Kansas City Royals Reymond Fuentes Battling Health Issues

When looking at candidates to take over in right field for the Kansas City Royals, it is easy to overlook Reymond Fuentes. However, personal health concerns that are keeping him out of the Caribbean Series may have put him further behind in the running.

Chances are, whoever the Kansas City Royals send out in right field for the 2016 season will be a place holder. If everything goes according to plan, Bubba Starling will be ready to contribute to the Royals either later this season or at the start of the 2017 campaign. All that Kansas City really needs is some level of competence for a season before the reins are likely handed over to Starling.

As such, Jarrod Dyson has been considered the front runner for the position. A speedster who can play solid defense, it is anticipated that Dyson will be, at worst, in a platoon with Paulo Orlando in right to keep the seat warm for Starling. However, Dyson will need to fend off a host of candidates for the position during Spring Training.

Reymond Fuentes could be one of these candidates. Another one of the Royals seemingly never ending list of outfielders with excellent speed and solid contact skills, Fuentes posted a .308/.360/.422 batting line with Omaha last season, stealing 29 bases while hitting a career high nine home runs. More of a doubles hitter than a real power threat, Fuentes has a career .281/.349/.386 batting line with 216 stolen bases and 109 doubles in his seven years in the minors.

More from KC Royals News

• KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: 3 Tampa Bay pitchers
• Grading the 2022 KC Royals: The $25 million man
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Expectations met
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 3 update

Already on the Kansas City Royals 40 man roster, Fuentes would appear to be in a position to compete for the starting right field position. Even if he would be a longshot, his minor league production would appear to make him a candidate for, at worst, the Royals fifth outfield spot. However, personal health problems that are forcing him to miss the Caribbean Series may be enough to end his chances at such a role before they even had a chance to begin.

While Fuentes is hopeful that these issues will not cause him to miss time during Spring Training, it is certainly a frightening situation, especially given the lack of details. Any illness or medical condition that takes around three weeks to recover from is going to be difficult, and we wish Fuentes all the best in getting healthy and ready to participate in Spring Training.

Next: Royals 'just stumbled upon' strong bullpen

Hopefully, Reymond Fuentes will be able to be healthy in time to contend for a spot on the Kansas City Royals Opening Day roster. However, for now, the important thing is for Fuentes to get healthy, and he can still possibly get that chance going forward.