SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals manager Mike Matheny said it best earlier this week when talking about his club’s need to stay prepared and ready for anything to happen this spring. Whether it be through trades or signings or injuries, there were things that could “radically” change the roster with Opening Day just four weeks away.

How about adding a future Hall of Famer to the mix?

The Royals signed right-handed starter Zack Greinke to a one-year, $13 million deal on Wednesday, and he participated in his first day of Spring Training with the Royals on Thursday. The player reaction to Greinke and the Royals’ trade for reliever Amir Garrett on Wednesday were overwhelmingly positive.

“It makes us better for sure,” Whit Merrifield said. “Definitely makes us better.”

• Greinke: KC 'was my No. 1 choice'

Merrifield said he was fired up to hear about the Greinke signing, knowing the pitcher’s track record and what he means to Kansas City as a former American League Cy Young Award winner.

“Anytime you can make the roster seem better, it’s obviously a welcomed thing, especially when you get a legend like Zack coming into the clubhouse,” Merrifield said. “We’re excited to have him. I know Kansas City is excited for him to be back.”

Greinke’s new locker is on the pitchers’ side of the Royals’ spring clubhouse and in the corner with Kansas City’s young starters. It's a group that Greinke said he was hoping to help this year by mentoring and leading by example.

Those starters welcome the chance to learn something from one of the greats.

“He defines the word 'pitcher,'” Brady Singer said. “It’s unbelievable. He’s one of the best pitchers of our generation, if not of all time. I’m excited to just learn how to really pitch, how he made it this far in the game, and then all the other things that come with it to have a career like that. We’re all going to be better for it.”

Singer and Jackson Kowar both crossed paths with Greinke when the two were pitching for the University of Florida. Greinke stopped by a few times to work out and see head baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan, who was the Clemson pitching coach when Greinke committed there before the Royals drafted him in 2002. Singer and Kowar both watched intently from afar -- and now they’re sitting a few feet from him in the clubhouse.

“I don’t think anyone knows the game better than Zack Greinke,” Kowar said. “You think all of us are interested to talk to him and watch him work, because in my opinion, he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It’s not too often you get to sit across from someone like that. It’ll be fun to just be around him, and hopefully at some point start picking his brain a little bit.

“I think it’s hard not to be excited when you get a Hall of Famer in your clubhouse.”

Cactus League schedule opens Friday
With right-handed starter Jon Heasley on the mound to kick off the Royals’ spring slate of games Friday afternoon against the Rangers at Surprise Stadium, fans should expect to see a slew of everyday position players in the lineup.

Matheny hinted Thursday morning that he’s going to get several regular players at-bats at the beginning of Friday’s game, and that should include Merrifield, Salvador Perez, Adalberto Mondesi, Hunter Dozier and Nicky Lopez.

It could even include newly anointed No. 1 MLB prospect Bobby Witt Jr., who has been taking reps at third base with the Royals’ Major League infield this week. No names were given away on Thursday, though.

• Why Bobby Witt Jr. won out as baseball's top prospect

“I’m ready,” Matheny said. “But I've been here since early February. These guys just got here. So it seems quick. But I’m happy with where the guys are, and I’m excited to put out a good lineup.

“I think you guys are going to enjoy the lineup.”

Watch Royals games this spring
Six Spring Training games will be televised this spring on Bally Sports Kansas City, starting Sunday when the Royals host the D-backs at 3:05 p.m. CT. The productions will feature Royals announcers Ryan Lefebvre, Rex Hudler, Steve Physioc, Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery, and telecasts will also stream on the Bally Sports app and BallySports.com.

Here is the full list of the Royals’ televised Cactus League games, with all times Central:

• March 20 vs. D-backs, 3:05 p.m.
• March 21 at Angels, 3:10 p.m. (shared feed with Bally Sports West)
• March 22 vs. Athletics, 3:05 p.m.
• March 25 vs. Rangers, 3:05 p.m.
• March 26 vs. Dodgers, 8:05 p.m.
• April 5 at Brewers, 2:10 p.m. (shared feed with Bally Sports Wisconsin)

All of these games are also available on MLB.TV, with the March 20, 21 and 22 games available for free.