looks in Friday's lineup, with Ryan McBroom starting in left field and Hunter Dozier getting more work in right field.

“Especially night game before a day game, we’re splitting the squad up,” Matheny said. “Had an opportunity with a need in the outfield, so it’s a good opportunity for [McBroom] to get out there and move around a little bit, get comfortable in case that was something in the season we’d need help with. He’s done the work there.”