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Get to know your 25-man Opening Night roster

Looks like 25 winners to me.

By Max Rieper

The Royals set their 25-man roster for Opening Night, giving the last two spots on the roster to pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and outfielder Terrance Gore. Tim Collins moves to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Wang, who was a minor league free agent. he Royals return 18 players from last year's Opening Day roster, although Jarrod Dyson and Jason Vargas will begin the year on the disabled list.

Here are your Royals available for Sunday's game against the New York Mets.

Catchers (2): Drew Butera, Salvador Perez

Infielders (6): Christian Colon, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Omar Infante, Kendrys Morales, Mike Moustakas

Outfielders (5): Lorenzo Cain, Reymond Fuentes, Alex Gordon, Terrance Gore, Paulo Orlando

Starting Pitchers (5): Ian Kennedy, Kris Medlen, Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez, Chris Young

Relief Pitchers (7): Wade Davis, Danny Duffy, Dillon Gee, Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar,  Joakim Soria, Chien-Ming Wang

Disabled List: Tim Collins, Jarrod Dyson, Mike Minor, Jason Vargas

# Position Pitchers DOB 2015 Club
9 C Butera, Drew 8/9/1983 LA Angels (MLB), Kansas City (MLB)
Will serve as backup catcher, should not expect much playing time.
6 OF Cain, Lorenzo 4/13/1986 Kansas City (MLB)
All-Star centerfielder, could spend some time in right field to save his legs.
24 IF Colon, Christian 5/14/1989 Omaha (AAA), Kansas City (MLB)
Will serve as the utility infielder, but could start at second if Omar Infante falters.
17 RHP Davis, Wade 9/7/1985 Kansas City (MLB)
One of the best relievers in baseball, will serve as Royals closer.
41 LHP Duffy, Danny 12/21/1988 Kansas City (MLB)
Former starting pitcher will begin the year as the only lefty in the bullpen.
2 SS Escobar, Alcides 12/16/1986 Kansas City (MLB)
All-Star, Gold Glove-winning shortstop and leadoff hitter.
34 OF Fuentes, Raymond 2/12/1991 Omaha (AAA)
Speedy outfielder impressed in camp, could split playing time in right field with Paulo Orlando.
53 RHP Gee, Dillon 4/28/1986 Las Vegas (AAA), NY Mets (MLB)
Former Mets starting pitcher will serve as long-reliever, could make spot starts.
4 OF Gordon, Alex 2/10/1984 Kansas City (MLB)
Royals All-Star, Gold Glove left-fielder fresh off signing a four year, $70 million deal.
0 OF Gore, Terrance 6/8/1991 NW Arkansas (AA), Kansas City (MLB)
One of the fastest men in all of professional baseball, surprised many with the bat last year.
40 RHP Herrera, Kelvin 12/31/1989 Kansas City (MLB)
All-Star reliever will likely serve as the seventh-inning setup man again.
44 RHP Hochevar, Luke 9/15/1983 Kansas City (MLB)
Reliever will be looking to pitch his first full season since coming back from Tommy John surgery.
35 1B Hosmer, Eric 10/24/1989 Kansas City (MLB)
World Series hero, Gold Glove first baseman, and likely cleanup hitter.
14 2B Infante, Omar 12/26/1981 Kansas City (MLB)
Still has two years left on his deal, but could lose his starting second baseman job with a poor spring.
31 RHP Kennedy, Ian 12/19/1984 San Diego (MLB)
Big free agent signing for the Royals, tweaked his hamstring in spring.
39 RHP Medlen, Kris 10/7/1985 Kansas City (MLB)
Will be looking to pitch his first full season since having Tommy John surgery, will be #5 starter.
25 DH Morales, Kendrys 6/20/1983 Kansas City (MLB)
One of the top designated hitters in the game last year, will likely hit fifth for the Royals.
8 3B Moustakas, Mike 9/11/1988 Kansas City (MLB)
Starting third baseman, will likely be moved back up to the #2 spot in the lineup.
16 OF Orlando, Paulo 11/1/1985 Omaha (AAA), Kansas City (MLB)
Brazilian native surprised last year, will get plenty of playing time in right field.
13 C Perez, Salvador 5/10/1990 Kansas City (MLB)
World Series MVP and three-time Gold Glover, fresh off a new contract.
48 RHP Soria, Joakim 5/18/1984 Detroit (MLB), Pittsburgh (MLB)
Former All-Star closer for the Royals returns to serve as eight-inning setup man.
30 RHP Ventura, Yordano 6/3/1991 Kansas City (MLB)
Royals will be looking for the fireballer to take a step forward after up-and-down 2015.
36 RHP Volquez, Edinson 7/3/1983 Kansas City (MLB)
"Steady Eddie" will make the Opening Night start and anchor the rotation.
67 RHP Wang, Chien-Ming 3/31/1980 Gwinnett (AAA), Tacoma (AAA)
Two-time 19-game winner and groundball artist revived his career by increasing velocity to mid-90s.
32 RHP Young, Chris 5/25/1979 Kansas City (MLB)

The lanky fly-ball pitcher will start the second game.

The Royals also begin the year with four players on the disabled list.

# Position Pitchers DOB 2015 Club
55 LHP Collins, Tim 8/21/1989 Disabled List
Suffered a setback and will require a second Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season.
1 OF Dyson, Jarrod 8/15/1984 Kansas City (MLB)
Will miss the first two weeks with a right oblique strain, will start in right-field when healthy.

LHP Minor, Mike 12/26/1987 Disabled List
Former Braves first-round pick will return from a torn labrum injury by June or July.
51 LHP Vargas, Jason 2/2/1983 Kansas City (MLB)
Will likely miss the entire season with a torn UCL and Tommy John surgery.

The average age of the players on the Opening Day roster is 30 years old. This is no longer a young team. Only two players are under age 25.

Here is how a breakdown on how the 25-man roster was acquired.

No matter how you slice it, they look like a bunch of winners to me.

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