Jonathan Broxton expected to close for Royals

The Royals are leaning toward using Jonathan Broxton to close in the place of the injured Joakim Soria.

By C. Trent Rosecrans

Mar 29, 2012 at 12:14 pm ET • 1 min read

The Royals are leaning toward handing over their closing duties to veteran Jonathan Broxton, CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman reports.

With Joakim Soria out for the year due to Tommy John surgery, the team is likely to chose Broxton over Greg Holland to close out games this season.

Broxton, 27, has 84 career saves with the Dodgers, but was troubled by elbow and shoulder issues last season. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Kansas City in November. Broxton has appeared in six games this spring, allowing one earned run (1.50 ERA), five hits and two runs in six innings. He's struck out seven and walked three.

Holland, 26, has struggled a bit this spring, allowing five earned runs in 8 2/3 innings over eight games this spring. He has struck out 12 while walking just one batter. He's allowed runs in three of his last four outing going into Thursday's game. Last season he was 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA for Kansas City, throwing 60 innings in 46 games with four saves and 74 strikeouts.

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