{"id":1238141,"date":"2025-03-15T09:26:36","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T09:26:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/pt\/?p=1238141"},"modified":"2025-03-15T09:26:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T09:26:36","slug":"royals-rumblings-news-for-march-14-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/pt\/royals-rumblings-news-for-march-14-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Royals Rumblings \u2013 News for March 14, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At Royals.com, Anne Rogers writes about how Hunter Renfroe is, say it with me everyone, !<\/p>\n

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Renfroe came into camp this year leaner, thanks to offseason training that included going to a physical therapist and focusing on his diet and hydration. He cut out sweets, oils and saturated fats as much as he could, and now wherever Renfroe goes, a 64-ounce insulated water bottle goes with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve lost a little bit of weight. I wasn\u2019t necessarily trying to, but it was just a byproduct of the offseason training and trying to eat as clean as possible and drink as much water as I can,\u201d Renfroe said. \u201cMaking sure I\u2019m doing everything I possibly can to make my career be as long as possible, make sure I\u2019m healthy as possible coming into this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The differences in the 33-year-old\u2019s physical and mental shape have been noticeable for the Royals as they look for more out of him in 2025.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

At The Star, Jaylon Thompson asks about Nick Pratto\u2019s fit<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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The Royals have Pratto competing with Nelson Vel\u00e1zquez, Drew Waters, Joey Wiemer, Cavan Biggio and Harold Castro for the final bench roles. There could be a couple spots available in spring training. To better improve his chances, Pratto also made a positional change this offseason. He is now listed as a full-time outfielder. It has been an adjustment, but Pratto is excited about his ability to grow at the position.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time I\u2019ve been able to go through that and have a process out there,\u201d Pratto said. \u201cNot only that, this is the first time I\u2019ve played the outfield healthy. It\u2019s pretty interesting and I feel good out there and comfortable. I think just getting my legs underneath me and getting used to the day-to-day is going to be the biggest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Vahe Gregorian is getting on the Jacwagon<\/a> (\u00a9 Hokius):<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s one thing to witness the jaw-dropping talent and sheer physical presence of the chiseled 6-foot-5, 250-pound 22-year-old \u2014 gifts illustrated this spring with three mesmerizing home runs and a double (in 12 at-bats through March 11) and batting practice sessions that evoke a religious experience.<\/p>\n

The thwack of those three homers, including the first one that left Surprise Stadium at 115.4 mph as the third-hardest hit homer by a Royal in the last decade, and the blunt crack of his BP swats made me think of Buck O\u2019Neil\u2019s observation upon watching Bo Jackson hit on the 1986 day he signed with the Royals.<\/p>\n

That day, the man who\u2019d heard the impact of Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson at the plate thought, \u201cHere is that sound again!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Lisa Gutierrez picks up a story about how Bobby Witt Jr. bids for his own cards on eBay<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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In a brief interview posted to X on Thursday, a (presumably) Clict reporter asks Witt if he\u2019s ever had to bid against other fans to acquire one of his own cards.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah. I got an alias on eBay and stuff, so a couple actually,\u201d Witt said. \u201cSo then I\u2019m out there bidding.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Carlos Est\u00e9vez is slated to make his Spring Training debut on Friday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At MLBTR, Anthony Franco does an \u201cOffseason in Review<\/a>\u201d for the Royals ($) behind their paywall.<\/p>\n

Blog time!<\/p>\n

At Inside the Crown ($), David Lesky updates the status of Spring Training positional battles<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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End of the Bullpen – Jonathan Bowlan vs. Eric Cerantola vs. Taylor Clarke vs. Steven Cruz vs. Junior Fernandez vs. Thomas Hatch vs. Carlos Hernandez vs. Sam Long vs. Lynch vs. Evan Sisk vs. Chris Stratton vs. Ross Stripling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many will enter, only two or three will leave. Yes, that\u2019s 12 pitchers vying for as many as three spots and as few as two. A lot depends on how the Royals handle Lynch if he doesn\u2019t win the fifth starter job. We know that if Bubic isn\u2019t the fifth starter, he\u2019ll slide into a late-inning relief role, which leaves just two spots open. The question is if the Royals want to put Lynch back to the spot where he didn\u2019t allow a run for over a month at the end of the year or if they want him in AAA stretched out to help in the rotation. Bubic is 100 percent on the team. Lynch is worthy of a roster spot, but it just depends on how they want to utilize him. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In that same vein, Kevin O\u2019Brien, the Royals Reporter, projects the Opening Day Roster<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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I added Lynch to the Opening Day roster, even though he still has a Minor League option. My main reason for doing this is that Lynch has been stellar in Cactus League play this spring. In four games (three starts) and 10 IP, Lynch has a 1.80 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and nine strikeouts to zero walks. The former Virginia product has been an efficient pillar of command this spring. That effectiveness will likely earn him one of the final spots in the Royals Opening Day bullpen.<\/p>\n

Thus, two pitchers could be on the chopping block: Sam Long and Stratton. Neither pitcher has a Minor League option.<\/p>\n

