Royals Spring Training Opens in Arizona: Key Storylines, Roster Breakdown, and What to Watch
Football’s in the rearview, the weather in Kansas City is flirting with spring, and baseball fans can finally exhale and say the words we’ve been waiting for: Pitchers and catchers report today.
That’s right-spring training is officially underway for the Kansas City Royals. Pitchers and catchers hit the field for their first workout tomorrow, with the full squad joining in on Monday, February 16. From there, it’s a six-week sprint to Opening Day on March 27, when the Royals open the season on the road against the Braves in Atlanta.
Let’s dig into everything you need to know as the Boys in Blue begin their 2026 campaign in the desert.
Where the Royals Call Home in Spring
The Royals are back in Surprise, Arizona, their longtime spring training home just outside Phoenix. They share the facility with the Texas Rangers and play their games at Surprise Stadium, which holds 10,500 fans. The Arizona setup gives the Royals a logistical edge-15 teams train in the state, meaning shorter travel and a tighter schedule compared to the spread-out Florida camps.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
Kansas City will play 32 exhibition games this spring, kicking things off against the Rangers on February 20. The slate features the usual mix of Cactus League opponents, but there are a few notable matchups worth circling.
On March 3, the Royals will face Team Cuba in a tune-up for the World Baseball Classic. And on March 20, the organization’s top prospects will get their moment during MLB’s Spring Breakout event, where Royals prospects will take on Rangers prospects in a showcase of the future.
The team will wrap up camp with a pair of exhibition games in Arlington on March 23 and 24 before heading east to Atlanta for Opening Day.
WBC Impact: Royals Well-Represented on the Global Stage
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will pull several key Royals away from camp, as they suit up for their respective countries in the international tournament. Pool play runs from March 5-11, with games spread across San Juan, Tokyo, Houston, and Miami, and the championship set for March 17 in Miami.
Here’s a look at the Royals players participating:
- USA: Bobby Witt Jr., Michael Wacha
- Puerto Rico: Seth Lugo
- Venezuela: Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia
- Dominican Republic: Carlos Estévez
- Italy: Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone
While their absence will be felt in Surprise, the WBC offers these players a high-stakes ramp-up to the season-and a chance to represent their countries on baseball’s biggest international stage.
How to Watch and Follow Royals Spring Training
The Royals are launching their own broadcast platform, Royals.TV, after parting ways with FanDuel Sports Network. While the full spring broadcast schedule hasn’t been released yet, some games are expected to be televised.
Royals.TV will be available through most cable and satellite providers, and also as a standalone streaming service. Pricing is set at $19.99/month or $99.99 for the season for in-market viewers, and $149.99 for those out of market.
Familiar voices return to the booth-Ryan Lefebvre, Rex Hudler, and Jeremy Guthrie will handle TV duties, while Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery will be on pre- and post-game coverage. Many spring games will also be carried on the Royals Radio Network, though details are still to come.
Who’s in Camp: Roster Breakdown
The Royals have 67 players in big league camp this spring, including all 40 players on the roster and 27 non-roster invitees. It’s a mix of top prospects, veteran depth, and a few intriguing names trying to earn a spot.
Catchers (10)
- Veterans: Salvador Pérez, Luke Maile*, Jorge Alfaro*
- Prospects: Carter Jensen, Blake Mitchell*, Luca Tresh*, Canyon Brown*, Omar Hernandez*, Elih Marrero*, Ramon Ramirez*
Infielders (13)
- Starters: Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey
- New faces: Jonathan India, Brandon Drury*, Josh Rojas*, Kevin Newman*
- Prospects: Gavin Cross*, Peyton Wilson*, Daniel Vazquez*, Connor Kaiser*, Abraham Toro*, Tyler Tolbert
Outfielders (11)
- Returners: Kyle Isbel, Drew Waters, Dairon Blanco
- Newcomers: Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins
- Prospects: Jac Caglianone, Gavin Cross*, Carson Roccaforte*, Kameron Misner, Nick Loftin, John Rave
Pitchers (33)
- Starters: Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV, Kris Bubic
- Bullpen arms: Carlos Estévez, Héctor Neris*, John Schreiber, Matt Strahm, James McArthur
- Prospects: Frank Mozzicato*, Ben Kudrna, Shane Panzini*, Mason Black
- Veterans: Aaron Sanchez*, Lucas Erceg, Alex Lange
(* = non-roster invitee)
Spring Storylines to Watch
As camp gets underway, here are three major questions that could shape the Royals’ 2026 season.
1. Are Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen Ready for the Show?
The Royals are looking to lengthen their lineup, and these two young bats could be part of the solution. Jensen impressed during a brief big-league stint last season, while Caglianone-one of the most hyped prospects in the system-had his struggles.
The team has made it clear: Caglianone will need to earn his way onto the roster. Spring is his audition. If he flashes the power and plate discipline that made him a top prospect, he could force the Royals’ hand.
2. Can the Pitching Staff Stay Healthy and Effective?
This rotation has the potential to be a strength-but only if key arms are healthy. Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic both missed the second half of last season, while Seth Lugo faded down the stretch. Lugo is looking to bounce back to his 2024 form, and the Royals will need him to do just that.
There’s depth here-enough that the front office even explored trading from it-but the top of the rotation needs to be reliable if Kansas City wants to stay competitive in the AL Central.
3. Is the Offense Set, or Is Another Move Coming?
The Royals made a few additions this offseason, including acquiring Isaac Collins and signing Lane Thomas. But they haven’t landed the kind of impact bat that could really move the needle.
President of Baseball Operations J.J. Picollo acknowledged the need for more offense last year, and while the market has thinned, there’s still time to make a trade. If not, the Royals may be rolling into Opening Day with what they’ve got-and hoping internal growth and health provide the boost they need.
Final Thoughts
Spring training is always a time for optimism, and this year’s Royals camp brings plenty of intrigue. From top prospects knocking on the door, to veterans looking to rebound, to a roster still trying to find its offensive identity-there’s no shortage of storylines to follow.
Six weeks from now, we’ll know a lot more about what this team is made of. But for now, baseball is back. And that’s something worth celebrating.