Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Per the team, the Kansas City Royals have assigned LHP Noah Cameron, RHP Eric Cerantola, and outfielder Tyler Gentry to minor league camp and optioned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. The Royals have also assigned RHP Anthony Simonelli, RHP Junior Fernandez, and catcher Kyle Hayes to minor league camp. Kansas City is trimming down the roster, and at 52 players in Major League camp, there are still some cuts to make before opening day. Cameron, 25, pitched to a 3.60 ERA across ten innings of work in spring training. He has done well on the bump throughout his minor league career -- registering a sub-3.00 ERA (2.32) as recently as last season with Omaha. While he won't be on the opening-day roster, Cameron has a good chance of making his way to the big leagues at some point in 2025.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (Achilles) will be back in action on Sunday. The speedy outfielder has been sidelined lately due to Achilles tightness. The team will ease him back into action by letting him play three innings. The expectation is that Blanco will slowly progress into playing full games again and should be fine in time for Opening Day. Blanco slashed .258/.308/.392 with four home runs and 13 RBI across 88 games with the Royals last season. His best asset is his speed considering Blanco has stolen 55 bases over the last two seasons with KC.

Kansas City Royals infielder Nick Loftin (wrist) is returning to the starting lineup on Thursday evening to face the Chicago Cubs. Loftin will cover the hot corner and bat cleanup. The 26-year-old was scratched before Sunday's contest due to wrist soreness. However, seeing Loftin return to the starting nine relatively quickly suggests the injury is not very serious. Through his first taste of spring training, the Baylor product has been quite effective as he has gone 6-for-11 with three RBI. Loftin is currently competing for a depth role in the Kansas City infield. Last season, he held a .189/.282/.336 line across 57 games. If he does make the 40-man roster, he will only have value as a reserve option in AL-only leagues.

Kansas City Royals infielder Nick Loftin (illness) exited Thursday's contest early due to an illness. Loftin returned to the starting nine in this game after missing most of the week due to a wrist injury. However, it appears Loftin may need to miss additional time. Before exiting, Loftin went 0-for-2 at the plate. Through seven spring training contests, Loftin has been productive as he has gone 6-for-13 with a .462/.588/.692 slash line with three doubles and a 4:3 BB:K ratio. Last season, the 26-year-old held a .189/.282/.236 slash line across 57 MLB contests. If he can continue this strong play during camp, he could earn a depth role in the Kansas City infield.

Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Sam Long (hand) threw a bullpen session on Thursday. Long was hit by a line drive on Monday but avoided any serious injuries. While his hand was still sore, the southpaw was able to throw his first session, which was a positive sign. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team may opt to move him through a slower progression. If he faces any delays in his recovery, he could be in danger of missing Opening Day. Last season, the 29-year-old posted a solid 3.16 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP across 42 2/3 innings of relief. He tallied 44 strikeouts with one save. When healthy, he will compete for a middle relief role in the bullpen.