The Royals are taking a low-risk, potentially high-reward swing this spring, signing veteran utilityman Brandon Drury to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp. At 33, Drury’s not the shiny new toy anymore, but he brings a track record that’s hard to ignore-and with the right break, he could carve out a role in Kansas City’s evolving roster picture.
Drury’s 2025 season was derailed before it even began. After a scorching spring with the White Sox-he hit a blistering .410 with power to spare-he looked like a lock for the Opening Day roster.
But a broken thumb in the final days of camp slammed the brakes on that momentum. The injury lingered, and by the time he returned to action in the minors, the spark was gone.
He struggled to find his rhythm, eventually getting released by Chicago and later signing with the Angels on another minor league deal. The results didn’t improve much-he finished the year hitting just .214 with a .338 OBP and .323 slugging in 228 minor league plate appearances.
Still, this is a guy who’s shown he can hit at the big-league level. Drury’s career has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but when he’s locked in, the power is real. He’s got a 25-homer season on his résumé and, while he’s never been a high-OBP guy, his bat has carried him to some productive stretches.
Just two years ago, Drury was in the middle of one of those hot streaks. Between 2022 and 2023, he posted a strong .262/.313/.495 slash line with 54 homers and 64 doubles across stints with the Reds, Padres, and Angels.
That version of Drury-aggressive at the plate, but dangerous-is what Kansas City’s hoping to tap into. He doesn’t walk much (5.8% walk rate during that stretch) and he’ll strike out some (24%), but when he’s making contact, the ball tends to fly.
Defensively, Drury isn’t going to win any Gold Gloves, and that’s not the expectation. He’s played all four corner spots and second base, giving him the kind of versatility that can keep a bat-first player on a roster. Even if he’s below average in the field, the ability to plug into multiple positions offers value-especially if the bat starts to heat up again.
That said, cracking this Royals roster won’t be easy. Vinnie Pasquantino has first base locked down, Maikel Garcia is the guy at third, and Jonathan India will look to bounce back at second.
In the outfield, Isaac Collins-acquired from Milwaukee-looks poised to get plenty of reps in left, while Jac Caglianone, the former top pick, will get a real shot in right. Lane Thomas, signed in free agency, could split time with Caglianone depending on matchups.
And then there’s Salvador Perez, who’s expected to see time at DH and first base, further tightening the squeeze on playing time.
So where does Drury fit in? Right now, he’s depth.
But he’s the kind of depth you like to have-an experienced hitter with positional flexibility and a history of power production. Injuries happen, slumps happen, and if someone falters or goes down, Drury could be the next man up.
A strong spring could also force the Royals to make a tough decision, especially if his bat looks anything like it did last March.
For now, he’s a non-roster invitee with something to prove. But for a Royals team looking to take a step forward, having seasoned insurance like Drury waiting in the wings is a smart play.