The Kansas City Royals are ready to start their 2022 season and have set their roster for the season opener. With a mix of young talent and veteran experience, the Royals will look to improve on their past success while adapting to the new rule changes that have been implemented for this season.
Pitching Staff Changes
The Royals have made some changes to their pitching staff for the season opener. Pitchers Brooks Kriske, Mike Mayers, Evan Sisk, Ryan Weiss, and Nick Wittgren were assigned to minor league camp. Collin Snider was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Kris Bubic will be the fifth starter to begin the season. Zack Greinke will start on Opening Day, followed by Jordan Lyles, Brady Singer, and Brad Keller.
Jose Cuas impressed last year and is expected to fill the last bullpen spot alongside Scott Barlow, Aroldis Chapman, Taylor Clarke, Dylan Coleman, Amir Garrett, Carlos Hernández, and Ryan Yarbrough.
Position Player Changes
Infielder Matt Duffy and outfielders Franmil Reyes and Jackie Bradley Jr. will be added to the roster, giving the Royals 13 position players. Matt Beaty and Johan Camargo were among the hitters assigned to minor league camp.
However, the Royals still need to open up three spots on the 40-man roster for Duffy, Reyes, and Bradley. This can be done by placing pitcher Jake Brentz and outfielder Diego Hernandez on the 60-day Injured List.
Predictions for 2023 MLB Season
Looking ahead to the 2023 MLB season, the Royals are projected to finish in fourth or fifth place in the AL Central division. The new rule changes have been implemented to speed up the game and increase offense.
Offseason moves include trading players and signing free agents to bolster the roster. The Royals added veteran pitchers in Yarbrough, Lyles, and Chapman to make them more competitive or to give them trade chips at the deadline.
Bobby Witt Jr. is expected to be the team MVP, while Michael Massey is a player to watch and could offer the Royals another core piece moving forward. Nate Eaton is most impacted by the new rules and could cause havoc on the basepaths.
Brad Keller has the most to lose or gain as he approaches free agency. Kris Bubic is likely to have a bounceback season, and Gavin Cross is the Royals’ No.1 prospect in the farm system. The Royals’ farm system is ranked No.16 in the league.
Kansas City Royals in Popular Culture
Apart from their on-field performance, the Kansas City Royals found themselves in the news for other reasons too. In one of Reddit’s popular question of the week, a user asked about “What are your thoughts on modern managers who are more hands-off with their players and rely more on analytics?”
A user replied that Royals manager, Mike Matheny was an example of such a manager who relies heavily on analytics for his team’s success.
Moreover, there were recent developments off-field where the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled some food items that were sold at The Short Stop shop at Kauffman Stadium during a recent game against Milwaukee Brewers.
Conclusion:
The Kansas City Royals are ready to start their 2022 season with a lot of expectations and hopes pinned upon them. With an impressive pitching staff and strong hitters, they’re hoping for good performances throughout the season.
As they look ahead to 2023, there are some predictions about what they could achieve next season – Bobby Witt Jr. leading their charge as MVP candidate while young guns like Michael Massey and Nate Eaton impress with their performances.
From popular cultural references to food recalls, these past weeks have seen a variety of news from the Royals’ camp. But no matter what happens, there’s no doubt that baseball fans will be looking forward to seeing the Royals on the field this season.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
