Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (Achilles) has resumed on-field baseball activities and should be able to get back into a spring game soon, although it will likely be a minor-league game first. Blanco was scratched from a Cactus League game at the end of February with an Achilles injury, but X-rays came back negative and he's nearing a return to game action at spring training. The 31-year-old veteran should have the time he needs to get ready for Opening Day in late March. Blanco is merely competing for a roster spot as a reserve outfielder in camp after slashing .258/.308/.392 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 31 stolen bases and 37 runs scored in 88 games in 2024. He has swiped 55 bases the last two years, giving him some appeal in AL-only and deep-mixed leagues, but Blanco has primarily served as a late-game defensive replacement and pinch-runner.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Kyle Wright (hamstring) has continued his throwing progression in camp and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. Wright, who is trying to make a return after right-shoulder surgery, suffered a mild right-hamstring strain late last month, which has put him behind the rest of the pitchers at spring training. Especially due to the fact that he didn't pitch at all last year while rehabbing his shoulder, the 29-year-old is now considered a long shot to win a spot in KC's Opening Day starting rotation, let alone be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. The Royals are merely hoping Wright can discover some of the magic he had with the Atlanta Braves in 2022, when he posted a 3.19 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 174:53 K:BB in 180 1/3 innings. Even if Wright gets past his hamstring and shoulder injuries and joins the Royals' rotation at some point this year, he'll be on a strict innings limit that will cap his fantasy upside.

Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh (shoulder) is set to face live hitters for the first time on Sunday. The 26-year-old has been able to complete several bullpen sessions and will now take the next step in his recovery plan. Marsh was battling tightness in his shoulder during the offseason, which delayed him at the start of camp. However, it appears the 26-year-old is nearing his return to game action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Last season, Marsh logged a career-high 129 innings with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He tallied 123 punchouts with a strong 7.1 percent walk rate. However, he generated a high 4.97 xERA with a 40.9 percent hard-hit rate, which were both well below the average marks. When healthy, he will likely compete alongside Kris Bubic for the final spot in the starting rotation.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (eye) has bruising below his eye but is "all good" and set to return to the starting nine on Friday. Perez exited Wednesday's contest early due to the laceration. However, the veteran backstop avoided a significant injury and will not miss any time. The 34-year-old was also able to practice on Thursday. Last season, Perez posted a .271/.330/.456 slash line with 27 long balls. He generated an elite .360 xwOBA and a .522 xSLG which placed him in the 92nd and 95th percentile respectively. He also generated an above-average 12.2 percent barrel rate and a 44.8 percent ard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should expect Perez to serve as the everyday catcher in the Kansas City and will see occasional starts at first base. He is a strong target when looking for RBI behind the dish as he will bat behind Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jonathan India.

Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh (shoulder) recently completed a successful bullpen session. Marsh has been dealing with tightness in his shoulder during the early part of camp. The 26-year-old has been able to throw several bullpens but has yet to make his spring training debut. Last season, Marsh was deployed primarily out of the rotation and held a 4.53 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP across 129 innings of work. He tallied 123 punchouts with a modest 7.1 percent walk rate. However, he generated a high 4,97 xERA with a .264 xBA, which placed him in the 10th and 15th percentiles among qualified pitchers. Marsh also generated groundballs at a low 38.8 percent rate. When Marsh is eventually cleared to return to games, he should compete alongside Kris Bubic for the final spot in the rotation. However, given his missed time, Bubic has been viewed as a leading candidate.