Spring Training Game XXV: Royals v. Padres

The Fighting O’Briens are back at it this afternoon, taking on Jered Weaver and the Padres at 3:05 PM CST.

I’m pretty excited for today’s exhibition because Peter O’Brien keeps giving me excuses to use the Fighting O’Brien’s nickname and Jered Weaver being on the mound means I get to share my favorite tweet of all time:

Also, referring to Indians soft-tossing starter Ryan Merritt:

Jeff’s Jered Weaver tweets will never get old.

As for today’s game, the Fighting O’Brien lineup features a familiar face at designated hitter:

Meanwhile, the Padres lineup will be without our old friend Will Myers today:

Some notes for today’s action:

• Nathan Karns will take the mound for the first time since being named the Royals fifth starter. I wrote a piece yesterday on why Ned Yost had made the right choice by putting Karns in the rotation. I did so knowing that Karns has been knocked around a bit in spring training, giving up nine earned runs in just 11 innings of work. However, he has also struck out 14 batters in those 11 innings and faces the spring’s worst offense in baseball today.
• As noted, Salvador Perez is back in the Royals lineup for the first time since March 6. Perez missed most of that time playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but his return is also notable because he is also returning from knee and elbow injuries.
• Our own Matthew LaMar wrote about how Peter O’Brien has forcibly placed himself into the roster conversation with his spring power surge.
• Jorge Soler hit his first home run of the spring yesterday. Max Reiper wrote this morning about not panicking over Soler’s rough spring, while Ned Yost hopes that the home run will spark his bat.

Today’s game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Kansas City, as well as KCSP 610 radio.