Player News

• Royals' Maikel Garcia: Getting time in CF this spring

  19D ago • By RotoWire

  Garcia will get time in center field this spring as the Royals want to add another option to their outfield mix, MLB.com reports. "The way our team's set up, [Bobby Witt is] playing short, if [Michael Massey is] playing second, the next best spot to get [Garcia] is in center field," said Royals general manager J.J. Picollo. Garcia started in center field in Friday's spring game and hit second in the order going 1-for-3 at the plate. Moving Garcia to center field may allow the Royals to get more right-handed bats into the lineup if Jonathan India is then used at third base. Garcia is still viewed as the starter at third base and it's not entirely clear who would play at third base if Garcia is used more in the outfield.

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• Royals' Maikel Garcia: Leading off in spring game Saturday

  27D ago • By RotoWire

  Garcia (elbow) is starting at third base and batting leadoff in Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Dodgers. Garcia underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow in early December, but the procedure won't affect his ability to hit or to play the field early this spring. The soon-to-be 25-year-old posted a poor .613 OPS over 157 regular-season games for Kansas City last season, though he showed some signs of growth with a career-best 16.5 percent strikeout rate and 37 stolen bases in 39 attempts. Garcia is slated to open 2025 as the Royals' starting third baseman, but it remains to be seen if he'll hit atop the lineup after registering a paltry .281 OBP last year.

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• Royals' Maikel Garcia: Undergoes elbow surgery

  12/06/2024 • By RotoWire

  Garcia underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports. Garcia didn't spend any time on the injured list in 2024 and was available throughout the postseason, leaving it unclear when he suffered the injury. The Royals haven't commented as to whether Garcia's recovery will cost him any time during spring training or even regular season contests.

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• Royals' Maikel Garcia: Not in Kansas City lineup

  09/27/2024 • By RotoWire

  Garcia is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Atlanta. Garcia had started the last seven games, including each of the past four contests versus lefties, but he'll grab a seat in this one as Atlanta sends southpaw Max Fried to the bump. Garrett Hampson is at third base and batting eighth for the Royals.

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• Royals' Maikel Garcia: Regaining playing time

  09/22/2024 • By RotoWire

  Garcia will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Giants. Garcia will pick up his fourth consecutive start and may have re-emerged as the Royals' preferred option at third base ahead of Adam Frazier and Paul DeJong. Since the beginning of September, Garcia has gotten on base at a poor .245 clip, but he's offered a bit of fantasy value with his speed (four steals).

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