It’s the last homestand of the year.
That sentence brings no small measure of relief. This has been a trying season for the Royals, and it’s certainly been a trying last month for the Royals. They have lost 14 of their last 19 games. And unlike some past years where the Royals have pivoted to playing a young lineup, there is little potential excitement in this year’s squad. We know who’s good, and everybody who isn’t good probably isn’t going to have a job in Kansas City next year.
It’s also the last
Royals game I’m covering as a member of the press this year. As it was the first game of the homestand, both Matt Quatraro and JJ Picollo did pregame press conferences in the dugout. Here are some takeaways from that and from a few interviews in the clubhouse:
- Tony Gonsolin has been activated. Gonsolin has started 78 of his 86 career games—all for the Dodgers—but Q says he’s going to be in the bullpen for now. Next year, who knows; the Royals hold a 2027 club option for him, but he signed with the Royals because they offered him a job in the big leagues.
- Carter Jensen is, to quote Picollo, a “baseball rat.” What a term; he said it endearlingly. Anyway, Jensen is “in the conversation” to continue his spot in the leadoff role next year, but it depends on personnel. Read between the lines there a little and I think the Royals are pleased at how he’s performed but might prefer a more traditional leadoff guy next year.
- “This year’s work is going to be a lot different than last year.” Picollo knows that the team has to do more than just shore up some parts of the bullpen. I would expect a lot of moves.
- Speaking of a lot of moves, Picollo was asked about how the offseason would move forward if there were a lockout. The most interesting thing that he said was about how the Royals are eager to get stuff done before a potential lockout; that he wants to “push the envelope” as much as they can when the season ends.
- David Shields will start 2026 in Double-A. Kendry Chourio will play in Double-A sometime next year, too, but Picollo wouldn’t commit to him starting there at the beginning of the year.
Here we go:
