Royals vs Padres Odds

#1 LF

Drew Waters: In mix for backup role

Mar 1st

Waters is in the mix for an outfield bench role along with Nick Pratto, Dairon Blanco (Achilles) and Joey Wiemer, MLB.com reports. He's hitting .167 (2-for-12) this spring.

#1 DH

Maikel Garcia: Getting time in CF this spring

Mar 1st

Garcia will get time in center field this spring as the Royals want to add another option to their outfield mix, MLB.com reports. "The way our team's set up, [Bobby Witt is] playing short, if [Michael Massey is] playing second, the next best spot to get [Garcia] is in center field," said Royals general manager J.J. Picollo.

#4 PROS

Gavin Cross: Healthy for spring training

Feb 27th

Cross (back) will start center field and bat eighth Thursday in a "B" game against the Rangers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#1 CL

Carlos Estevez: Nursing lower-back tightness

Feb 27th

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Thursday that Estevez has not appeared in a Cactus League game yet due to mild lower-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#2 BP

Hunter Harvey: Healthy after back injury

Feb 27th

Harvey threw a scoreless inning in his spring debut Tuesday and says he's fully healthy after a back injury prevented him from pitching in the postseason, the Kansas City Star reports. "Last year was tough," Harvey said. "It didn't feel good to rotate, which is kind of the main thing we need to be able to do. We just couldn't get it to ever calm down."

#1 BP

Lucas Erceg: Moving to high-leverage role

Feb 27th

They Royals plan to use Erceg in the highest leverage spots in 2025, whether that be the ninth for a save opportunity or in the seventh inning, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Erceg gave up a run with two hits and two strikeouts in one inning during his spring debut Wednesday and reached 98.1 mph with his fastball.

#1 SS

Bobby Witt: Focusing on SB efficiency

Feb 26th

Witt said early in spring training that it was an offseason focus to get more efficient with his base stealing, and he remarked that he "shouldn't be getting thrown out the way [he was]" since he's one of the fastest players in MLB, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#1 P

Cole Ragans: Fires two scoreless in spring debut

Feb 25th

Ragans gave up two hits and a walk while collecting two strikeouts over two scoreless innings during his Cactus League debut against the Athletics on Monday.

#6 P

Alec Marsh: Throwing bullpen session Thursday

Feb 25th

Marsh (shoulder) is slated to throw another bullpen session Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#2 CF

Dairon Blanco: Undergoing MRI on Tuesday

Feb 25th

Blanco (Achilles) will undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#17 PROS

Chandler Champlain: Starting Thursday

Feb 24th

Champlain will start Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#1 PROS

Jac Caglianone: Shows off power

Feb 24th

Caglianone hit a 435-foot home run with a 115.4 mph exit velocity in Sunday's Cactus League game against the White Sox, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#4 P

Kris Bubic: Leading fifth starter candidate

Feb 23rd

Bubic is seen as the frontrunner for Kansas City's fifth starter role, MLB.com reports. He gave up one run over two innings with two strikeouts in his spring debut Sunday.

#5 PROS

Blake Mitchell: Breaks bone in right wrist

Feb 22nd

Mitchell has a broken right hamate bone and will need 4-to-6 weeks to recover, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#3 PROS

Noah Cameron: Contending for rotation spot

Feb 21st

Cameron is a candidate to make the Royals' Opening Day rotation with a strong spring, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

#1 3B

Jonathan India: In left field for Cactus opener

Feb 21st

India is starting in left field and batting leadoff Friday versus the Rangers in the Royals' Cactus League opener.

#7 P

Kyle Wright: Suffers mild hamstring strain

Feb 20th

Wright (shoulder) is dealing with a mild right hamstring strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.