MLB.com’s Anne Rogers talks with new Royals assistant hitting coach Connor Dawson.
A 2012 graduate of Olathe North High School in Kansas, Dawson grew up about 25 miles southwest of Kauffman Stadium. He played collegiately at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas, but he set his sights on coaching early. He coached the Kansas City Bullets college prep baseball program — a team that included Royals catcher Carter Jensen — and was the hitting coach and strength coach at St. Thomas Aquinas
High School in Overland Park, Kansas.
“Coaching is just such a different side of things,” Dawson said. “The one thing I knew I wanted was for players to feel confident at all times. I wanted them to know that I thought they could take on the world. … As a player, I probably didn’t necessarily think like that. There’s a ton of value in having fun and knowing that you can win, and that’s kind of what I want to instill in players.”
David Lesky looks at the lack of strikeouts from Lucas Erceg in 2025.
He was fine after he came back, but not even remotely dominant. He gave up 40 hits in 38.1 innings. He struck out just 30 batters and he walked 15. Nobody is complaining about a guy with a 3.05 ERA, but he also wasn’t the pitcher he showed he could be at the end of 2024 or the pitcher the Royals needed him to be. He went on the IL again on September 19 to end his season. This time, he had right shoulder impingement syndrome. He and the Royals both said at the time that had they been in the playoff race still that he would have continued on. It’s easy to say that, so who knows if it’s really true? Regardless, he’s healthy now.
But I just want to know why he struck out 19.3 percent of batters in 2025 after striking out 27.1 percent in his rookie year and 28.5 percent in his second year.
As I’m writing this right now, I don’t know the answer. I always like to write the first part of newsletters like this before I dig into the details. If I had to guess, I’d say the injuries didn’t help, but he only had 15 strikeouts in 20.2 innings in those first 21 games when he put up video game ERA numbers. He also only gave up nine hits and two walks, so there simply weren’t runners on. Maybe he was less concerned about contact with nobody on base. But still, while the Royals staff looks to be good once again, the bullpen was badly missing strikeouts. I think there’s a good argument for Estevez to bounce back a bit in his numbers, but the real difference-maker likely comes from Erceg getting back to those punchouts.
Kansas City Star’s Jaylon Thompson wrote about Adam Frazier landing with… another team?
Former Kansas City Royals utilityman Adam Frazier has found a new home. On Monday, Frazier joined the Los Angeles Angels on a minor-league deal. Frazier, 34, was a key piece for the Royals. He spent two stints with the organization and fueled their 2024 postseason run. The Royals reacquired Frazier last season as they looked for more veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
Thompson also sat down with Royals reliever Carlos Estévez on his first year with the team.
He analyzed his performance. The self-report highlighted ways to perform efficiently while maintaining daily availability. It’s a formula that has worked in the past — most notably when Estévez pitched seven times in a 10-day stretch. “Just taking notes on what I did good, you know, attacking the (strike) zone and being available a lot,” Estévez said. “It’s just being able to keep my team in the game and that kind of stuff. I think that’s what I’ve got to focus on.”
Kevin O’Brien graded Kansas City’s offseason moves, and only one trade earned an “A” grade this winter.
In return, the Royals got an on-base machine in Collins, who posted a .368 OBP and 0.61 BB/K ratio in 441 plate appearances. Collins did lose some playing time at the end of the season, but he’s the kind of multi-positional outfielder who gives the Royals the plate discipline and versatility that they’ve desperately needed. Collins doesn’t hit the ball all that hard or barrel balls that much, but he doesn’t chase, and he pulls the ball effectively, two qualities that the Royals were looking for this offseason.
As for Mears, he had an interesting season, especially when compared to 2024. That season, he sported a 5.93 ERA in 57,2 IP. However, his FIP was 3.39, and his K rate was 29.3%. Last year, his ERA was better at 3.49 (in 56.2 IP). Conversely, his FIP was higher at 3.86, and his K rate dropped to 20.8%. Mears had trouble finishing batters off last year in his first full season with the Brewers. That said, he still showed solid TJ Stuff+ metrics and an ability to make batters chase.
