Blake Mitchell, Jose Cuas headline Royals’ non-roster invites this spring: details
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- Royals invite 25 non-roster players to 2026 spring training, led by Blake Mitchell.
- Mitchell returns after 2025 hamate injury, posts .745 AFL OPS and seeks health.
- Veterans Neris, Cuas and utility options Rojas and Toro join camp for evaluation.
The Kansas City Royals on Tuesday announced a list of 25 non-roster invitees who will join the big-league club as spring training commences in Surprise, Arizona.
Royals top prospect Blake Mitchell will headline the group. Mitchell, 21, enters his second major-league camp after an injury-riddled 2025 season. He hit .218 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 60 games in the minors.
A right hamate bone injury last spring hampered his progress. He was sidelined for a significant period of time before working his way back into the lineup. In October, he posted a .745 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in the Arizona Fall League.
The Royals’ pitchers and catchers — those not participating in the World Baseball Classic — will report to Surprise for camp on Feb. 10. That group will hold its first workout on Feb. 11; the team’s first full-squad workout is set for Feb. 16.
“I’m super excited for that opportunity (in spring training),” Mitchell told The Star in November. “Hopefully, this year goes a little bit different and hopefully injury free. Just get to go out there and play my game. Not worry about the bad things that could possibly happen. You know, just play with my mind free. Just go out there, have a good mentality, good attitude and just go play hard.”
The Royals also invited multiple MLB veterans to camp this year. Jose Cuas returns to Kansas City after pitching with the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves organization. He last pitched in the majors during the 2024 season.
The Royals will also get a look at Hector Neris. The 12-year big-league veteran previously pitched with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros. Neris has a 3.47 career ERA and has averaged 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
He offers five pitches in his arsenal. He registered a 36.4% whiff rate with his splitter alongside a fastball that averages 92.4 mph.
The Royals extended invitations to utility players Josh Rojas and Abraham Toro. Both players have the ability to play across the diamond. Rojas owns a career .241 batting average in seven MLB seasons.
Toro spent 2025 with the Boston Red Sox. He hit .289 with seven homers, 27 RBIs in 77 games and has experience playing third base, second base, first base and the outfield.
The Royals will also have seven catchers in camp. Mitchell will be joined by veteran Jorge Alfaro plus Canyon Brown, Omar Hernandez, Eilh Marrero, Ramon Ramirez and Luca Tresh.
Additionally, the Royals will have a few rising prospects in camp. Carson Roccaforte joins Gavin Cross as the lone outfield non-roster invitees. KC will also get a look at pitchers A.J. Causey, Frank Mozzicato and Shane Panzini, among others.
Here’s a look at the Royals 25 non-roster invitees for spring training 2026:
Pitchers
A.J. Causey
Dennis Colleran
Jose Cuas
Chazz Martinez
Frank Mozzicato
Hector Neris
Helcris Olivarez
Shane Panzini
Hunter Patteson
Aaron Sanchez
Catchers
Jorge Alfaro
Canyon Brown
Omar Hernandez
Elih Marrero
Blake Mitchell
Ramon Ramirez
Luca Tresh
Infielders
Connor Kaiser
Kevin Newman
Josh Rojas
Abraham Toro
Daniel Vazquez
Peyton Wilson
Outfielders
Gavin Cross
Carson Roccaforte
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Blake Mitchell, Jose Cuas headline Royals’ non-roster invites this spring: details."