KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have invited 23 players to Major League Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz. Among the invitees are 10 pitchers, six catchers, five infielders and two outfielders.
Of the 23 invitees, 15 were originally signed or drafted by Kansas City: left-handed pitchers Austin Cox and Tyson Guerrero; right-handed pitchers Ben Kudrna (koo-dur-nuh), Anthony Simonelli and Steven Zobac; catchers Kyle Hayes, Omar Hernández, Carter Jensen, Blake Mitchell and Luca Tresh; infielders Jac Caglianone (cag-lee-ohn), Tyler Tolbert and Javier Vaz (rhymes with jazz) and outfielders Gavin Cross and John Rave.
There are five invitees who are returning to the organization in 2025, including right-handed pitchers Chandler Champlain, Andrew Hoffmann and Beck Way, catcher Brian O’Keefe and infielder Cam Devanney (duh-VAY-nee).
Super utility player Cavan Biggio signed with Kansas City on Sunday and brings six Major League seasons of experience with him. He debuted with Toronto in 2019 and remained with them into 2024 before making appearances with the Dodgers and Braves to end the season. He is the son of Hall of Fame catcher/infielder Craig Biggio.
Right-handed pitcher Taylor Clarke, who pitched for Kansas City from 2022-23, returns to the Royals after spending 2024 in the Brewers organization. There have been 34 players in Royals history to appear in at least 1 game, leave the organization and return to play in at least 1 game for the team, most recently done by left-handed pitcher Will Smith (2012-13, 2024).
Right-handed pitcher Junior Fernández joins the Royals following big league stints with St. Louis (2019-22) and Pittsburgh (2022). He spent last season in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
2025 marks the first invitation to Major League Spring Training for 11 players, including Guerrero, Hoffmann, Kudrna, Simonelli, Zobac, Hayes, Hernández, Mitchell, Caglianone, Vaz and Cross, with all but Hoffmann being homegrown.
Kansas City’s 63-man Spring Training roster is attached.
The first workout for Royals pitchers and catchers is Wednesday, Feb. 12. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 17.
