8 blazing bats fire hot KC Royals spring start

With a full week of Cactus League play behind them, the KC Royals continue the exhibition season today and tonight with a pair of split-squad games. They'll face Cincinnati on the road at 2:05 pm CT, then host the Dodgers at 7:05 pm CT in a game televised by Bally Sports Kansas City.

It's a red-hot Kansas City club that divides for the day and heads in separate directions in hopes of adding two more wins to their Cactus League-leading seven, a total good enough through Friday's games for first place and a two-game cushion over the Angels. Teamwise, nothing more than some pride and some measure of progress is at stake in spring ball, but a 7-1 record is nice regardless of context.

At the core of this early success is a surprisingly efficient offense that through Friday led the majors in OPS, OBP and RBIs, was tied for the lead in triples, and ranked second in runs, hits, total bases, doubles, at-bats and BABIP. And the Royals are averaging 7.5 runs per game. Who has the big bats?

Who the KC Royals' hottest spring hitter is should surprise you

Robbie Glendinning didn't play Friday when Kansas City won its fourth game in a row by beating Oakland 6-4, probably because he'd already left for Japan to join Team Australia for its first World Baseball Classic workout this weekend. But before he departed, he left his mark on KC spring camp.

Others are close on his heels, but the at least mildly surprising Glendinning, who in 118 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas last season clubbed 19 homers and hit .252 with a .373 OBP, is 6-for-7 (.857) and has two RBIs. His half-dozen hits are all singles, but look for a homer or two when he returns from the WBC.

Another surprise is only a hit behind Glendinning: catcher José Briceño is 5-for-9 (.556) and has two doubles and three RBIs.

Who else is hot? Let's find out.

Two regulars and two players seeking jobs with the KC Royals have hot bats

A pair of 2022 rookies the Royals are counting on to play key everyday roles this year are clicking at the plate.

Vinnie Pasquantino, who played a lot of first base after the club traded Carlos Santana to Seattle last June and who'll play there if Nick Pratto doesn't make the club, or serve as KC's primary designated hitter if he does, is 4-for-9 (.444) with a home run and four RBIs in four games. Like Glendinning, he's headed for the WBC (he'll play on Italy's team with Nicky Lopez). Pasquantino's rookie campaign was excellent: he slashed .295/.383/.450 and hit 10 home runs.

And MJ Melendez, the presumptive starting left fielder, has two doubles and four RBIs and is hitting .364 (4-for-11) with a .417 OBP. He, too, will take temporary leave from spring camp to play for Puerto Rico's WBC squad.

Two other Royals are performing well at the plate as they compete for spots on the Opening Day roster. Versatile Samad Taylor, prevented by injury from playing after the Royals acquired him from Toronto in last summer's Whit Merrifield trade, is 5-for-11 (.455) with a triple, double and three RBIs. But he's a long shot to make the club and will likely head to Triple-A Omaha to start the season. And big league veteran Matt Duffy, also versatile, is 4-for-9 (.444) with a double and two RBIs.

None of these eight hot hitters will finish the spring with the kinds of numbers they have now. But that they're hitting so well so early is encouraging.