Kansas City Royals: Standout players from week two of spring training
Two weeks of spring training are in the books for the Kansas City Royals, so let’s continue to look at the players who stood out for the boys in blue after two weeks of action.
The Kansas City Royals have been hanging out in Surprise for two weeks now and that means we have another weeks worth of games to see what some of these guys are capable of. Continuing on with our standout players from each week, let’s see what week two provided us with.
Before we totally dive in, I want to point out that while last week focused on the players doing well, this week will touch on players having a nice camp as well those who maybe don’t fall into that category, but are worth discussing.
Let’s take a look.
TREVOR ROSENTHAL
When the Royals signed Trevor Rosenthal, it felt like a stereotypical Dayton Moore signing, another reliever reclamation project for the team.
While two weeks worth of spring training stats aren’t anything to get excited about, Rosenthal is looking good in Surprise. The Lee’s Summit native has appeared in three total games while twirling three innings of work and allowing no runs while surrendering just one hit. He’s struck out seven batters and hasn’t walked anyone.
In his most recent appearance, Rosenthal threw one scoreless inning and struck out three while on the mound. The hope is that Rosenthal can be a viable bullpen arm for the Royals in 2020 and maybe – just maybe – he can be serviceable enough that a team is interested in trading for him at the deadline.
KYLE ISBEL
If you’re following along with spring training, then you probably heard Kyle Isbel‘s name thrown around a lot this past week. Isbel’s offensive numbers aren’t exactly earth shattering, but that’s not what got him the fame this past week.
No, what put Isbel on the map was his defensive abilities, as he flashed the leather time and time again on Wednesday against the Padres. Isbel also had an impressive RBI double in that game, but as of Friday afternoon, is batting just .200 with four RBI RBI and a homer.
Isbel probably isn’t making the roster right out of camp, but if he impresses in the minors, he could certainly be a September call-up for the Royals.
MAIKEL FRANCO
The signing of Maikel Franco wasn’t exciting, but it did mean that Hunter Dozier would have to play right field, as Franco became the team’s every day third baseman. The newly signed Royal wasn’t doing much in camp, but he had an impressive day on Tuesday, recording three hits against the Diamondbacks. He’s currently batting .273 in 22 plate appearances.
Maikel Franco with a laser up the middle, a two-run single and the Royals lead, 2-0.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) March 4, 2020
TIM HILL
Now we’ll touch on a few negative standouts, with Tim Hill leading the pack there. Hill impressed tremendously in 2019 and looked to be one of the most reliable options out of the pen heading into this season, but spring training hasn’t been kind to the lefty reliever.
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As of Friday afternoon, Hill has appeared in three games and thrown 2.1 innings. He’s surrendered eight runs (all earned) and walked four batters while striking out three. His ERA currently hovers right above 30, which isn’t good in case you were wondering.
Spring training doesn’t count toward the regular season, but Hill has not been good this spring. Mike Gillespie of Kings of Kauffman writes,
"The fact Hill had no control or command Wednesday compounds his spring problems; his formerly safe roster spot may now be in peril. Because he has minor league options left, the club may want to consider using one if he doesn’t find his way soon, and starting the season with fellow lefty Randy Rosario, who’s out of options and hasn’t surrendered a run in four games."
It’s an interesting thought to send Hill to the minors to start the season after the dominant 2019 season he had. If things continue to go this poorly, then Gillespie might be onto something here.
RANDY ROSARIO
As Gillespie mentioned in the blurb above, Randy Rosario has been great thus far. The 25-year-old lefty has appeared in four games, throwing 4.1 innings of work and not allowing a single run. Furthermore, he’s had three saves and looks to be inching his way toward making the Opening Day roster.
Rosario wasn’t getting much publicity coming into camp, but he’s making a name for himself this spring. He spent time with the Royals last year and finished the year throwing 3.2 scoreless innings for Kansas City.
Hopefully Rosario can continue this pace because he’s looking like a good option to have in the bullpen, especially with Hill struggling two weeks into camp.
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These five players – whether they’ve been good or bad – have been standouts for the team this past week.
Only one has been bad out of this group and that’s Tim Hill, who needs to start showing SOMETHING or he might be starting the year off in Omaha.
The other four players here impressed this past week, with Kyle Isbel getting a lot of attention for his defensive prowess. Randy Rosario might not be a name that casual fans know, but he’s been great this spring and could be looking to occupy a spot in the bullpen come Opening Day.
With less than three weeks to go until Opening Day, there are a lot of players looking to prove themselves in spring training with the hopes of helping this team win ball games in 2020.