Analyzing the KC Royals' bullpen options at this point in spring training

As spring training gains momentum, the Kansas City Royals find themselves assessing a bullpen that carries both promise and uncertainty. Last season’s struggles nearly derailed their campaign, but a late-season resurgence, fueled by the trade deadline acquisition of Lucas Erceg, helped turn things around. With Erceg at the helm, the Royals’ bullpen posted an impressive 2.77 ERA in September and an even sharper 2.16 ERA in the postseason, reigniting hope for 2025.

Now, as camp unfolds, fans are wondering if this newly retooled group can replicate its late-season dominance over a full season. With Opening Day just over two weeks away, the Royals are slowly narrowing down their list of relievers to ensure that happens — so which hurlers remain in contention for a bullpen spot in 2025?

Is there a battle for the KC Royals' closer role?

Erceg’s rise to prominence in 2024, highlighted by his 14 saves to close out the season, made him the frontrunner for the closer role in 2025. However, the Royals threw a curveball in early February when they signed veteran reliever Carlos Estévez. With 82 career saves under his belt, including 26 last season with the Phillies and 31 with the Angels in 2023, Estévez brings proven experience to the bullpen.

The Estévez signing naturally raised questions about Erceg’s role, hinting at a potential battle for the closer position. However, through four spring training innings, Erceg’s performance has been a mixed bag. He has allowed four hits and three earned runs while striking out five, showing flashes of dominance but leaving room for improvement. Encouragingly, he has yet to issue a walk, indicating solid control.

Meanwhile, Estévez has yet to debut this spring as he rehabs from a back issue. Despite the uncertainty, the Royals have reassured Erceg that his role remains vital, suggesting a potential closer-by-committee approach with Estévez heading into the regular season.

Beyond Erceg and Estévez, several other arms are shaping the Royals’ bullpen outlook.

Hunter Harvey

Acquired at last year’s trade deadline, Harvey’s tenure in Kansas City got off to a rocky start as he managed just 5 2/3 innings before landing on the injured list. Now healthy, he’s showing signs of a strong return, pitching four innings while striking out three and allowing just one hit and one run.

Harvey was a valuable bullpen arm for the Nationals, posting a sub-3.00 ERA in both 2022 and 2023. While he wasn’t as sharp in 2024, he still provided a much-needed upgrade for the Royals. If he can rediscover his previous dominance, Harvey could become a key late-inning weapon.

Angel Zerpa

One of the most exciting developments this spring has been the emergence of 25-year-old Angel Zerpa. Known for his high-velocity sinker — which generated an impressive 59.2% ground-ball rate in 2024 — Zerpa has taken his game to another level. The left-hander has been clocked as high as 99 mph on the radar gun, leaving pitching coach Brian Sweeney impressed. Through four appearances, he has allowed just one hit while striking out five, making a compelling case for a more prominent role in the bullpen.

Sam Long

After a strong showing last year, Long was expected to be a key contributor in the bullpen. However, his spring training has been rough. In just 1.2 innings, he has allowed two home runs, three runs, and four hits while failing to record a strikeout. That said, pitchers often tweak their arsenals in spring training, and Long still projects to break camp with the team.

John Schreiber

After joining the Royals last spring, Schreiber posted a respectable 3.66 ERA over 51.2 innings. While not a strikeout specialist, he adjusted his pitch mix, relying more heavily on his cutter and sinker alongside his fastball and sweeper. This change helped him induce more groundballs — an area he struggled with in 2023. He’s locked into a bullpen role and could be a stabilizing force in the middle innings.

Chris Stratton

Owed $4.5 million in 2025, Stratton will almost certainly begin the season with the Royals despite a rough 5.55 ERA campaign last year. He struck out 44 batters over 58 innings but struggled with consistency, but given his 4.53 career ERA and strong performances in 2022 and 2023, the Royals are hopeful he can bounce back.

However, Stratton doesn’t offer much help in improving the team’s strikeout rate, which ranked third-worst in MLB last season (20.8%). His veteran presence could be valuable, but his effectiveness remains a question mark. Expect a very short leash on Stratton if he's still on the roster come Opening Day.

The complicated and crowded competition for final bullpen spots

With the Royals likely to carry eight relievers on the Opening Day roster, competition for the final spots remains fierce. Kris Bubic, Alec Marsh, Daniel Lynch IV, and Jonathan Bowlan are all in the mix, with Bowlan already confirmed to start the year as a reliever.

• Kris Bubic – Likely has the inside track for the fifth starter role, but he’s returning from Tommy John surgery and could be on an innings limit to start the season. If he doesn’t crack the rotation, a bullpen role remains a possibility.

• Daniel Lynch IV – Having a strong spring, Lynch has a proven bullpen track record. If he doesn’t secure a rotation spot, a relief role seems likely.

• Alec Marsh – Still fighting for a roster spot, coupled with injury concerns make it unlikely he’ll start the year on the Opening Day roster.

• Carlos Hernández – Solid over 30 innings last season, Hernández has long battled injuries and inconsistency. With no minor league options remaining in 2025, he’ll need to make a strong case to earn a bullpen spot.

The Royals bullpen picture is beginning to take shape, but many questions remain. Will Erceg and Estévez form a dominant back-end duo, or will the Royals stick to a committee approach? Can Harvey and Zerpa live up to expectations? Will Stratton bounce back?

With so many arms in play, the coming weeks will play a huge role in determining how Kansas City’s relief corps will look when the team breaks camp.