3 KC Royals who could surprise in spring training and beyond

For some KC Royals, this year's spring training is of little consequence. No one really cares if Bobby Witt Jr. succeeds or struggles — he is, after all, a proven commodity and will be judged on how he performs during the regular season. And while it's encouraging to see Salvador Perez knock the cover off the ball in Arizona, or watch Cole Ragans and all the newly-acquired veteran pitchers hurl fire from Cactus League mounds, their spring performances won't affect their roster status.

Some Royals can use spring training as a springboard to success

Other Kansas City players don't, however, have such locked-in spots. Take second baseman Michael Massey, for example. Coming off an up-and-down 2023 season and considering the recent signing of Adam Frazier, Massey needs a strong spring showing to solidify the claim to second base he's had for the better part of two seasons. He might have the most to lose of any Royal working in the club's Surprise spring complex, but that's a two-sided coin — he also has the opportunity to strengthen his position on the club.

Three other players, though, have much to gain in the next few weeks. None of them want to perform poorly, of course, but even if they do, their roles probably won't be negatively impacted in any significant manner. If they come out of the blocks hot, on the other hand, they have a great chance of breaking camp with the team and contributing in ways far beyond the projections of the so-called experts.

Let's consider three of those players.

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Is Nick Loftin Kansas City's forgotten man?

Nick Loftin was all the rage coming into this offseason. A September call-up, he played only 19 games at the major league level but acquitted himself well, slashing .323/.368/.435. Loftin appeared to be in position to push Massey for the second base job, or at least land a platoon split. But with thehead-scratching signing of Frazier, an experienced second baseman who can also man the corner outfield spots, it feels like Loftin has been pushed to the margins.

There's a way, though, for Loftin to capitalize on the spring.

All the pressure is on Massey. He has a season-and-a-half under his belt, but has struggled to produce consistently despite some nice flashes of his potential. A lot depends on how much patience the club has for him; it's possible no dramatic decisions will come until both Massey and Loftin provide a sample of work in 2024. But if the idea is to make them earn their spots, the Royals have the kind of depth in place where they can put pressure on their prospects. And if Massey struggles too much this spring, a door could open.

Frazier is the likeliest benefactor in that scenario, given his veteran experience. But Frazier is hardly a big-money free agent. The Royals should feel no pressure to push him into the lineup every day, and unless he has a bounce-back season himself, it's not outside the realm of possibility that Loftin could win the second base job outright. That may be a long shot, but if Massey struggles, Loftin has a chance to take his spot in a platoon with Frazier.

And there's another possible outcome. Even if Massey and Frazier produce and hold their spots, a big spring from Loftin could draw potential trade suitors — a strong performance from Loftin might help the Royals if he's dealt for value, and open him up to more playing time on another team.

Nelson Velázquez looks to improve his contact

Picking Velázquez as a Royal with a lot to gain from spring training feels a bit like cheating. The designated hitter position is his to lose after he made his presence felt in Kansas City last summer, and he'll also spend time in the outfield. Velázquez played 40 games with the Royals after coming over from the Cubs, and blasted 14 home runs, drove in 28 runs, and had an .878 OPS. His .346 ISO was also outstanding, His plate discipline, however, leaves something to be desired: he struck out 29.3 percent of the time with the Royals.

Velázquez will undoubtedly smack some moon shots in the thin air of Arizona, but Kansas City coaches will be carefully studying his batting eye and plate discipline. If he shows progress in those areas, he can cement himself into the Royals' everyday lineup, adding length and serious pop to the batting order.

But failing to improve in those areas could mean a shorter leash for the slugger. The Royals might look increase the time spent in the DH rotation by Perez, MJ Melendez, and Hunter Renfroe. Or perhaps it opens the door for someone like Nick Pratto, another player with little to lose and much to gain this spring. If Velázquez struggles too much and Pratto shows progress at the plate, the latter might get more playing time at first base while Vinnie Pasquantino transitions into the primary DH role.

That scenario might not be a betting favorite, but that's one of the great things about spring training — you never know what might happen.

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