KANSAS CITY -- For Brady Singer, the fun part of his Kauffman Stadium reunion saga came on Monday.
A fixture in the Royals’ rotation for four-plus years before being traded to the Reds for Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer last November, Singer was able to enjoy a day of nostalgia. He visited with former teammates and Kauffman Stadium employees before watching a video tribute that Kansas City officials had prepared for him for his return.
But when Tuesday rolls around, it will be all business once again for Singer. He’ll take the ball for the second game of the series and try to beat the team that selected him in the 2018 MLB Draft and gave him a jumpstart into the world of Major League Baseball.
“There’s definitely a lot of emotions,” Singer said. “The relationships that I made, the people I got to meet. But I’m still here to do a job. Put the emotions on the backburner. Enjoy it today, but tomorrow we’re going to work to win a game.”
When future schedules are released and point India in the direction of Great American Ballpark, he’ll have the opportunity to experience what Singer felt on Monday. The Kansas City memories for Singer include what happened off the field as well as on the field.
Singer and his wife, Tori, were married in 2022 and their son, Beau, was born during a time when Singer was establishing himself as a reliable rotation piece.
“My son being born here was a huge part of this,” Singer said. “Kind of growing up in the big leagues here was really special.”
On the field, Singer was part of a Royals club that reached the playoffs last year for the first time since 2015. He made 32 starts and turned in 179 2/3 innings for a team that went on to face the Orioles and Yankees in the postseason.
When Singer got the news that he was being traded to Cincinnati, he simply accepted it as part of the business.
“Wasn’t angry at anybody,” Singer said. “Wasn’t upset. Things happen for a reason. I totally understand that.”
Singer has stayed in contact with his former teammates, mainly through texting. He’ll know plenty about the Royals’ hitters he’ll face on Tuesday, but those hitters will know plenty about him, too.
Singer said he was “spoiled” to have Kauffman Stadium as his home park for 4 1/2 years.
“It’s massive,” Singer said.
Singer will hope for a lengthy outing, especially since the Reds’ bullpen has been taxed in recent days.
Meanwhile, India will be locked in and hopeful the Royals can have success against Singer, his former college teammate at Florida.
“I don’t know how to explain it until I’m in that moment -- him in the red, I’m in the blue,” India said. “All we can do is just be ourselves and push forward, and be part of the teams we’re with.”