How close is Royals starter Kyle Wright to returning? He could face live hitters soon
Kansas City Royals starter Kyle Wright is still waiting on that moment.
After missing the 2024 season following right shoulder surgery, Wright has not faced a live hitter in nearly two years. He underwent a grueling rehab process and dealt with a hamstring strain that set him back this spring.
Wright is seemingly on the right track. He was slated to throw a bullpen on Saturday and is eager to step back onto the mound in an MLB game.
Saturday marked 527 days and counting.
“The best way to figure it out is to throw yourself into the fire, to a certain extent,” Wright said. “You know, that’s the only way I’m really going to find out how my shoulder is going to respond and where it’s at. It’s a pretty fine line of making sure I’m ready and not doing something stupid. We just can’t keep rehabbing forever. I get paid to play and not rehab. It’s a fine line, but I’m close.”
The Royals built their foundation on starting pitching. Wright was among the first acquisitions for the revamped rotation. KC acquired Wright in a trade with the Atlanta Braves after the 2023 regular season.
Wright had just undergone surgery at the time. He was expected to miss significant time to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. The Royals sent former 2018 first-round pick Jackson Kowar to the Braves in return.
“It’s hard to pencil in a guy coming off a shoulder procedure, but he has made progression and there was a reason why we acquired him last season,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said earlier this offseason. “It was for the 2025 season, so he was feeling good at the end of the year here.”
Wright posted a 21-5 record and a 3.19 ERA in 2022. He pitched 180 ⅓ innings and finished 10th in National League Cy Young voting. There were games where Wright showcased qualities of an ace.
He struck out 11 batters in six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins. That season, he won eight of his last nine games.
Wright was at his peak in 2022. Injuries zapped much of his 2023 campaign, but the Royals believe he can rebound.
That’s why Wright has refused to quit during his rehab.
“Shoulders are a little tough,” Wright said. “This is kind of around, I think I’m at 16 months (post operation) here soon. That’s kind of, for this surgery, when you really start to feel like yourself again. From everything that I’ve heard, it can take up to 14 to 18 months. But I’m starting to feel like myself again.”
Wright has overcome several hurdles. He has met the physical requirements and checked off his own personal boxes. He touched 90 mph with his fastball in his last bullpen session of the 2024 season.
In recent weeks, Wright has regained his curveball and sinker. His fastball velocity has also climbed back to normal levels.
However, one question still remains. Can Wright get over the mental hurdle and definitively prove he is fully healthy?
“The last thing is being able to drive fastballs to the glove side and not leaking everything back onto the arm-side part of the plate,” Wright said. “The best thing I can say is that I’m close to being able to face some hitters. I just have to see how I respond to the hamstring and whatnot.”
Wright could get his chance this spring. If his hamstring checks out, he still has time to progress into live game action.
The Royals are excited for his return. There is a chance Wright could be used as a starter or perhaps as a reliever in 2025.
“We think there is a balance there that we’ll be able to manage every guy correctly,” Picollo said. “It doesn’t come without some difficulties. … It’s always easy to go from starting to the bullpen. It’s the other way that is difficult.”
For now, Wright is focused on getting back into live competition. It’s the next step in his journey as he prepares to continue his MLB career.
“I think I’m starting to see the flashes of where I want to be,” Wright said. “But I think, and it sounds bad, but I almost want to get into a live (batting practice) and get hit around a little bit. I don’t want to get hit, but I think that’s how you get those competitive fibers going again. … There is really no way to replicate that before it happens.”
When that moment is realized, Wright will know he‘s ready.
“It will really help to get myself out of worrying about my shoulder and the mental block,” Wright said. “All of a sudden, it’s full-on compete mode and trying to get guys out.”
This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM with the headline "How close is Royals starter Kyle Wright to returning? He could face live hitters soon."
