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KANSAS CITY -- In less than a month, the Royals will kick off their Cactus League schedule on Feb. 20 against the Rangers at Surprise Stadium.
Although the offseason is never over until it’s over, it seems like the Royals have most of their roster set. After bringing in Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas, the additional bat they were vying to get this winter hasn’t materialized, with trade talks stalling. There’s definitely still room to upgrade on the margins of the roster, though, and that search could trickle into the spring.
For now, here’s the Royals’ position-player outlook as Spring Training nears. They haven’t released their list of non-roster invitees, so this is our best guess based on Minor League signings and Triple-A contributors.
Catcher
On the 40-man roster: Salvador Perez, Carter Jensen
Will likely be in camp: Jorge Alfaro, Luca Tresh, Elih Marrero, Kyle Hayes, Omar Hernandez, Blake Mitchell
The Royals have paved the way for Jensen, their top prospect, to get playing time alongside Perez in 2026. Jensen’s offensive performance will dictate how much playing time, but if he’s hitting, expect him to slot in at DH or catcher. It’s likely that he’ll get a lot of reps this spring, because Perez will be on captain duties for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Catchers are the busiest people in camp, from catching bullpens to hitting and their own defensive drills. Because of how many pitchers there are in camp nowadays, teams need more catchers there, too. Alfaro and Marrero signed Minor League contracts this offseason, and Hayes and Hernandez were in Triple-A last year. Catching depth is always needed throughout the season, and these players can leave a good impression here. The Royals invited Mitchell, their No. 2 prospect, to camp last year, but he didn’t last long because of a broken hamate bone. Big league camp is always a good experience for young prospects, so we could see Mitchell again.
First base
On the 40-man roster: Vinnie Pasquantino
Will likely be in camp: Brett Squires
Pasquantino will obviously be the first baseman, but he’s going to miss some time in spring while on Team Italy in the WBC. The Royals have several backups on the roster, including Perez, Jac Caglianone and Nick Loftin. Third baseman Abraham Toro, who signed a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training, has also logged time at first base throughout his career.
Squires appeared in 11 games last spring as a Minor League backup, and he could get the actual non-roster invite this year. We’ll likely see a rotating cast of characters when starters don’t play.
Second base
On the 40-man roster: Jonathan India, Michael Massey, Nick Loftin, Tyler Tolbert
Will likely be in camp: Peyton Wilson, Javi Vaz
India is going to play second base. Massey will be the one to move around a bit between second and left field, as long as he can stay healthy -- and he’ll have to earn his roster spot. Loftin and Tolbert can also bounce all over the place and will be competing for a bench spot, with Tolbert also bringing value with his speed and pinch-running ability.
Vaz, the Royals’ No. 25 prospect, was injured in big league camp last year and struggled a bit more in Double-A throughout the season. He’ll look to stay healthy, and he could find himself as Triple-A depth this year. Wilson has left good impressions with his speed and defense when called upon as a Minor League backup in previous springs. Given that he reached Triple-A in ‘25, he could be on the NRI list this year. Both Vaz and Wilson have played some outfield.
Shortstop
On the 40-man roster: Bobby Witt Jr.
Will likely be in camp: Kevin Newman, Connor Kaiser
Obviously, Witt has no competition here, but he’ll be absent for some of the spring due to his commitment to Team USA at the WBC.
The Royals signed Newman and Kaiser to Minor League deals with Spring Training invites, and both have big league experience. Newman is the more veteran of the two, and if the roster stands and he has a good spring, he has a chance to make the team. He can play up the middle and has logged time at third base. Kaiser, who attended Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kan., has played shortstop the majority of his career.
When Witt needs a day off his feet during the season, his backup is usually Maikel Garcia, but it’s important to stash good shortstop depth in Triple-A.
Third base
On the 40-man roster: Maikel Garcia
Will likely be in camp: Abraham Toro, Josh Rojas
With Garcia fresh off earning his first career Gold Glove, there likely won’t be any talk about moving him around the field this spring. Third base is where the Royals want him posted up all year (with the occasional slide over to shortstop).
Toro and Rojas will be in camp on Minor League deals and competing for a bench spot. Both are Major League veterans, and both can play multiple positions, although Toro stays on the infield, while Rojas can bounce to the outfield.
Outfield
On the 40-man roster: Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Lane Thomas, Jac Caglianone, Tyler Tolbert, Dairon Blanco, Kameron Misner, John Rave, Drew Waters
Will likely be in camp: Tyler Gentry, Alberto Rodriguez, Gavin Cross, Carson Roccaforte
We’ll see Collins in left field the majority of the time, while Thomas will move among all three spots. The Royals touted Collins’ ability to play second base when they acquired him, giving them flexibility, so it’ll be interesting to see whether he gets reps there this spring.
How the Royals split time in center field between Isbel and Thomas remains to be seen, but Isbel is the best defender to have out there. The Royals have given Caglianone a path to earn the everyday spot in right field with his performance. Although he’s also committed to playing for Team Italy this spring, he should get plenty of reps to show off his offseason work and improvement.
Blanco, Misner, Rave and Waters are competing for an Opening Day roster spot. They’ve all played center field, but the Royals acquired Misner from the Rays back in November as center field depth.