3 KC Royals pitchers who must have stellar spring training

The anticipation is building for Kansas City Royals fans as the countdown to spring training nears its end. With pitchers and catchers set to report on February 12, the return of baseball is finally within reach. While the Royals kicked off the month with the Royals Rally — a post-pandemic tradition signaling the start of a new season — nothing makes Opening Day feel more tangible than seeing players back on the diamond.

In less than three weeks, the Royals will be playing a competitive baseball game. Let that sink in for a moment.

Spring training offers something for every kind of fan. For some, it’s simply the joy of hearing the crack of the bat again. For others, it’s the excitement of seeing top prospects share the field with established big-leaguers. But once the initial buzz wears off and daily action becomes routine, the real intrigue begins — evaluating players fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

With that in mind, here are some pitchers worth keeping a close eye on in Arizona. Their performance over the next month could dictate how the Royals’ pitching staff takes shape heading into the 2025 season.

James McArthur, RHP

Remember when James McArthur was getting the ambiance closer treatment in Kauffman Stadium? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

McArthur’s rise to prominence in 2023 was electric. He closed out the year as Kansas City’s September/October Pitcher of the Month, cementing himself as a legitimate ninth-inning option heading into 2024. Slotted alongside veterans Will Smith and Chris Stratton, McArthur looked poised to hold down high-leverage opportunities. Unfortunately, both Smith and Stratton struggled, and McArthur caught the same bug.

His counting stats weren’t disastrous — he logged a career-high 56 2/3 innings, recorded five wins, and led the team with 18 saves. But his seven blown saves were tied for the seventh-most in MLB, and he set career worsts in ERA, batting average allowed, and home runs surrendered. The inconsistency was glaring. At times, McArthur was dominant, like during his August 1 to September 6 stretch when he looked like an elite late-game arm. But then there were meltdowns — his September 9 outing in Yankee Stadium being a prime example — where he appeared completely overwhelmed.

Now, 2025 offers a reset. McArthur didn’t see postseason action after a right elbow sprain ended his season prematurely on September 16, and there are no longer firm expectations for him in the closer role — or even on the Opening Day roster. FanGraphs currently projects the 27-year-old to start the season in Triple-A, but a strong spring could change that equation.

The Royals’ bullpen is beginning to take shape, with five relievers considered near-locks for the 26-man roster, including free-agent addition Carlos Estévez. That leaves just three spots for roughly 11 candidates. McArthur clearly had Quatraro’s trust at times in 2024, but regaining it will require consistency in Arizona. If he can recapture the dominance he flashed in late 2023, he might just push his way back into the Royals’ bullpen mix.

Sam Long, LHP

First off, if Royals fans haven't heard much from pitcher Sam Long or know much about the player, check out his Refreshing Conversation with broadcaster Jake Eisenberg from this past season. Eisenberg is a quality interviewer, and the pair chowing down on some ballpark food makes for a great off-season viewing.

Back to baseball.

Long was a relatively under-the-radar signing when the Royals picked him up as a minor-league free agent on December 10, 2023. Coming off a so-so season with the Oakland Athletics, he seemed like nothing more than camp depth. By the time the dust settled, though, Long was the only minor-league free agent the Royals signed who made their postseason roster.

Long was nails when he started the season in Triple-A Omaha. He made 16 appearances for the Storm Chasers, only allowing three earned runs in 20 2/3 innings of work. Long was a part of an impressive early-season relief trio, comprised of himself, Evan Sisk, and Walter Pennington. That performance earned him a promotion to Kansas City on May 20, and from there, he didn’t look back. Long made 43 appearances for the Royals, finishing with one save and 32 scoreless outings.

Had his season ended on August 30, he might have been the Royals’ clear-cut top lefty option out of the bullpen. Up until that point, he had a stellar 2.30 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 31 1/3 innings. But September proved to be a rough landing — he allowed seven runs in his final 11 1/3 innings, struggling at a time when the Royals needed late-game stability.

That inconsistency carried into the postseason. Long walked twice as many batters as he struck out, with his most costly moment coming in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees. A walk to Alex Verdugo set up the game-tying run, a small but frustrating contribution to Kansas City’s early playoff exit.

Now, as he heads into spring training, Long is no longer a feel-good underdog story — he’s a major leaguer fighting to keep his role as the Royals’ top left-handed bullpen option. His primary competition is Angel Zerpa, while Daniel Lynch IV or Kris Bubic could also factor into bullpen decisions if they don’t land rotation spots. Additionally, his former Omaha teammate Sisk earned a 40-man roster spot this offseason, and the Royals could give the 2024 International League All-Star a long look in camp.

Long doesn’t need to pile up strikeouts or pitch every day to prove his worth — he just needs to show that he can replicate last summer’s success. If he looks sharp early, both in terms of stuff and conditioning, his spot should be secure. But if he struggles, the Royals have other lefty options ready to make their case. Arizona will be crucial in determining where Long stands in Kansas City's bullpen hierarchy for 2025.

Alec Marsh, RHP

Alec Marsh finds himself in a familiar spot entering spring training — fighting for a role on the Royals' pitching staff. Last year, he won the final rotation spot over veteran innings eater Jordan Lyles and quickly justified the decision. Through his first eight starts, Marsh posted a 4-1 record with a 2.72 ERA, holding opponents to a .604 OPS. His strong early performance was a key reason why Kansas City's rotation got off to such a dominant start in 2024.

Unfortunately, that success didn’t last. Marsh suffered a nasty right elbow contusion in his April 24 start, causing him to miss 14 games. After returning to the mound, he struggled mightily. From May 21 to July 29, he went 4-6 with a bloated 6.02 ERA, allowing an .802 OPS. He flashed his upside with a seven-inning, one-hit gem against the Yankees on June 13, but that was an outlier among a stretch of inconsistent outings.

As Kansas City stayed on the fringes of the postseason race, the team acquired veteran Michael Lorenzen from the Texas Rangers, bumping Marsh from the rotation and back to Triple-A Omaha. Down in the minors, he made just five starts, but they were impressive — he allowed only three earned runs across 19 innings. It was clear the Royals still viewed him as a starting option, choosing to keep him stretched out rather than converting him into a bullpen piece. That decision paid off when Lorenzen suffered a hamstring injury, forcing Kansas City to call Marsh back up.

Marsh looked like his better self to close out the 2024 season. Over six starts from late August through the end of the season, he posted a 3.90 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. His .813 OPS against wasn’t ideal, but he avoided blow-up outings and finished the season on a high note, earning a winning decision over the Atlanta Braves on September 29. Despite that, he didn’t make an appearance in the postseason, sitting in the bullpen as a depth option.

The question for 2025 is where exactly Marsh fits. He has a deep enough arsenal to profile as a starter, much like veterans Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Lorenzen. But inconsistency has kept him from solidifying that role. With the Royals bringing Lorenzen back and Kris Bubic in the mix for the fifth rotation spot, Marsh could find himself as the odd man out again. If that happens, do the Royals use him in long relief, or send him back to Omaha to stay stretched out as a starter?

Fans should watch for Marsh's pitch selection in spring training action for a possible hint to his 2025 plans. A focus on his fastball/slider combination could signal a bullpen shift, while still deploying more secondary pitches should say he is staying as a starter, whether that is in Kansas City or in Omaha.

Fans should keep an eye on Marsh’s pitch usage in spring training. If he leans heavily on his fastball/slider combination, it could hint at a shift toward the bullpen. If he continues mixing in his full arsenal, it’s a sign the Royals still view him as a rotation option — whether in Kansas City or Omaha. Spring training will go a long way in determining Marsh’s role for 2025.