3 key storylines for the Royals this spring

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers' Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Hello from sunny Arizona, where the sights and sounds of baseball are percolating around the Royals’ Spring Training complex.

After a long -- but busy -- winter, we made it back to baseball. And over the next six weeks, we’ll learn more about the Royals’ newcomers, the returners, the roster as a whole, and we’ll watch competition play out for those 26 spots ahead of Opening Day on March 28 in Kansas City.

Here are three storylines to watch this spring:

How far can the new additions take them?

The Royals were busy this offseason, adding new starters, new relievers and new hitters. In total, there are 10 new faces on the 40-man roster showing up to Spring Training. On paper, the roster certainly looks improved, as the Royals focused on adding proven winners. That’s especially true for the pitching staff, with an emphasis on strike-throwing -- an area that desperately needs to be improved from 2023.

But the Royals are coming off a 106-loss season. A lot has to go right for them to go from the bottom of the AL Central to the top, where they’re aiming. The newcomers have to perform, and the returners have to improve.

“The core that was on the team last year, for them to continue to improve is really going to dictate how successful this team is going to be,” general manager J.J. Picollo said earlier this month. “Adding one or two players isn’t going to swing the needle to go from 50-some wins to 80-some wins. It needs to be everybody who’s involved, and that core is a big part of it.”

Finally, after lots of talk, now is the time to see it play out.

“It’s been an exciting offseason,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s exciting to have that official opening and get everybody out there and the team together. I know the guys we added are excited to be here, and that draws the energy out of the guys that have been here before.”

Vinnie Pasquantino’s return to the lineup

It’s been eight months since Pasquantino appeared in the Royals’ lineup after right shoulder surgery in June last year sidelined him the rest of the year. He’s pumped to get back on the field again -- and the Royals are just as excited to have him there.

The Royals lengthened their lineup by adding power-hitting outfielder Hunter Renfroe this offseason, as well as veteran utility players Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson , but the biggest boost might come from Pasquantino’s return. For the first time in a couple of years, he’s fully healthy without any limitations to his shoulder, and his motivation to help the team might be greater than ever because he had to watch from the dugout for the final 100 games of 2023.

“I keep reminding myself, as well as anybody who wants to listen, that Vinnie being back is like having a new player as well,” Picollo said. “That guy hits in the middle of our lineup and is arguably one of our best hitters. Having him back is big.”

In 61 games last year, Pasquantino slashed .247/.324/.437 with nine homers and a 103 wRC+. He had just an 11.9% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate. He offers the Royals power, patience -- and protection for Bobby Witt Jr. and others in the middle of the lineup.

The fifth starter spot and a crowded bullpen

It might seem like the Royals’ rotation is set after the moves they made this offseason, bringing in Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo to lead the starters, followed by Cole Ragans, Brady Singer and Jordan Lyles. But they still want to find innings for Daniel Lynch IV, Angel Zerpa, Alec Marsh and others building up as starters this spring.

Those innings certainly could come right at the start of the season if there are injuries that call on the Royals’ depth or if any of those pitchers have a good spring to force their way into the rotation.

They could also win a spot in what is already a crowded bullpen. Will Smith, Chris Stratton and Nick Anderson will make up the back end of the ‘pen, but there is real competition for those middle innings and depth created because of the newcomers. How it all shakes out based on performance and injury will be something to watch over the next six weeks.