SURPRISE, Ariz. – Who takes over the Royals’ leadoff spot is a question that will follow the club until Opening Day and beyond. Manager Matt Quatraro doesn’t have an answer yet, but he likes the options he could have when constructing the lineup.
“That’s the good thing,” Quatraro said. “Maikel [Garcia], Bobby [Witt Jr.], [Isaac] Collins, [Jonathan] India. I mean, in the back of my mind, a couple of times I’ve even thought about Vinnie [Pasquantino]. I don’t have an answer for you on what we’re going to arrive on, but I like the fact that we have options.”
Wait – the slugging Pasquantino?
“I think he’d love it, to be honest,” Quatraro said.
Let’s break down those options, including that out-of-the-box suggestion:
Maikel Garcia
Based on past performance and the Royals’ identity, Garcia makes the most sense atop the lineup, with Witt hitting second. While Quatraro likes to alternate handedness, and Garcia and Witt are both righties, their athleticism and skillsets make for a dynamic 1-2 punch.
Garcia has led off before, including 107 games in 2024, slashing .234/.280/.343 batting first during a year in which he struggled overall. But 2025 was a much better year for Garcia. In the 23 games in which he batted first, he slashed .341/.404/.476. He spent the most time last year hitting cleanup (63 games) and in the fifth spot (29). With his ability to steal bases – 60 combined steals the past two years – there’s a ton of logic in putting him at the top to put pressure on the defense and score runs.
“I don’t know what will happen, but I want to hit leadoff,” Garcia said. “Last year, hitting behind [Salvador Perez] and Pasquantino, it’s a little harder to steal. I think it’s better for Bobby, too. If I’m on first, they don’t want to throw breaking balls because it’s easier for me to steal. So he’s going to see more fastballs.”
Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals like having Witt at No. 2 because not only does it maximize his at-bats, but it also maximizes his chances of coming to the plate with someone on base (as long as the leadoff hitter is productive).
But Witt could hit leadoff for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring, and that has sparked some conversations with the Royals. A few years ago, Witt didn’t seem comfortable hitting first. That’s changed now that he’s more established in the game, but generally, if your superstar prefers a particular spot, you’re going to keep him there.
“Whatever the team needs,” Witt said. “I know [Garcia] loves leading off. So whatever fits right and makes everyone feel good.”
Jonathan India
Despite having a poor 2025 and being moved down from leadoff in August, India did make the leadoff spot more productive than it was in ‘24. If he has a bounceback year, the experience he has at leadoff would make him an easy choice to slot in there.
“I’ve always hit leadoff my whole career, so it would be nice to hit leadoff again,” India said. “Definitely [would like to] redeem myself. [The] main thing is, I want to play every day.”
Isaac Collins
The Royals acquired Collins this winter because of his on-base skills and knowledge of the strike zone. He walked at a 12.9% clip with the Brewers last year and had a .368 on-base percentage. He can hold his own on the bases and has the added benefit of being a switch-hitter, which appeals to Quatraro’s desire to break up the handedness.
He checks the boxes for a leadoff hitter.
“The situation of the game kind of dictates what my approach is, so when I am leading off, it’s really only that first at-bat where I know I’m the first guy, I want to see pitches to help the guys behind me,” Collins said. “As long as my name’s in there, I don’t necessarily care where I’m at in the lineup.”
Vinnie Pasquantino
When informed that his name had come up in this conversation, Pasquantino had one thing to say: “I’m in.”
OK, he had more to say than that. Pasquantino is one of the Royals’ best hitters and someone they want at the plate often, but because he drives in a lot of runs, hitting leadoff is not likely to happen often. He understands why it could make sense and has told Quatraro as much.
“The thought process is matchups and who can we have hit the most?” Pasquantino said. “Just me thinking out loud, maybe it’s a team who has a righty starter that day and they don’t have any lefties in the ‘pen, or they have one lefty and we have a pocket of lefties in a different spot. I think it’s more about that. It’s an interesting thought.”