3 KC Royals relief reinforcements waiting in Omaha

The KC Royals have a bullpen problem, no matter how you slice it.

We have talked ad nauseam about the offseason investment in the bullpen, which could not get much worse from 2023. The most frustrating aspect of Kansas City's success this year is the question of how well this team would perform with an average bullpen. The unit doesn't excel in any one area but rather is a bottom-ten performer in many key metrics.

The bullpen had a solid stretch this summer, but the unit's performance since July is still remarkably below average. Add in some late-inning collapses against the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals, and the unit's external outlook may have never been lower.

The KC Royals have limited options in addressing their bullpen now

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo devoted much of Kansas City's trade deadline to bolstering the bullpen. Trading for Hunter Harvey was an early move that set the tone for the Royals bullpen, while acquiring Lucas Erceg was the move that helped Kansas City the most. Erceg has been as advertised, but Harvey's health and inconsistency have kept his positive impact minimal, at best.

Kansas City cannot maintain the status quo in its relief corps and expect different results. However, with the trade deadline now behind them, their pool of potential additions is extremely limited. The likely reinforcements are coming from their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers.

If Kansas City wanted to shock fans, they could also look to their Double-A crew for help. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals sport some long-shot relievers, such as Brandon Johnson or Anderson Paulino. Several pitchers from the Royals have bypassed Triple-A to reach The Show, but these instances are rare.

For now, let's focus on some more realistic options in Triple-A. The Royals already dipped into that well Saturday when they called up Carlos Hernández, with Harvey hitting the 15-day IL. Who are the three other pitchers with paths to Kansas City, and why should the Royals consider them for reinforcements? 

RHP Steven Cruz

40-man roster? Yes
Stats since July 1, 2024: 11 G, 12 1/3 IP, 2.19 ERA, 1 SV, 31.4% K%, 11.8% BB%, 3.44 FIP

When baseball scouts hope a player can grow into their frame, the result will look something like Steven Cruz. Standing at six feet, seven inches, Cruz's mound presence is incredible. The Dominican Republic native made his MLB debut last August with some increasing control concerns. In 2024, Cruz has traded some of that raw fastball velocity for a more polished command, and I believe he is a better pitcher today than he was in 2023.

That raw fastball velocity, where he averaged 97.7 MPH in the majors last year, was Cruz's calling card. He is averaging 96.8 MPH on that pitch this year, but he is also posting career bests in walk rates and improved batted ball results. Cruz's fastball is still enough to overmatch Triple-A competition, and his slider still has a sharp break from a tough arm slot.

What sold me on Cruz was his Aug. 2 performance. He relieved Daniel Lynch IV with men on second and third with one out. Cruz proceeded to strike out the next two batters he faced and get out of the jam unscathed. Plus, he came back out for the eighth inning and pitched a clean inning. Kansas City does lack a fireman option—a role that shouldn't be necessary, but it is. While manager Matt Quatraro turns to Chris Stratton or Sam Long in that role, Cruz has the gumption to thrive in that role.

Cruz's 2023 major-league statistics may not be the prettiest (4.97 ERA, 11 BB over 12 2/3 innings), marring how fans felt about his first MLB run. But, it is easy to forget that seven of his 10 outings were scoreless, he didn't allow a home run after his debut, and he even had a four-strikeout performance against the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 13, 2023.

RHP Jonathan Bowlan

40-man roster? Yes
Stats since July 1, 2024: 9 G, 23 IP, 1.57 ERA, 22.2% K%, 3.3% BB%, 3.43 FIP

Jonathan Bowlan was the first Royals prospect I remember banging the proverbial drum for. A strong run in 2019 and 2021 had Bowlan looking like one of the better arms of a now-unstable 2018 draft class. But Tommy John surgery in 2022 hampered his overall outlook, and he hasn't been the same on the mound since. That aspect makes his recent transition to the bullpen even more interesting.

The Memphis native started the season in Omaha's rotation, but his past seven outings have been from the bullpen. No, not as a bulk pitcher, but as a long reliever. His outings have ranged from a single inning to 2 1/3 innings, but the results remain the same. He effectively uses all five of his pitches, with a fastball-slider combination being the standout.

Bowlan already has short, emergency stints at the major league level. He has no staying power as a starter, and that is no fault of his own. The Royals rotation is dominant this year, and there is not much room for him or the possible errors he brings. However, who do you trust to come out of the bullpen and give you, say, six outs? You can make cases for Kris Bubic or Angel Zerpa, but both have their drawbacks. Besides, they are both lefties. The right-handed options for an extended relief appearance do not inspire confidence.

If Bowlan's move to the bullpen is permanent, Kansas City is setting him up for an MLB role. His pitching stuff will play well in the pen and there is a void Bowlan can fill immediately if need be. The hardest part should be deciding who goes to make room for Bowlan.

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