The crack of the bat and the pop of the glove are back in the air, and down in Arizona and Florida, baseball is waking up from its winter slumber. With college baseball already underway and spring training clips making the rounds, the energy is building-and in Kansas City, there’s a little extra buzz.
Royals fans have every reason to feel optimistic heading into 2026. The early sights from camp include pitchers and hitters going toe-to-toe, coaches dropping nuggets of insight, and that unmistakable sense that a new season means a fresh start.
And for the Royals, this isn’t just another spring. There’s real momentum behind the belief that this team can take another step forward.
Let’s start with the international flair. The World Baseball Classic is right around the corner, and Kansas City will be well represented.
Bobby Witt Jr. is expected to play a big role for Team USA, while Jac Caglianone and Vinnie Pasquantino are suiting up for Team Italy in Pool B. It’s a point of pride-and a chance for key Royals to get meaningful reps before Opening Day.
And speaking of Opening Day, it’s coming fast. The Royals will kick off their 2026 campaign on the road at Truist Park against the Atlanta Braves.
That’s a tough draw, no doubt. The Braves are perennial contenders, and expectations in Atlanta are sky-high.
But Kansas City isn’t showing up to be anyone’s warm-up act.
Let’s be real: the tone for a season can be set early. Royals fans still remember the bullpen meltdowns that marred the start of 2024, even though that season eventually turned into a winning one.
And who could forget the 2025 opener-extra innings heartbreak against the Twins-but again, the Royals bounced back to post another winning record. That’s back-to-back winning seasons for just the third time since 1990.
So no, Opening Day isn’t everything. But starting 1-0?
That always feels better.
So how does Kansas City stack up for that opener in Atlanta? Assuming health and no last-minute trades, the Royals have a solid rotation piece ready to take the mound. The bigger question is whether the bats can hold up their end of the deal.
Offensively, there's room to grow. In 2025, Kansas City ranked in the bottom five in runs per game, with a particularly slow start that left them playing catch-up. If the season started today, here’s how the Royals could line up against Atlanta’s projected starter-veteran southpaw Chris Sale.
Yes, that Chris Sale. The former White Sox and Red Sox ace has found new life in Atlanta, earning All-Star nods in 2024 and 2025 and even capturing the NL Cy Young in 2024.
He hasn’t faced many of these Royals, but he’s still very much a frontline guy. That means Kansas City needs to counter with its best look against left-handed pitching.
Enter Lane Thomas.
Thomas is the X-factor in the Royals’ outfield this season, and if there’s one thing he’s done consistently, it’s mash lefties. Over the past three seasons, he’s posted an .876 OPS against southpaws-that’s top-25 in the league, right alongside names like Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber, and Freddie Freeman.
He’s not just a platoon bat-he’s a real weapon in the right matchup. Opening Day is a chance for Thomas to show he’s healthy and ready to contribute in a big way.
At the top of the order, Maikel Garcia seems like the logical choice to lead off. He brings speed, solid contact skills, and sets the table nicely for Bobby Witt Jr., who’s expected to anchor the two-hole. Witt’s power-speed combo makes him the centerpiece of this offense, and pairing him with Garcia gives the Royals a dynamic top of the lineup.
Salvador Perez may not be the long-term cleanup hitter anymore, but he held that spot for most of last year and still commands respect. His expected stats in 2025 suggest he was hitting into some tough luck, and until proven otherwise, he stays in the heart of the order.
Jac Caglianone, the powerful lefty bat, could slot into a few different spots, but against a tough lefty like Sale, it makes sense to drop him a bit lower in the lineup. That helps maintain a right-left-right rhythm and puts Thomas in a more impactful spot. Make no mistake, though-Caglianone’s ceiling is sky-high, and this is a big early test for him on a national stage.
Rounding out the order, Isaac Collins and Jonathan India bring strong plate discipline, even if they’re not known for their power. India has the higher offensive ceiling, but he hasn’t done much damage at Truist Park in limited chances. Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt has been vocal about India’s offseason work, but until that translates into production, it’s tough to justify him hitting in the top half of the order.
Kyle Isbel likely holds down the nine-hole. His glove in center field is elite-Gold Glove caliber-and while his bat hasn’t been consistent, especially against lefties (.546 career OPS), his defense makes him the safest Opening Day option. Unless the Royals decide Thomas can handle center out of the gate, Isbel’s glove keeps him in the lineup.
All in all, this projected Opening Day lineup is a step up from what Kansas City rolled out to start 2025. The roles are better defined, the platoon matchups make more sense, and there’s real depth. With young talents like Carter Jensen and Michael Massey waiting in the wings, manager Matt Quatraro has options if the early results don’t click.
This isn’t a top-tier offense in the American League-at least not yet-but it’s a lineup that can compete, especially when it’s built around its strengths. And against a tough opponent like the Braves, that’s what it’ll take.
Game 1 is a challenge, no question. But it’s also an opportunity-and this Royals team looks ready to take it.