'This guy's a force': Soler belts another HR

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- For the second time in as many days, Jorge Soler hit a ball so high into the air that some were wondering whether it would ever land.

Both did, eventually -- over the left-field wall.

Soler has looked and felt more comfortable at the plate over the past two days as he finds his rhythm early in Cactus League action. In Wednesday’s 9-3 win over the Reds at Surprise Stadium, Soler cranked an inside fastball from Reds starter Michael Lorenzen that went an estimated 417 feet.

“I don’t know how he hit that ball,” Lorenzen said. “I don’t even think it was a strike."

Soler also worked a walk Wednesday and he has been able to get his timing down with more at-bats this spring. His homer was the first in what turned into a home run derby for the Royals, who had five different players homer on a windy day in Surprise. There hasn’t been an estimated launch angle on either of Soler’s home runs this spring, but they’ve been moonshots.

“I love watching him hit homers,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “I can do that all the time. I actually love watching him walk, too. He does that with more flair than maybe anyone in the league. He’s just a special talent. … Soler leads the pack, and it was good to see him get that timing a little closer.”

Soler is healthy in 2021 after an oblique strain forced him to miss time last season, when he hit just eight home runs in 43 games. This came after a 2019 in which he hit an American League-leading 48 home runs. He feels better this year and is looking forward to a full season of games.

“Definitely a different season because of the 60 games,” Soler said Wednesday through interpreter Luis Perez. “It was quite difficult to get ramped up that quick for the shortened season. … I worked hard over the offseason to get in shape.”

And what does a healthy Soler do to the Royals’ lineup?

“This guy’s a force,” Matheny said. “Every time he walks in there, you know you may see something that you haven’t quite seen before. It’s unique. What he brings is unique. Just how much power he has, and when he gets into one, what it looks like. And the fact that he doesn’t chase outside the zone that much. He does take his walks. You’ve got some depth behind him on guys that can do some damage as well.

“It’s starting to make some people think. But he’s one they’ve got earmarked -- don’t let this guy hurt you. You try to get him in that place where he just gets his rhythm. We saw for a little bit last year, and we’re starting to see it already this spring.”

Loftin a “bright spot” Wednesday

Nick Loftin, the Royals’ Competitive Balance Draft pick last year (No. 32 overall), put his talent on display when he came in at shortstop Wednesday, flashing solid defense and knocking an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning. He also walked in the bottom of the seventh and went first to third on a single to right field, displaying some speed around the bases.

The 22-year-old charged a soft grounder in the top of the fourth inning and was able to make a clean throw to first base that beat out a speedy Nick Senzel. Then Loftin was able to cover third on a ground ball, helping to catch Aristides Aquino in a rundown.

“He was a bright spot for us today,” Matheny said. “Just a really good display. You see the high Draft pick, you hear about Nick Loftin being picked for us, and you want to see some of those skill sets. He put them on display today.”

Loftin is the Royals’ No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and possesses one of the highest floors out of the collegiate players selected in last year’s Draft after showing that he can contribute in all phases of the game at Baylor University. He’s a contact hitter that the Royals can see making an impact in their lineup one day, and he’s more steady than flashy at shortstop, relying more on his instincts than his pure speed. All of that made him a solid Draft pick for Kansas City. And he’s been able to show why this spring.

Worth noting

• Starter Brad Keller didn’t allow an earned run in 3 1/3 innings Wednesday, striking out three and walking two in his second outing of the spring. His two-seam fastball kept hitters off balance, and he was able to mix in his developing changeup, too.

• Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Padres was the Royals’ first telecast of the spring on Fox Sports Kansas City -- and the most-watched Royals Spring Training telecast in nine years, according to the network, dating back to March 30, 2012. It earned a 2.3 household rating, according to Nielsen.