As the Royals prepare to kick off their season against the Cleveland Guardians in just over a week, their regular season roster is starting to take form. Several promising prospects have been assigned to minor league camp, including pitcher Noah Cameron, outfielders John Rave and Tyler Gentry, and power-hitter Jac Caglianone. However, there are still numerous roster competitions ahead, particularly concerning the bench players for the Royals.
Unless a trade occurs, the starting lineup is expected to feature Salvador Perez as catcher, Michael Massey and Jonathan India rotating between second base and designated hitter (with some play in the outfield), Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop, and Maikel Garcia largely at third base. The outfield configuration will probably include MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, and Hunter Renfroe. While this setup is flexible and the Royals are considering increasing positional versatility, these nine players will likely be in the regular starting lineup most days.
Freddy Fermin will take the role of backup catcher, and his playing time may well increase given his strong performance. This leaves three additional positions available for bench players. Who are the contenders vying for these spots?
Bench Contenders
Cavan Biggio presents several qualities that the Royals value in a bench player. As a left-handed hitter, he has the ability to draw walks and can effectively play various positions around the infield and outfield. The son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, Cavan had an impressive rookie season with the Blue Jays in 2019 but has struggled to regain that form. He boasts a 13.5 percent career walk rate—something no Royals hitter has achieved in a single season since Mike Sweeney in 2003. For a bench role, his ability to get on base can help set up opportunities for the team’s top hitters.
Dairon Blanco is likely to secure a roster spot if he remains healthy. After dealing with a sore Achilles heel, he has resumed playing. Known for his speed, he swiped 31 bases in 38 attempts last season and excelled in Baserunning Runs metrics. Although he contributes at the plate with a .258/.316/.422 line over the past two years, his defensive skills have room for improvement despite his elite sprint speed. Carrying him on the roster may necessitate having another strong defensive outfielder as a complement.
Harold Castro is an experienced MLB player who can fill various roles like Biggio but lacks his walk-drawing ability. Castro has a career batting average of .278/.303/.366. At the age of 31, he is not seeking consistent playing time; he is more suited to be a dependable bench player. While he has performed well this spring, he is likely bound for Omaha. Both Castro and Biggio are non-roster invitees, complicating their chances as the Royals would need to clear a spot on the roster to include either.
Nick Loftin, a former first-round draft pick, has drawn praise from the Royals but has had limited success in the majors, batting .229/.307/.295 over the last two years. He is versatile, capable of playing multiple positions, and while he hasn’t shone in prior opportunities, his strong performance this spring might earn him a spot on the roster.
Nick Pratto, a 36-home run hitter in the minors during 2021, has seen his career stagnate with a disappointing .216/.295/.364 line over 2022-2023 in Kansas City. His drop in production could signal the end of his time with the Royals as he struggles and may be required to go through waivers should they choose to send him down.
