The Royals have set their Opening Day roster and will begin the season this afternoon against the Minnesota Twins. The Royals return 15 players from last year’s Opening Day roster, plus Mike Minor and Jason Vargas, who began last year on the disabled list. Here is who will be available for action.
Catchers (2): Drew Butera, Salvador Perez
Infielders (6): Christian Colón, Cheslor Cuthbert, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Raúl Mondesí, Mike Moustakas,
Outfielders (5): Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon, Terrance Gore, Brandon Moss, Paulo Orlando
Starting Pitchers (5): Danny Duffy, Jason Hammel, Nathan Karns, Ian Kennedy, Jason Vargas
Relief Pitchers (7): Kelvin Herrera, Mike Minor, Peter Moylan, Joakim Soria, Matt Strahm, Travis Wood, Chris Young
Disabled List: Hunter Dozier, Brian Flynn, Jorge Soler
| # | Position | Players | DOB | 2016 Club |
| 9 | C | Butera, Drew | 8/9/1983 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Backup catcher signed a two-year contract last winter after a career year. | ||||
| 6 | OF | Cain, Lorenzo | 4/13/1986 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Missed last six weeks of 2016 season, will look to stay healthy in his contract year. | ||||
| 24 | IF | Colon, Christian | 5/14/1989 | Omaha (AAA), Kansas City (MLB) |
| Reserve infielder is out of options, will have to clear waivers to be sent down. | ||||
| 19 | 3B | Cuthbert, Cheslor | 11/16/1992 | Omaha (AAA), Kansas City (MLB) |
| Impressed filling in at third last year, but is out of a position and out of options. | ||||
| 41 | LHP | Duffy, Danny | 12/21/1988 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Royals ace took a big step forward last year and was rewarded with a new contract. | ||||
| 2 | SS | Escobar, Alcides | 12/16/1986 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Gold Glove shortstop is in the last year of his contract and is not expected to return. | ||||
| 4 | OF | Gordon, Alex | 2/10/1984 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Gordo will move to leadoff spot and looks to rebound after disappointing 2016. | ||||
| 0 | OF | Gore, Terrance | 6/8/1991 | NW Arkansas (AA), Kansas City (MLB) |
| Speedster makes the club as a pinch-runner extraordinaire. | ||||
| 39 | RHP | Hammel, Jason | 9/2/1982 | Chicago Cubs (MLB) |
| Free agent won 15 games with the World Champion Cubs, but had some elbow issues. | ||||
| 40 | RHP | Herrera, Kelvin | 12/3/1989 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Will move into closer role, converted 12 of 15 saves last season. | ||||
| 35 | 1B | Hosmer, Eric | 10/24/1989 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Is expecting a huge payday after this season when he reaches free agency. | ||||
| 31 | RHP | Karns, Nathan | 11/25/1987 | Seattle (MLB) |
| Acquired for Jarrod Dyson last winter, Karns has struck out over a hitter per inning. | ||||
| 55 | RHP | Kennedy, Ian | 12/19/1984 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Big dollar free agent last year lived up to billing, but can opt-out after this winter. | ||||
| 26 | LHP | Minor, Mike | 12/26/1987 | NW Arkansas (AA), Omaha (AAA) |
| First season back after labrum surgery, will pitch out of the bullpen. | ||||
| 27 | 2B | Mondesi, Raul | 7/27/1995 | NW Arkansas (AA), Omaha (AAA) |
| Speedy infielder impressed in camp, but hit just .185 in 47 games last year. | ||||
| 37 | OF | Moss, Brandon | 9/16/1983 | St. Louis (MLB) |
| Longtime MLB slugger can hit some moonshots, hit 28 home runs last year. | ||||
| 53 | RHP | Moylan, Peter | 12/2/1978 | Omaha (AAA), Kansas City (MLB) |
| Australian sidearmer had a 3.44 ERA in 44 innings for the Royals last season. | ||||
| 8 | 3B | Moustakas, Mike | 9/11/1988 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Missed four months with an ACL injury, will look to match his 2015 numbers. | ||||
| 16 | OF | Orlando, Paulo | 11/1/1985 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Hit .302 in 128 games last year, could fill in at right field with Jorge Soler out. | ||||
| 13 | C | Perez, Salvador | 5/10/1990 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| All-Star catcher may need to take it easy after knee injury in the World Baseball Classic. | ||||
| 48 | RHP | Soria, Joakim | 5/18/1984 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Reliever struggled last year with Royals, handing the lead to opponent 13 times. | ||||
| 64 | LHP | Strahm, Matt | 11/12/1991 | NW Arkansas (AA), Kansas City (MLB) |
| Rookie lefty was outstanding in 22 innings last year, could ease into a late inning role. | ||||
| 51 | LHP | Vargas, Jason | 2/2/1983 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Will attempt to have his first full season since Tommy John surgery in 2015. | ||||
| 34 | LHP | Wood, Travis | 2/6/1987 | Chicago Cubs (MLB) |
| Lefties hit just .128 against Wood last year when he pitched with the Cubs. | ||||
| 32 | RHP | Young, Chris | 5/25/1979 | Kansas City (MLB) |
| Gave up just 28 home runs in just 88 innings, the highest rate in baseball. | ||||
The average age of the Royals on the Opening Day roster is over 30-years-old. Raúl Mondesí will be the first 21-year-old in the Royals Opening Day starting lineup since Billy Butler in 2008.
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The Royals hail from seven different countries - United States (18 players), Venezuela (Salvador Pérez and Alcides Escobar), Dominican Republic (Kelvin Herrera), Brazil (Paulo Orlando), Nicaragua (Cheslor Cuthbert), Mexico (Joakim Soria), and Australia (Peter Moylan). The Royals have used every avenue to populate the roster, using a mix of homegrown talent, free agents, and trades.
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