(By MATT PIKE)
The Kansas City Royals announced today they have invited 25 players to Major League Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona, some that could be competing for a spot on the roster for the upcoming season.
Of the 25 invitees, 15 were originally drafted or signed by Kansas City: left-handed pitchers Chazz Martinez (17th round, 2022 Draft), Frank Mozzicato (1st round (7th), 2021 Draft) and Hunter Patteson (5th round, 2022 Draft); right-handed pitchers A.J. Causey (5th round, 2024 Draft), Dennis Colleran (7th round, 2024 Draft) and Shane Panzini (4th round, 2021 Draft), catchers Canyon Brown (9th Round, 2024 Draft), Omar Hernández (signed as IFA, 2018), Blake Mitchell (1st round (8th), 2023 Draft), Ramón Ramírez (signed as IFA, 2023) and Luca Tresh (17th round, 2021 Draft), infielders Daniel Vázquez (signed as IFA, 2021) and Peyton Wilson (Comp. B round, 2021 Draft), and outfielders Gavin Cross (1st round (9th), 2022 Draft) and Carson Roccaforte (Comp. B round, 2023 Draft).
There are also nine invitees who are new to the Royals, including pitchers Héctor Neris, Aaron Sanchez, and Helcris Olivárez, along with catchers Jorge Alfaro and Elih Marrero and infielders Connor Kaiser, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas and Abraham Toro.
Right-handed pitcher Jose Cuas, who pitched for Kansas City from 2022-23, returns to the Royals after playing for the Cubs and Blue Jays. Last year, he split the season between minor league affiliates of the Phillies and Braves. 2026 marks the first invite to Major League Spring Training for 11 homegrown players, including Brown, Causey, Colleran, Martinez, Mozzicato, Panzini, Patteson, Ramírez, Roccaforte, Vázquez and Wilson.
The first workout for Royals pitchers and catchers is Wednesday, Feb. 11. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16. You can hear select Royals Spring Training games on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) with the first airing on February 20th against the Texas Rangers at 2pm.
(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)
