The Kansas City Royals are finally rekindling the spirit of optimism among their fans after a long nine-year playoff drought, making their way back to contention last season. Central to this revival is the electrifying talent of Bobby Witt Jr., whose performance has sparked excitement like never before. In 2024, he made history by becoming the only shortstop in baseball ever to achieve multiple 30/30 seasons, truly marking him as a player to watch. Now, as the 2025 season looms, expectations for Witt have soared even higher, with many analysts eyeing him as a frontrunner for the American League MVP, potentially eclipsing the likes of Aaron Judge.
However, as promising as this new era looks, there’s an area where the Royals desperately need help: pitching. Unfortunately, while Witt can dazzle with his explosive batting and stellar defense, he isn’t equipped to take the mound. As the season kicks off, the Royals find themselves facing a significant hurdle with three key pitchers currently out of commission.
Alec Marsh, Kyle Wright, and James McArthur all find themselves on the 15-day injured list, as per announcements from the Royals’ official social media channels. This isn’t just a minor setback; it’s a considerable challenge as the coaching staff scrambles to navigate their rotation with limited options.
Kyle Wright’s situation is particularly complex. For the second consecutive year, he starts the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from right shoulder surgery. A setback last season limited him to just seven outings, and not having played at all in 2024 due to his injury has made his journey back to the mound more arduous. Yet, Wright has been gradually progressing, even facing hitters last week for the first time since his last Major League performance in September 2023. While the Royals are taking a cautious approach with him this spring, the hope remains high that the long wait will be worth it.
Wright’s impressive past gives fans something to hold on to—just two years ago, he led Major League Baseball with 21 wins, sporting an impressive 3.19 ERA and accumulating 174 strikeouts in 180.1 innings. Should everything go smoothly, there’s optimism that he might re-join the team as early as May, as reported by Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
Alec Marsh’s path back to the diamond is a bit more promising. At 26, he has been grappling with a right shoulder impingement this spring, but recently took a positive step forward by pitching in a Minor League game—his first appearance facing hitters this season. The Royals’ belief in Marsh is evident; they hope he returns to the roster by April, yet they remain committed to ensuring he doesn’t rush back too soon. Last season saw Marsh start 25 games, where he achieved a 4.53 ERA alongside 123 strikeouts in 129 innings.
Then there’s James McArthur, whose road to recovery is fraught with uncertainty. Recovering from surgery on his fractured olecranon, the team hasn’t set a definitive timeline for his return. McArthur’s potential has shone through in flashes; he saved 18 games last season, but he was hampered in the latter part of the year when elbow issues forced him onto the injured list in September.
In addition to their pitching woes, the Royals also faced worrying injuries among their position players this spring. Vinnie Pasquantino, a burgeoning talent on the team, recently suffered a hamstring strain, putting his status for Opening Day in jeopardy. The injury scares have been disheartening, casting a shadow on what is otherwise a season filled with promise.
As fans gear up for the 2025 season, there’s no denying the Royals have talent that draws excitement, particularly with emerging stars like Bobby Witt Jr. But to compete at a higher level, the team needs its pitchers back on the mound, showing resilience and determination in their quest to return to the pinnacle of the sport. As the recovery process unfolds, both players and fans alike will be hoping for some timely returns to bolster the team’s lineup, increasing their chances of chasing down a coveted playoff spot once again.
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