Estévez recounted his experience at a Pittsburgh Pirates tryout. It was interesting, in hindsight.
I went to this Pirates showcase. They told everyone you had to be there by 10 a.m. to sign in, and I was like, no problem, we’re out early. I rolled up way before that, ended up second on the list. Perfect spot, right?” Estevez recounted. They put me in super late. I threw maybe six pitches total to two Cubans. Got a strikeout and a fly ball to left. Solid stuff. I felt good. I saw the big dawg, the legendary scout who’d signed tons of ballplayers, walking over, and I thought, here it comes. Some real feedback. He’s gonna see what I got.
Instead, in front of everybody, ‘Who brought this piece of shit here?’ In front of everybody! My heart dropped. Then he kept going: ‘Get this piece of shit out of here’.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter named Jac Caglianone as Kansas City’s biggest breakout hitter candidate.
Following back-to-back 30-homer seasons at the University of Florida, Caglianone was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 draft. He hit .337/.408/.617 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI in 66 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year to force his way into the MLB picture. After taking his lumps at the plate while learning to play right field on the fly, he has the offensive tools to take a massive step forward in 2026.
The Royals traded pitching prospect A.J. Causey to the Athletics this offseason, and he recounted how the process went down to Sports Illustrated.
And then I was getting ready to throw my live BP, and I was in the training room, and our manager came in and was like, ‘hey, AJ, can you come here?’ I was like, ‘What could this be about? We already talked. I guess it’s about my live. BP, and then I walked into the office and just the GM and him, no pitching guys.
I knew it immediately. I was like, I just got traded. I just didn’t know to who. But yeah, I was kind of excited when I heard he was the Athletics. [laughing] Yeah, I guess I’m not throwing my live BP anymore.
Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher added more context to Royals owner John Sherman’s comments regarding the stadium home search in Kansas City.
While local politics and the ongoing rivalry between Missouri and Kansas play a significant role in the Royals’ consideration, the club remains intent on surrounding a new ballpark with a large mixed-use development. That concept, popularized to a significant degree by the Braves, has been embraced by many other teams, most recently the Rays.
Sherman also professed a preference for an urban setting, if possible, which lends further weight to the possibility of the downtown site. “I still have a bias for baseball being in the heart of the city, in the cultural center of our city, and to have the ability to make it better,” Sherman said. “If that happens, that’s going to be best for the community and the city at large, but we have to make sure we make the right long-term decision for the club as well.”
What goes into Scout Day at Kauffman Stadium?
The Texas Rangers will start Nathan Eovaldi in their Cactus League opener against the Royals.
The Royals are hosting a hiring fair this coming Sunday for seasonal positions.
Billy Heyen says the pressure is on the Royals after doubling down on Jonathan India.
Brian Sparks looks at the battle for the final spot in Kansas City’s rotation ahead of the 2026 season.
What is the fantasy impact if the Royals traded Kris Bubic to the New York Yankees?
Britney Gore talked more about the sudden passing of former Royals speedster Terrance Gore.
Is Bo Jackson not a fan of batters selling out for power?
Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez could miss the season after suffering a UCL tear.
I don’t think anyone missed MLBPA executive Tony Clark resigning on Tuesday. Family reunions are going to be quite awkward now.
ESPN’s Buster Olney ranks baseball’s best relievers.
Under the Knife looks at injuries around MLB and the “hamate epidemic”.
Pitcher Walker Buehler lands with the San Diego Padres on a minor-league deal.
There is one thing missing from Giancarlo Stanton’s time in pinstripes.
After the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, are they the system to copy or an outlier?
Is Adam Silver going to fine tanking away?
Miami (Ohio) remains men’s basketball lone undefeated team with a 26-game winning streak.
Manny Pacquiao is returning for an exhibition match in April.
Learn about the Lunar New Year celebrations in China, from robots to incense.
Smart underwear, just what we all needed in 2026.
Today’s song (and video) of the day is MORE THAN HATE by Bilmuri.
