It’s been a busy week for Royals news, which makes sense with Opening Day only ten days away. The roster continues to get trimmed, and JJ Picollo will need to make tough roster decisions soon that could result in some Royals players leaving Kansas City in some capacity.
Granted, we still have roughly a week of Cactus League games remaining. So, some hot performances over the next seven days could result in some players on the bubble solidifying their Opening Day roster spots. That said, we have had some roster announcements over the past couple of days that have clarified what that roster picture could look like on March 27th at Kauffman Stadium.
Let’s take a look at the Royals’ announcement of who will be pitching on Opening Day, the latest roster move that involved a popular top prospect, and a legendary Royals outfielder who will be the latest to be enshrined in the Royals Hall of Fame.
Cole Ragans Named Royals Opening Day Starter
Over the weekend, many teams began to announce their Opening Day starters. The announcements ranged from the predictable (I don’t think anyone was expecting Paul Skenes to NOT pitch for the Pirates on Opening Day) to the more surprising (Sean Burke earned the nod over the White Sox thanks to a solid Spring Training and finish to 2024).
On Sunday, the Royals announced their Opening Day starting pitcher, which was unsurprising, especially since he was the starter in 2024.
Ragans’ Cactus League performance has been up and down this spring. In five appearances and 14 IP, he has a 5.79 ERA and 1.86 WHIP. However, he has collected 21 strikeouts and allowed only five walks, and his tjStuff+ pitch profile has been impressive overall.
Four of his five pitches have had a tjStuff+ over 100 (his four-seamer is only one point below that threshold). Furthermore, he has sported two pitches with grades over 60 (changeup and cutter) and two over 50 (four-seamer and slider). On a stuff end, Ragans has proven to be more than ready for the upcoming 2025 season.
For those Royals fans who are still apprehensive about his mediocre performance in the Cactus League, he’s been better this spring than last. In 2024 Spring Training, he posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in five starters and 17.1 IP.
It didn’t seem to affect him at all in 2024. Thus, I don’t think Royals fans have to worry either in 2025.
Jac Caglianone Among Latest Roster Cuts
On St. Patrick’s Day, the Royals announced their latest string of roster cuts, and super-prospect Caglianone was among those on the list.
Gavin Cross, Cam Devanney, and John Rave all had solid Spring Training campaigns and could be in the mix to make the Royals roster sometime during the 2025 season. However, Cags stood out the most this spring among non-roster invitees thanks to his sensational numbers at the plate.
While it would’ve been fun to see an Opening Day lineup with Cags and Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals must consider the long-term regarding his development, especially since he’s the most heralded Royals prospect since Witt.
The former Florida Gator hasn’t played above High-A ball yet, which even Bobby did in 2021 before making his Opening Day Royals debut in 2022. Furthermore, there isn’t a clear spot for Cags to play every day, especially with Vinnie Pasquantino at first base and Salvador Perez needing time at DH to preserve his health and effectiveness defensively behind the plate. Cags needs to be playing every day, and he’s more likely to do that in Northwest Arkansas or Omaha than Kansas City this season.
Cags will be up sooner than we think. At the beginning of Spring Training, I figured 2026 was the soonest we would see him up. However, after his progress in Arizona, I think there’s a shot for him to make his MLB debut in 2025, albeit at the end of the season.
Alex Gordon Inducted Into the Royals Hall of Fame
After Bo Jackson was inducted last year and Ned Yost the season before, Gordo was announced as the latest inductee to the Royals Hall of Fame.
The Royals produced a creative video series to announce the legendary Royals left fielder, with multiple parts being shared before the final video (which ultimately revealed Gordo as this year’s inductee). Gordo’s induction ceremony will occur on Friday, June 13th, at Kauffman Stadium against the Athletics.
The decision to induct Gordo is unsurprising, even in his first year of eligibility.
Gordo’s 34.8 bWAR ranks 9th all-time of Royals players, ahead of other Royals Hall of Famers such as Jackson, Hal McRae, Dennis Leonard, Mike Sweeney, and John Mayberry. He also collected eight Gold Gloves in his career, with four straight coming at the end of his career. While he struggled a bit toward the end of his career offensively, he still prodfuced a career wRC+ of 102 and had 190 home runs and 113 stolen bases in 1,753 games with the Royals.
Additionally, he achieved one of the greatest moments in Kauffman Stadium history, a game-tying home run in game one of the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets.
Gordo truly is the epitome of a Royals Hall of Famer.
He grew up in nearby Lincoln, Nebraska, went to the University of Nebraska (leading the Cornhusker to a CWS berth), was a top draft pick, and was a productive player who spent his entire career in Kansas City. He certainly had the opportunity to go to a bigger market team after the 2015 season when he became a free agent. However, he stayed with the Royals and ended up having a stellar and memorable career in Kansas City, even though he didn’t get a chance to have a “farewell” tour in 2020 due to the pandemic.
It should be a packed house at the K on June 13th for someone who bleeds Royal Blue.
Photo Credit: Jason Hanna / Kansas City Royals