My gut was to omit Long, which means he will be designated for assignment (and likely picked up by another club). The numbers haven\u2019t been good for Long this spring. In three outings and 2.2 IP, he has a 10.13 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and hasn\u2019t struck out a single batter. The Royals also have lefty Angel Zerpa, in addition to Lynch, in the bullpen. I\u2019m not sure Kansas City needs a third lefty, especially one who has had an up-and-down MLB career like Long.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Blog Roundup:<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s a weird mix of stuff that we\u2019ll count up as an MLB section. One big story and a bunch of Royals listicles.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the Rays scrapped their previously agreed to $1.3B ballpark project<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) \u2014 The Tampa Bay Rays withdrew Thursday from a $1.3 billion project to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field, citing a hurricane and delays that likely drove up the proposal\u2019s cost.<\/p>\n

The team issued a statement by principal owner Stuart Sternberg saying \u201ca series of events\u201d in October, which included severe damage to the the Trop and financing delays, led to what he called \u201cthis difficult decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment,\u201d Sternberg said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

At CBS Sports, Mike Axisa puts forth six possible outcomes<\/a> that range from Sternberg selling the team to relocation to the a really unlikely contraction:<\/p>\n

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In the short-term, the most likely outcome is Sternberg sells the Rays and the new owner floats relocation. Perhaps earnestly, perhaps only to create leverage to get a new ballpark in St. Petersburg, Tampa, or the surrounding area. How the Rays go from here to a new ballpark is once again a great unknown, and how long it will take or where it will be located is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Listicles!<\/p>\n

MLB.com puts together a list of Cy Young candidates:<\/p>\n

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2. Cole Ragans, LHP, Royals<\/strong><\/p>\n

2024 Cy Young finish: 4th<\/em><\/p>\n

Ragans flashed ace potential after being traded from the Rangers to the Royals for veteran reliever Aroldis Chapman in June 2023, setting the stage for a stellar \u201924 campaign that saw the lefty fully blossom into one of baseball\u2019s top arms.<\/p>\n

Ragans ranked fourth in whiff rate (32.0%) and ninth in strikeout rate (29.3%) among starters who faced at least 500 batters in 2024, showing the ability to consistently dominate big league hitters with his deep arsenal. Having pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 312 K\u2019s over 258 innings in a Royals uniform, the 27-year-old enters 2025 with a great chance to become the franchise\u2019s first Cy Young winner since Zack Greinke in \u201909.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

MLB Pipeline compiled a list of Spring Breakout prospects to \u201c\u201d:<\/p>\n

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Royals: Spencer Nivens, OF (No. 30)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nivens was the hottest hitter in the Minor Leagues from Aug. 1 onward last year at High-A Quad Cities, slugging 15 homers while posting a MiLB-best 1.179 OPS over his final 34 games of the regular season. What can the 2023 fifth-rounder do as a follow-up? Watch his mechanics at the plate Friday against the D-backs. He simplified some of his movements prior to that breakout, and those adjustments played a big role in getting his impressive pullside pop into games consistently.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

At ESPN, Anthony Gharib lists new ballpark foods<\/a> for 2025:<\/p>\n

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Kansas City Royals: \u201cZ-Man Sandwich\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In collaboration with Joe\u2019s Kansas City BBQ, the Royals will offer a new item this season: the Z-Man sandwich. It includes slow-smoked beef brisket and provolone cheese on a toasted Kaiser roll, topped with two onion rings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Finally, at The Athletic ($), the Royals rank highly<\/a> on Stephen J. Nesbitt\u2019s Hope-O-Meter:<\/p>\n

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5. Kansas City Royals: 93.5 percent optimism<\/p>\n

2024: 74.4 percent (14)<\/p>\n

2023: 44.2 percent (22)<\/p>\n

2022: 73.5 percent (15)<\/p>\n

Optimist Ben: Two words: Bobby Witt.<\/p>\n

Optimist Jack: Three words: Bobby Witt Jr.<\/p>\n

Pessimist Sam: Regression, regression, regression. The money was not spent to adequately combat said regression.<\/p>\n

Optimist David: After the Super Bowl beatdown, championship mojo dumped Patrick Mahomes and went across the parking lot into the waiting arms of Bobby Witt Jr.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Longtime readers of this space will know I use March 11th to mark the anniversary of COVID. We\u2019ve done it a number of times in the past: (September 2020<\/a>), (March 2021<\/a>), (September 2021<\/a>), (writing hiatus in 2022), (March 2023<\/a>), and (March 2024<\/a>). We\u2019re now 5 years from that milestone, which seems both not very long and forever ago. It\u2019s long enough ago that I ran across one of those \u201coral history\u201d retrospective articles<\/a> on ESPN about the events of that night that led to the NBA shutting down and the rest of the world quickly following suit.<\/p>\n

The pandemic did have some good to go along with its overwhelming bad. For instance, I sat down and watched some Asian baseball. Taiwan\u2019s CPBL, in particular, helped me feel a sense of normalcy in the middle of the abnormal times. It\u2019s now about the time of year on Friday Rumblings for Asian baseball previews. Also, after discussing it up in the comments last year, we\u2019re scaling back to 2 per year year, one preview and one postscript, for each of the three leagues.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the schedule for this year:<\/p>\n