We’ve made it! Pitchers and catchers officially report to Surprise today, February 12. The first Spring Training game is on February 21, followed by Opening Day on Thursday, March 27. Here are five bold predictions about the Royals to prepare you for Spring Training action and the unofficial start of the 2025 MLB season.

Joey Wiemer starts more games in the outfield than Hunter Renfroe

If you told me that Hunter Renfroe would be a bench platoon bat by midseason, that in itself isn’t an entirely “bold” prediction. Renfroe was good at times last season but finished the season with a 92 wRC+ worth -0.1 fWAR. In 21 games, 2024’s iteration of Joey Wiemer was worth even less. He compiled a 7 wRC+ and -0.4 fWAR in that short span between Milwaukee and Cincinnati. Nothing in the underlying metrics gives me confidence that he was unlucky in 2024. With that said, the match with Wiemer and Kansas City seems like a good one that should get more out of the former top prospect.

Wiemer had a .353 wOBA with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate before being traded last season. Much of his value came from an extremely high walk rate, but he didn’t look nearly as awful as he went on to finish the season. Looking back at a larger 2023 MLB sample, there was plenty to love about Wiemer’s game. He appeared in 132 games for the Brew Crew that season. Wiemer’s 112.8 mph max exit velocity was great — and more than 8 mph faster than 2024. His hard-hit rate dropped 16% from 2023 to 2024 and he pulled the ball more than ever.

The Royals do a great job teaching their young hitters to swing at the right pitches, attack the strike zone, and make high levels of contact. Hitting Coach Alec Zumwalt will build upon Wiemer’s 81% zone-contact rate from a year ago. It’s a strong match for the player, and the Royals have a good chance to finally unlock the prospect potential that Wiemer showed for a few years with Milwaukee.

The Royals will acquire a big-name bat at the trade deadline

The Royals tried to pull off a notable trade this winter but nothing came to fruition after the India deal. There were discussions between Kansas City and the Mets that didn’t pan out. The Royals had mild interest in Nolan Arenado, but St. Louis didn’t pursue those talks to any real degree. Then on the free agent market, the Royals pursued (unsuccessfully) Anthony Santander, Jurickson Profar, and Randal Grichuk. General Manager J.J. Picollo doesn’t want to be done with his roster, and should this team compete the way they hope, he’ll get another chance to round it out this summer.

A disappointing showing from Toronto could put rental Bo Bichette on the trade block. Other potential names are difficult to consider since it depends so heavily on the standings come June and July. The move would almost certainly be for a third baseman or an outfielder. Which route the team goes depends on (1) the market and (2) whether MJ Melendez or Maikel Garcia can perform well enough in their respective position to limit the need for a trade at all.

Vinnie Pasquantino will compete for the American League batting title

The early career for Pasquantino has been great. He owns a career 114 wRC+. Even still, it seems like the player’s performance goes under the radar in the context of the entire league. In four months last season — from May 1 through August 29 when he was injured — Pasquantino slashed .276/.316/.461. That showing came with a .283 BABIP. Pasquantino has even more to offer at the plate, and 2025 should be when it all comes together in his first All-Star campaign.

“Pasquatch” only walked 7.2% in 2024. That walk rate has dropped in each season since his big league debut in 2022. Some of that is a side effect of the organization’s aggressive approach to the plate. The walks aren’t a focal point for Kansas City. However, with J.J. Picollo’s self-stated focus on on-base percentage this winter, that could change some. With more walks and the ability he already has at the plate, Vinnie has a good chance to be one of the best hitters in the American League in 2025.

The Royals bullpen will lead the American League in ERA

The Royals’ bullpen was bad to open 2024. Then, it got better at the trade deadline. By the end of the season, it was a strongly performing unit thanks to some standout showings from Sam Long, Angel Zerpa, and Daniel Lynch IV. What did the front office do this offseason with what was a strength last season? They made it even better.

The Royals stood fast in trade talks, retaining Hunter Harvey rather than sending him off to New York for outfielder Starling Marte. Shortly after, they added another premium option for the back end in Carlos Estévez. Estévez rounds out a quartet of high-velocity arms in the Kansas City bullpen. Alongside Lucas Erceg, Harvey, and Angel Zerpa, the Royals now have a treasure trove of relievers at their disposal. That strong ‘pen should help protect leads behind a strong rotation. That will reduce pressure on the lineup, a group the Royals still hope to add to (and one that ranked top ten in runs scored for much of 2024).

Gavin Cross hits well in Omaha but doesn’t get the call to the Majors in 2025

Gavin Cross hit well in 2024. He did so despite working through back spasms much of the year. That. showing will likely earn him a trip to Omaha to start the year. If so, Cross will benefit from an extremely offensive-friendly International League. The park factors for much of the league are great for hitters. That’s especially true of Werner Park where the Storm Chasers play their home games. Cross will have his best full season as a pro in 2025. Despite that, he won’t make his MLB debut until late in the year.

The Royals understand the park factors in Omaha. It’s a large reason players such as Drew Waters and Nick Loftin have looked so good in Omaha just to struggle in K.C. The skill gap between Triple-A and MLB is also as large as ever. With all that said, the Royals also simply aren’t in a place where they want to lean on rookies with as many questions as Cross has shown. They didn’t give Tyler Gentry or Drew Waters any real looks last season. It seems far more likely the front office will add at the deadline rather than leave a spot open for Cross. With a strong 2025 and more confidence, Cross should have a chance to play every day in Kansas City by Opening Day 2026.