Strahm will be stretched out during spring training, but Royals manager Ned Yost said that he'll head into camp as a reliever, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Radio reports.
Earlier reports stated that the left-handed pitching prospect would compete for a rotation spot during the spring, but Yost commented about how much relieving helped fellow left-hander Danny Duffy develop into one of the top pitchers on the Kansas City staff. Strahm dominated major league hitters during his debut season last year, posting a 1.23 ERA and a 12.3 K/9 in 22 innings out of the Royals bullpen, so if he continues to fan batters at that high clip, he stands a good chance to crack the Opening Day roster, especially if he continues as a reliever.