Royals Spring Training Bullpen Battles: Who Will Lock Down Roles

The Royals head into spring training with a familiar message: the starting lineup and rotation look mostly set. The real battles are shaping up in the bullpen.

This post digs into how the Royals are handling late-inning roles, who’s got a path to the Opening Day bullpen, and what factors—health, options, waivers, organizational depth—could shake things up.

Royals Spring Training Bullpen Outlook

The rotation’s basically locked in, so now the focus shifts to the bullpen. The late-inning plan seems pretty clear: Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez are slotted for closing duties, Matt Strahm takes on setup work and tough lefties, while John Schreiber and Nick Mears cover middle innings.

That core leaves about three spots open for a big group of veterans, depth arms, and prospects. Health and roster rules matter just as much as performance when it comes to who grabs those last bullpen seats.

Besides just pitching well, the Royals have to juggle options, 40-man roster limits, and the usual “who might break out from the minors” question. The mix of reliability and upside will drive the conversation as spring unfolds.

Closing, setup, and middle-inning roles

The team’s got some steady hands for the late innings. Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez should handle the back end, locking things down when the game’s tight.

Matt Strahm bridges the gap to those saves, especially against lefties, while John Schreiber and Nick Mears are the main choices for middle relief and high-leverage spots. With this group in place, the last three spots are up for grabs among depth arms and prospects trying to force their way in.

Contenders for the three openings

The Royals are watching a mix of power arms, lefty specialists, and versatile relievers who can swing between roles. Here’s a quick look at the main contenders and what might help them make the roster:

• Alex Lange throws hard and has a nasty knuckle-curve, plus some closing experience. But lat injuries, shaky control, and not much recent MLB time make his readiness a question mark.
• Daniel Lynch IV gives them a lefty with a decent 2025 ERA and a knack for filling gaps, though his strikeout rate isn’t ideal for long-term relief work.
• José Cuas has rare left-handed versatility. As a non-roster invitee, he’d need a 40-man spot, so adding him is a trickier decision.
• Bailey Falter and Stephen Kolek bring flexibility—Falter’s options could help him stick, while Kolek’s groundball style and ability to throw strikes keep him in the mix as a starter or reliever.
• Luinder Avila and Steven Cruz bring upside right away. Avila’s fastball and curve might speed up his move to the bullpen, while Cruz’s progress—fewer walks, a sharper slider—strengthens his case for a spot.

Young arms, upside bets, and developmental depth

There’s also a group of prospects and young arms being considered for future roles. Ryan Bergert, Mason Black, Mitch Spence, and Aaron Sanchez are in the mix as swingmen and depth.

They’ll probably start in Omaha, ready to jump in if injuries or performance issues pop up. The coaching staff will keep a close eye on their development, resilience, and ability to get outs—whether that’s missing bats or just inducing weak contact.

Veterans, injuries, and roster-rule considerations

The Royals are banking on veterans with low-risk contracts or non-roster invites this year. They hope these players can bounce back from injuries and actually contribute.

Eli Morgan, Héctor Neris, James McArthur, Eric Cerantola, and Helcris Olivárez all sit somewhere on the depth chart. Think of them as possible one-year solutions or maybe late-season call-ups, depending on how things shake out.

Injuries, option eligibility, and the whole waiver process will really shape who gets a bullpen spot on Opening Day. Some guys might just hang around the organization, waiting for their shot.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Spring training battles: The bullpen