Royals likely to delay Ian Kennedy’s debut; club waiting to announce roster

Opting for prudence in the final days before the season, the Royals will likely push back the debut of right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy, who battled a bout of hamstring tightness in his start on Wednesday.

Kennedy was slated to start Tuesday afternoon against the New York Mets in the Royals’ second game of the season. Manager Ned Yost said Friday that Kennedy will likely be pushed back to Saturday, facing Minnesota in the club’s fourth game. Right-hander Chris Young, who started Friday night against Arizona, will likely replace Kennedy on Tuesday against the Mets. Yordano Ventura will remain in his normal slot, making his debut Friday against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium.

After testing his hamstring Friday afternoon, Kennedy said he felt ready to pitch on Tuesday. Yost said there was little reason to rush. Kennedy spent time on the disabled list last April because of a hamstring issue. The Royals also have three days off during the first week.

“He felt really good yesterday,” Yost said of Kennedy. “He felt good today. But you sure don’t want to take a chance of going out there and pushing it, even if it’s a little weak.”

Kennedy will now slot into the fourth position in the rotation. Opening day starter Edinson Volquez will return behind Kennedy as the Royals skip right-hander Kris Medlen during the first time through the rotation.

“There’s no reason to push it,” Kennedy said. “Regardless of how I felt, I think they were going to do that anyways, because I felt really good today. Just compared to the last time I had (a hamstring issue), this is way better.”

The rotation news came as the Royals convened at Chase Field in Phoenix for a two-game exhibition series in advance of season opener at 7:37 p.m. Sunday against the New York Mets. On Saturday morning, a group of Royals regulars will board a plane and head back to Kansas City a half-day early, preparing for Sunday’s opener. But as Yost met reporters on Friday afternoon, he said the Royals’ 25-man roster would not be official until Sunday morning.

The framework, though, appears to be in place. The Royals optioned catcher Tony Cruz to Class AAA Omaha on Friday, opting for incumbent Drew Butera in the backup catcher role. They also optioned top prospect Raul A. Mondesi to Class AA Northwest Arkansas, an expected move.

Butera is expected to join infielder Christian Colon on the bench, while outfielders Reymond Fuentes and Paulo Orlando will combine to fill the right field spot and the fourth outfielder role while Jarrod Dyson recovers from a strained oblique muscle. As the Royals prepare to return home, the only intrigue could hinge on the club’s final bullpen spot and its final bench spot.

The intrigue could be minimal.

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has emerged as the favorite for the final bullpen spot after a breakout performance in camp. Wang, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2013, has showcased increased velocity with his sinker, sitting 93 to 95 mph while posting a a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings. He will need to be added to the 40-man roster before Sunday, but the Royals have an open spot after left-hander Tim Collins went down this spring because of an elbow injury. Collins will undergo his second Tommy John surgery and be shifted to the 60-man disabled list.

In the other unresolved battle, outfielder Terrance Gore appears positioned to fill the final bench spot, at least until Dyson is ready to return. Yost has indicated a preference for speed off the bench while Dyson recovers. The argument for Gore is simple: The Royals rarely pinch-hit or utilize their bench. But Yost believes that Gore’s speed could help win a close game during the season’s opening weeks.

That alignment would leave utility man Whit Merrifield as odd man out in the roster crunch. Merrifield, 27, was a breakout performer during camp, batting .386 with a team-high 12 runs scored in the Cactus League. He possesses the ability to play all three outfield positions and all four infield spots. He is also not a member of the Royals’ 40-man roster, meaning his inclusion on the 25-man roster would require a corresponding subtraction from the 40-man. In general, teams prefer to maintain roster inventory before the season begins.

The only other non-roster position player remaining in camp is corner infielder Cody Decker, who appears ticketed for Omaha. For now, Yost is remaining mum on the final decisions. An injury in the final days could change the calculus, but Wang and Gore appear to have the inside track.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 9:43 PM with the headline "Royals likely to delay Ian Kennedy’s debut; club waiting to announce roster."