Why are Royals so into Call of Duty video game? It’s like Clash of Clans in 2014
Maikel Garcia doesn’t go anywhere without his gaming computer. It’s one of the first things he puts into his personal travel bag.
And the specs are insane.
Garcia, the Kansas City Royals’ third baseman, has an MSI Crosshair gaming laptop. It’s designed for enhanced graphics and “ray tracing,” with a fully powered graphic processing unit (GPU) and faster response times than a standard laptop.
Much like Garcia himself, with his impressive on-field abilities, this machine was destined for peak performance. But why does a major-league infielder need such high-tech equipment?
It’s his outlet for unwinding after a long day at the ballpark.
“I play a little bit after the game and before I go to bed,” he said. “Maybe like one hour every night.”
His game of choice is Call of Duty. And it’s a popular one across the Royals’ clubhouse. As many as 10 KC players are playing the video-game franchise. The group includes Garcia, Kyle Isbel, Drew Waters, Carlos Estévez, Freddy Fermin, Hunter Harvey, Sam Long, Lucas Erceg and team captain Salvador Perez.
Other players have started to pick up the proverbial sticks. Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. have dabbled in the game, too.
“I think it kind of caught fire in 2020,” Biggio explained, “when we were all locked down and that game came out.”
The 2025 Royals’ affection for Call of Duty is reminiscent of the 2014 Royals’ love of Clash of Clans. Perez is the only Royals player remaining from that group, which advanced to the World Series (and then won it all the following season).
Building team chemistry
Most teams have group outings on the road. The Royals have played host to golf tournaments and spent days at amusement parks, such as Six Flags in Arlington, Texas.
Each event is geared toward building team chemistry.
Call of Duty offers another avenue for hanging out. In recent years, video games have adopted multiplayer modes in order to attract younger audiences. Games such as Fortnite, Overwatch and Marvel Rivals feature player vs. player (PvP) modes.
And these cross-platform games are free to play. This means gamers can access the content from virtually anywhere in the world, using different consoles in separate locations.
“That’s why we play video games or read books,” Garcia said. “It’s baseball all the time. You finish here (at the ballpark) and go to the hotel and think about baseball, it’s not good.
“You have to do something different besides thinking about baseball. Video games are good for (taking your mind off things) and Call of Duty is that for us.”
Garcia typically teams with Fermin and Estévez as squad-mates to play against other gamers around the world. There are options to play “revive” map, allowing for players who lose to “re-spawn” back into the action.
The maximum number of players allowed per squad is five. The objective, of course, is to win the battle royale.
“After the (day’s baseball) game, I go home and open my laptop and start playing,” Fermin said. “I call Maikey (Garcia) or my brother and start playing. After that, I go to bed.”
Squad game-play could range from 45 minutes to an hour. On off-days, many Royals spend their free time at the controls.
“It’s good because we play and communicate better as teammates,” Garcia said. “We became close, like family. Last year, when we had (Adam) Frazier here, we had a team dinner.”
The game also makes for some healthy competition in the clubhouse. Garcia said Biggio is one of the best gamers on the team; they have played together on multiple occasions.
Biggio has his own squad with Waters and Isbel. He described himself as an all-around gamer who focuses on the team objective and winning each match.
“I’m more of a schemer,” Biggio said. “I’m not as good as everyone that plays all the time, (and) I try to keep my distance at times. But there are times to be aggressive. Overall, I’m there to win a game and not to get kills.”
Like Biggio and Garcia, Waters enjoys playing with his teammates. He, too, has a gaming computer and was instrumental in convincing Isbel to get one.
Rediscovering a classic
Isbel was no a stranger to Call of Duty. He decided to play more often during spring training.
“I hadn’t played in a long time and a few of the guys were playing,” he said. “So I was like, ‘It’s a good way to get your mind off baseball and hang out with the guys.’
“Even if you aren’t in the room with them, just talking to them and hanging out in a completely different environment. But it’s also still competitive and fun.”
Win or lose, the Royals look forward to hanging out in the team hotel after baseball games on the road. Call of Duty is part of that scene, forging a brotherhood — a family atmosphere away — from Kauffman Stadium.
“I’m OK and I’m not trash (at the game),” Estévez said of his skill level. “We were talking about it a few weeks ago. In Philly last year, we did that and it was so funny.
“It was like every night the same thing. It was pretty cool. After a night on the field, we get to talk trash and stuff like that. And that made it really fun.”
While gaming makes for a good time, multiple Royals assured that it doesn’t get in the way of their preparation. Call of Duty is reserved for downtime after games only, several said.
In terms of real-life matters for the Royals — baseball — their mindset is all about winning a World Series.
“When everybody is on the same page, it’s really good,” Garcia said. “I think the team is better when everyone is on the same page.”
It’s possible the Royals will hold a friendly Call of Duty tournament in the near future. Garcia wants his squad to challenge Biggio’s in a private multiplayer match.
Naturally, clubhouse bragging rights would be on the line.
“They were talking trash about a week ago, so let’s see what happens,” Estévez said with a laugh.
Waters is open to the potential challenge. He said he plays in a strategic style that includes being a sniper and helping his squad from afar.
“I cherry-pick the guys my teammates run out,” he said. “So that’s kind of my game. We usually squad up after games and play together. Playing against each other would be interesting and it definitely would be something I would do.”
Like their Royals predecessors of a decade ago, the current Royals love playing video games. The game itself has changed, but the reason for logging in has not.
It’s their way of unwinding and finding community while competing at baseball’s highest level.
“We all know as soon as we get off the bus,” Waters said, “we are getting on.”
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Why are Royals so into Call of Duty video game? It’s like Clash of Clans in 2014."
