Royals Roster Mechanics Are a Bit Wonky

The Royals roster isn't perfect, but there are ways to make it work even if/when Jac Caglianone makes his debut.

When the Royals acquired Jonathan India for Brady Singer back at the start of the offseason, the fit in the lineup was perfect, but the fit on the field was anything but. India had played every inning of his career at second base, which happened to be the position manned by the team’s fourth-best hitter in 2024, Michael Massey. It’s also a spot where they already had a solid to good defender in Massey. So the idea was that one of them would get a shot in left field where the Royals had tried to upgrade throughout the offseason but failed for any number of reasons.

So far, India in left field hasn’t taken. Massey hasn’t had many opportunities out there in spring training and I wonder if that’s because it simply hasn’t been his turn or because they prefer him at second. Or maybe it’s that he’s been even worse in left field in his limited time than India. I don’t know why. It could be any number of reasons that could change over the next few weeks. But he appears to be locked in to his typical spot at second now defensively. And it sure seems like the best defensive spot for India, if Massey is in there at second, is third base.

Of course, the third base incumbent, Maikel Garcia, is one of three or four best defenders on the team at his position and infield defense is an important part of this Royals team. The third baseman is probably better served as a shortstop, but the shortstop is Bobby Witt Jr., so that’s out the vast majority of the time, though nice to have as insurance given that Witt is a Gold Glover there. Anyway, that third baseman is getting some opportunities in center field where he’s looked pretty good. But the center fielder, Kyle Isbel, is also one of the three or four best defenders on the team. He doesn’t hit lefties well, so there’s an opportunity for platoon there with Garcia.

This hasn’t even taken into account the catcher/designated hitter/first base trio of Salavdor Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino and Freddy Fermin. That part seems pretty easy right now, but there is a bit of a good problem on the horizon with the play of Jac Caglianone during spring training. I’ll get back to the positional maneuvering in a second, but I think there’s a chance that Caglianone gives the Royals a bit of a question to ask themselves sooner than later. He isn’t making the Opening Day roster in spite of his ridiculous start. Even with yesterday’s strikeout against Will Dion, he’s 6 for 12 with three home runs, three walks and two strikeouts. That’s impressive.