Who are all these catchers in KC Royals spring camp?

After a winter away from the grind, the business of baseball once again consumes the days of KC Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Winner of five Gold Gloves for his work behind the plate, Perez is busy getting himself, and his pitchers, ready for a regular season that begins in less than a month.

MJ Melendez, Perez's primary backup, has only worked behind the plate so far this spring but will play left field this season when Perez catches. But before they head north for the March 30 opener at Kauffman Stadium, they'll temporarily leave spring training for the World Baseball Classic, where Perez will play for Venezuela and Melendez for Puerto Rico. How long they and other Royals on Classic rosters absent themselves from camp depends on how long their clubs survive; the WBC title game is set for March 21, just a week before the Royals wind up exhibition play against Texas.

The absences of his two top catchers won't leave new Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro in a lurch. That's because he has at least six other backstops available for work. But just who makes up this half-dozen?

A familiar face is in spring training camp and catching for the KC Royals

Royals fans know the name Freddy Fermin. He's been in the Kansas City organization since 2015 when he signed as an international free agent, and made his big league debut in Toronto last season as part of the minor league contingent that replaced 10 Royals whose vaccination status prevented them from playing there. He went hitless in seven at-bats but hit .270 with a .365 OBP and 15 homers in 87 games at Triple-A Omaha.

Fermin was a late-inning replacement for Perez against Seattle Sunday and threw out two Mariners who tried to steal against him. He's expected to make the club as its third catcher.

What other catchers are in camp?

A veteran backstop is making his presence known in KC Royals spring training

Don't be embarrassed if Jose Briceno's name doesn't ring an immediate bell. Briceno, 30, has played only once against the Royals, a 2018 appearance for the Angels in which he replaced Jefry Marte in the final inning but didn't bat.

And don't be fooled by his lack of time against Kansas City, or the fact he's played in only 48 major league games, all with the Angels. He's been around pro ball for 12 seasons, knows his way around the diamond, and hit .252 with four homers at Omaha last season after the Royals signed him as a free agent in May.

His longest exposure to big league pitching came in 2018; in 46 games, he hit .239 with five homers and 10 RBIs. He's since played only twice in The Show. In three Cactus League appearances this spring (twice behind the plate and once as a pinch hitter and DH), he's 3-for-7 with a double and two RBIs.

Briceno, though, might make it to Kansas City this season if injuries strike Perez, Melendez or Fermin, but will stay only so long as circumstances require. Unless the Royals let him go during or after spring training, look for Briceno to start the season at Omaha.

(By the way, that's Briceno in the photo accompanying this story).

An award-winning catcher is hoping for a 2023 KC Royals roster spot

Last season was an odd one for new Kansas City catcher Jakson Reetz. A third-round pick of the Nationals and a veteran of eight minor league campaigns, Reetz began the year at Milwaukee's Biloxi Double-A affiliate and earned an early July promotion to Triple-A Nashville by belting 22 homers, driving in 58 runs, and slashing an excellent .281/.392/.636 in 64 games.

Nashville didn't work out as well for Reetz; although he hit three homers in 19 games, the Milwaukee organization cut him and his .212 average loose in August. He ended up signing with the Royals and batted .257 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 21 games at Omaha. Reetz became a free agent but re-signed with the Royals in December.

So, what made Reetz's 2022 campaign odd? It certainly wasn't playing for three teams, which is pretty common in the minor leagues these days.

Instead, it was the big award he won: despite the Brewers letting him go, he won the Southern League's Most Valuable Player Award for his performance at their Biloxi farm club. Not many MVPs lose their jobs.

That honor, and the numbers behind it, suggest Reetz may have a major league future. And that could be with the Royals, for whom he's 1-for-4 with an RBI this spring, if Fermin falters. Time will tell.

Who's another catcher working in the KC Royals' spring training camp?

A top KC Royals prospect and another catcher are also working in spring camp

Currently ranked as Kansas City's 15th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, Luca Tresh is getting his first taste of the big league atmosphere this spring. He's played twice and is 2-for-3 with a double.

Tresh, however, hasn't been playing professionally for long. He signed soon after the Royals picked him in the 17th round of the 2021 draft; he immediately reported to Rookie ball and hit .389 (7-for-18) with a home run and three RBIs in six games before moving up to Low-A Columbia, where he dropped to 5-for-35 in 10 appearances.

Despite his less-than-stellar showing at Columbia, Kansas City bumped him up to High-A Quad Cities to begin last season. He adjusted quickly and hit .273 with a .360 OBP, 14 homers, and 54 RBIs in 80 games.

Suitably impressed, the Royals promoted him again, this time to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he added five home runs and 14 RBIs in 24 games. Although his average dropped to .253, he posted a good .358 OBP.

Tresh, 23, won't make it to Kansas City this season. He'll probably begin the year back at Northwest Arkansas, but decent hitting will almost guarantee him a mid-to-late season promotion to Omaha. He could contend for a big league role in 2025.

Also in camp is Tyler Cropley. The Royals signed him as a free agent after the Washington organization released him in 2020. Unfortunately, he spent almost two months on the minor league Injured List last year and hit only .176 in 36 games, including .163 at Northwest Arkansas.

Cropley went 0-for-1 during a 2022 spring training stint with the Royals. He's also 0-for-1 this spring.