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The Kansas City Royals know where their strength lies.<\/p>\n
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The club\u2019s 2026 edition has a wealth of starting pitching<\/a> \u2014 led by Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha \u2014 that rivals the very best in the major leagues.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond this core group, multiple other young Royals bring starting experience. Guys like Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek have all pitched major-league innings. Each made key starts last season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ask any member of the Royals\u2019 front office, and they\u2019ll likely rattle off four or five more names that bear watching this spring.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou are always looking for starter depth,\u201d Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said after acquiring right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And there\u2019s yet another KC starting pitcher who has flown under the radar \u2026 albeit due to a significant injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alec Marsh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now 27, he was an important piece of the Royals\u2019 2024 rotation, with a 4.53 ERA in 26 games (25 starts in a career-high 129 innings). The Royals fell in love with his competitiveness on and off the mound.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There were learning curves along the way, but Marsh proved he could be a long-term starter for the franchise. Then the injuries hit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marsh dealt with right-shoulder tightness<\/a> after the 2024 season. He worked to rehab from that injury but suffered setbacks along the way. Ultimately, Marsh missed the entire 2025 season while dealing with constant physical discomfort.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust impossible,\u201d Marsh said of the setbacks he encountered. \u201cI think it\u2019s a good word for it, because you never expect anything like that to happen. Especially when you feel like you start figuring out some things about your game. \u2026 Yeah, just not having a healthy camp and the thing just kept steam-rolling and going downhill all year.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marsh hated being away from the Royals\u2019 clubhouse. He missed his teammates and his desire to play only fueled his hunger to return. He tried to maintain a positive outlook, but there were many difficult days when he missed being on the field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet Marsh forged ahead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He underwent labrum surgery<\/a> in October. The procedure was performed by Dr. Timothy Griffith<\/a> in Atlanta. Marsh was given a yearlong recovery timeline, which could still force him to miss the 2026 season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He has remained in good spirits for spring training in Suprise, Arizona. He has taken part in most team activities, except for physically throwing a baseball. He expects to gain medical clearance soon, he said, and that will allow him to begin his prolonged throwing program.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI go see the doctor on March 9,\u201d he said, \u201cand then I should be cleared to start throwing. I\u2019m going to start building up and doing all that good stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marsh knows he has a long road ahead. There is a big difference between beginning a throwing program and being ready to pitch in games. The buildup period could last a while.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t even start throwing until six months after surgery,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just different for throwers and that\u2019s how it goes. But I\u2019m ready to take it on. And it\u2019s gonna be ups and downs just like anything, you know? I haven\u2019t thrown a baseball in six or seven months, so I\u2019m excited to get myself back.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n