MLB spring training is in full swing. The start of the 2025 exhibition slate couldn't be going any better for the Kansas City Royals, who are 3-0 this month following Sunday's 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Although spring training games are relatively meaningless, the Royals' hot start is encouraging after the franchise ended their near-decade-long playoff drought last season. In other words, Kansas City would love nothing more than to extend its momentum with a win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday.
Having said that, the Royals will be missing one veteran name as they try to improve to 4-0 this spring.
Royals Injury News: Dairon Blanco Scratched vs. Athletics on Monday
About two hours before the first pitch, the Royals announced that outfielder Dairon Blanco wouldn't be facing the Athletics. Although a reason wasn't given at the time of the announcement, the club did reveal that Blanco would be replaced by Joey Wiemer, who will be batting eighth in the lineup.
Dairon Blanco has been scratched from today's game and replaced by Joey Wiemer, batting 8th and playing CF.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) February 24, 2025
Initially, it looked like Blanco's inactivity was an example of the Royals being cautious. After all, scratches are the norm during spring training and it wouldn't be unusual if manager Matt Quatraro was trying to preserve the veteran's health.
Unfortunately, the Royals then revealed about an hour later that Blanco is dealing with "right Achilles tightness" and will be "day-to-day" going forward. Needless to say, it isn't the update Kansas City fans wanted to hear.
Blanco, 31, has become more of a fixture in the Royals' lineup with each passing season.
The Cuban speedster played a career-high 88 games last season, resulting in four home runs, 13 RBIs, and a .258/.309/.392 slash line while finishing tied with Bobby Witt Jr. for the second-most steals on the team (31) — six fewer than Maikel Garcia (37), who played 69 more games than Blanco.
Had he played the entire campaign, the right-handed OF was on pace for 57 stolen bases in 162 games, which would've been the sixth-most in Royals history. While that production might not be sustainable, it paints Blanco as a serious pinch-running threat this season and beyond.
Hopefully, Blanco's Achilles issue isn't severe and he can return to action sooner rather than later. The Royals need him to be as healthy as possible if they want to improve their odds of making the 2025 MLB playoffs, which currently sit at +140 — an implied probability of 41.7% — on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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