KC Royals: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training

Baseball is back… kind of. On Tuesday, the KC Royals’ pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise, AZ for spring training!

Don’t worry, the long wait without seeing your favorite players is almost over. For the KC Royals, pitchers and catchers will report to spring training today!

The Kansas City takeover in Surprise, AZ is officially underway. The likes of Salvador Perez, Brad Keller, Danny Duffy and others are in the southwest as they prepare for the 2020 season. Those groups officially hold their first workout on Wednesday.

Full-squad workouts begin on Monday, Feb. 17. While there are still some questions left unanswered as spring training approaches, it will be a pleasant sight to simply read about how the team is progressing. An 18th season in the Cactus League begins just a few days afterward, as the good guys host the Texans Rangers at Surprise Stadium on Feb. 21.

Games will last throughout this month and into March. Spring games conclude for the Royals on March 21. The regular season kicks off on March 26 against the Chicago White Sox, then the team travels to Detroit for a brief series with another division rival: the Tigers.

April 2 is the date you want to be circled on your calendar. Kansas City plays its home opener at 3:05 p.m. Kauffman Stadium time against the Seattle Mariners. That’s when the party really starts and the ball gets rolling.

Back to spring training, though. A brief story, if you don’t mind. When I was a freshman at Arizona State University, I went to a Royals spring training game. This would’ve been February of 2018. It was actually for a university-assigned project — I was doing an enterprise story on three minor league players. Chase Vallot, Ryan O’Hearn and Nicky Lopez.

While some obstacles came up and we had to conduct interviews via phone instead of in-person, attending the game was more than just going and watching baseball. It was an experience. A more intimate setting than Kauffman Stadium. The ability to walk freely and get to pretty much wherever you wanted in the park in five minutes or less. Players and coaches alike signed autographs and acted as if fans were old friends. It was a ton of fun.

With all of that being said, I highly recommend you go check out a spring training game this year if you can. It’s something you won’t forget. Not to mention, the weather in Arizona will be a lot better than what we’ve had in Kansas. Here’s to the KC Royals having a spring to remember.