Royals announce 60-man club pool with several top prospects included

The Royals released the list of 60 players that will begin in their club pool, according to the terms of the new roster rules for this shortened season. The list includes top prospects Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, Kris Bubic, and Bobby Witt. Jr. Not included was 2020 first-round pick Asa Lacy. The club pool comprises the list of players that can make up the active roster this year.

Just because a player is on the 60-man club pool does not mean they are likely to play in the big leagues this year. With the minor league season looking unlikely, this may be the only way some players can get any kind of game action, and it will provide an opportunity fro the Royals’ coaching staff to oversee development of top prospects like Witt, who has still yet to complete his first full pro season.

The 60-man club pool will be allowed to workout at Kauffman Stadium and prepare for the season, which is likely to begin around July 24. Players will be tested for the coronavirus on Wednesday, and cleared for practice by Friday, July 3.

The Royals will have to finalize a 30-man active roster for the start of the season, to be reduced to 28 after the 15th day of the season, then down to 26 after the 28th day. The remaining players will make up a taxi squad that the Royals can use as reserves for the active roster. Players moved on and off the active roster will still be subject to the same option, 40-man roster requirements, and waiver rules as any other year.

Teams can carry up to three taxi squad players on the road with them, one of which has to be a catcher. Players on the taxi squad will not accrue service time or be paid MLB salaries, nor will they need to be on the typical 40-man reserve roster. Players can be added to the 60-man club pool list at any time, but 40-man roster players can only be removed by clearing waivers, and non-40-man roster players can only be removed if they are released.