PHOENIX -- Bailey Falter is carrying himself around with a different kind of demeanor, confidence and perspective this spring, and everyone is noticing the turnaround.
“Clearer-minded” is how Falter described the difference, and he attributes it to the tiny bundle of joy he and his wife, Kylee, welcomed to the world in November.
Dean Falter has been everything his parents dreamed of and more, and Bailey’s worldview has changed for the better because of it.
“It used to be just baseball, baseball, baseball,” Falter said. “I used to be the guy that beat himself up over it. When there are bad days, I already know that he’s going to help me out a lot.
“... It’s a night-and-day difference. It’s so different that I literally looked at my wife and said, ‘Man, we should have done this a couple of years ago.’ I just feel freer, more clear-minded and ready to go.”
Falter is one of the pitchers vying for the rotation this spring. Camp opened with Noah Cameron having the edge -- it’s going to be hard to ignore what he did last year as a rookie -- but the Royals are showing off all the depth they have this spring, including Falter, Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert, among others.
Falter got his first opportunity in a game Sunday, when he tossed two scoreless innings in the Royals’ 7-3 win over the Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
It was a rough start for Falter after the Royals acquired him in ‘25 from the Pirates. He allowed nine runs in eight innings in his first two starts and then moved to the bullpen. There, he allowed six runs in two appearances. He ended the year on the injured list with an 11.25 ERA.
“It was like one blow after another,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “I think mentally, he’s in a much better spot. … Physically, he looks great. He’s in good shape. The ball is coming out of his hand very well, very lively. All of those things together, the total package, seems much better.”
If Falter doesn’t earn a rotation spot, he could find himself in the bullpen again because he’s out of options and has to be on the 26-man roster for the Royals to keep him in the organization.
When thinking about his role for 2026, Falter again leaned on his son.
“Obviously I’d like to land one of those starting rotation roles,” Falter said. “But honestly, after having my son, it doesn’t matter to me. Whatever the team needs. If you want me in the bullpen, you want me to start, you want me to piggyback, it doesn’t matter. Whatever I need to do to help this team win the division, win the pennant, get to the postseason. Whatever the team needs, I’m cool with it.”
Clearly, a lot has changed mentally. But Falter has looked good physically, too, stronger and throwing strikes. He focused on his fastball velocity this offseason, trying to gain an extra tick or two that will go a long way with an elite extension. He averaged 92.8 mph with his four-seamer on Sunday, just slightly above his 92.1 mph average from ‘25. Weak contact, some chase and efficiency were among the positives from the outing.
“Every offseason as I get stronger -- and hopefully having my ‘dad strength’ now -- we’ve been doing more drills and motions with my weighted ball program,” Falter said. “I think every year my velo has gone up .1 or something, so if I could be like 93-95, touching 96, that would be good.”
Falter tinkered with his changeup as well this offseason, getting the pitch to go away from right-handed hitters and something he can rely on to get back in the count. He also focused on his slider, although the spin was down Sunday.
Whatever happens this spring, Falter knows two things for sure: He’s going to compete the best he can for his job on the field, and when he comes home every day, he’s got the best job waiting for him.
“I married a saint,” Falter said. “She’s so great at letting me do whatever I need to do to be ready to compete in baseball, and she takes everything else from there. But you better believe that as soon as I get home, it’s a handoff every single time. Dad mode. I tell these guys, ‘I don’t even clock in until I get home. My day doesn’t start until I get home. This is nothing here.’ And it’s great.”