After a 114-98 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley has been diagnosed with a left calf strain that will be reevaluated in 1-3 weeks, according to senior NBA insider Chris Haynes. 

Mobley finished the game with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 35 minutes. It was the Cavs’ fourth consecutive victory and their sixth in the last seven games. Now, Cleveland must navigate through a crucial stretch without their young All-Star and reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

On Monday night, along with the team’s 28th win of the season, Mobley also entered the Cavs record books. Mobley blocked the 500th shot of his career, becoming only the fifth player in Cavaliers history to reach that milestone. He also became the youngest player to reach that number in franchise history.

Former Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas holds the franchise record with 1,269 blocks during his 12 seasons in Cleveland. Mobley reached 500 in blocks in less than five full NBA seasons. His career average for blocks per game already equals Ilgauskas’ at 1.6. Barring multiple lengthy stints on the injured list, that record will likely belong to Mobley should he remain in Cleveland for the majority of his career. 

The Cavs are currently sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, which is much different than the team’s experience last season. Last season, the Cavs were near the top of the conference for much of the year, finishing 64-18 and capturing the No. 1 seed in the east. We’re just past the halfway point this season (in terms of games played), and Cleveland (28-20) already has more losses than all of last year.

So, even a couple of weeks without one of their best players and best defender could prove detrimental to their playoff hopes. In 42 games this season, Mobley is averaging 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks per game. 

You’ve heard it said before. He’ll be different with us. We can fix him.

Former Red Sox top prospect, White Sock, and Dodger, the artist known as Michael Kopech remains one of the great project pitchers of our time. There are always a few guys like this around. Blessed with great stuff but unable to put together the health and the command to really take advantage of their strengths. Garrett Richards, Nick Pivetta…Zack Wheeler was once this sort of guy. Hard-throwers with nasty breaking stuff who continue to break hearts and disappoint fanbases for years. Sometimes, as with Wheeler and to a lesser degree Pivetta, it eventually gels and they become much more consistent major league pitchers. Or like Richards, one or two good seasons are followed by nearly a decade of struggle before the player finally hangs up his spikes for good.

The Tigers have been vaguely linked to free agent starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, with some rumor that the high school teammate of Jack Flaherty might find a comfortable home in Detroit. Lefty swingman Nick Martinez has been mentioned. Justin Verlander is still available, but likes things quiet and is rarely a big subject of rumors until a deal is about to happen. Maybe he’d be best served preparing on his own and waiting until a contender needs him in March when injuries crop up. Zac Gallen and Chris Bassitt are still out there as potentially solid inning eater type arms. However, even if they’re hunting for another arm, it seems likely the Tigers would like to wait another week or so for Tarik Skubal’s final number before they decide to add another pitcher.

But while attention is focused more on a starter, and Kopech hasn’t been a starter since 2023, I just want to personally beg the Tigers to take a flier on the mercurial, oft-injured, hard-throwing right-hander. The Tigers have four main ingredients that could help any pitcher. Pitching coaches Chris Fetter and biomechanics specialist and assistant pitching coach Robin Lund, catcher Dillon Dingler behind the plate, and a reasonably good park for a fly ball pitcher to thrive in.

Kopech history

Of course, Kopech has been on some well coached teams. Ethan Katz of the White Sox seems fairly good, and Kopech spent 2024 and an injury plagued, 11 inning campaign in 2025, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. So we can’t expect miracles, but Kopech has enough potential to recapture his former form that I would love to see the Tigers coaching staff get a crack at him. There are signs that he and the Dodgers were on the right track until a knee injury ended his 2025 season.

Kopech is not going to get a particularly large sum of money. He’s barely drawn any attention in free agent chatter this offseason. So we’re just talking about taking a fun flier where the Tigers get a chance to work with Kopech in the spring and early in the season, and they just see how it goes.

Michael Kopech was the 33rd overall pick out of Mount Pleasant High School in northeast Texas way back in 2014. He quickly emerged as one of the better pitching prospects in baseball, blowing people’s minds with a 105 mph fastball in High-A ball and consistently sitting triple digits as a starter by 2016. That same year the Red Sox dealt him to the White Sox in a hugely consequential deal for Chris Sale.

Things did not work out for the White Sox. As he so often has, Dave Dombrowski won that deal handily. Sale thrived, while Kopech briefly debuted in 2018, then had UCL reconstruction surgery in 2019 and wasn’t back on the mound until 2021. Two mediocre years in a starting role followed, along with nagging injuries, until the White Sox finally dealt him to the Dodgers. There he converted to relief in 2024-2025 and has been reasonably effective in that role.

Of course, a meniscus tear in his right knee caused Kopech to miss most of the 2025 season, so it’s not as though things magically turned around with the Dodgers. However, with the usual monstrous caveat, “if he’s healthy,” Kopech is a quality reliever who has the odd bout of wildness but can also overpower the best hitters in the game when he’s on. And he can do that almost entirely based off his fourseamer alone.

Of course it’s also possible that he’s wild, injured, walks the world, and has to be released. There’s a reason he’s likely to be fairly cheap as a free agent.

Kopech’s upside

Kopech still has the power stuff. As a reliever he’s basically fastballs all the time. Over the past two seasons he’s been 81 percent fastballs with an average velo of 98 mph and a slightly above average induced vertical break mark. He also retains his above average extension. Unfortunately he also retains a long arm path and a pretty high effort delivery that will sometimes get off balance as well. Even as a prospect the relief risk was always a part of Kopech’s scouting reports, as his delivery never screamed consistent strike thrower.

Still, while he’s struggled with his breaking stuff and become almost pretty one dimensional as a reliever, that fastball is so good that he has a 3.32 ERA through 78 2/3 innings of relief work, though his 4.09 FIP speaks to the high walk rate as well. Kopech is punching out 30.1 percent of hitters despite the fact that everyone in the stadium and watching at home knows what’s coming 80 percent of the time.

Kopech has also made some moves toward recapturing the higher arm angle he had earlier in his career in his time with the Dodgers. That arm angle had dropped some after Tommy John when he was still trying to hold up to a starting workload. It reached its low in 2023, but with the Dodgers has been moving back up. That seems like the right adjustment for him considering his riding fourseam shape, and may indicate that at least his arm is healthier than he was following TJ.

As a starter, Kopech’s fastball command was occasionally a problem, but his bigger issues came from wildly inconsistent breaking and offspeed stuff. In longer outings, he couldn’t just rely on blowing most hitters away, and that’s when he got into trouble. Kopech’s slider was good but erratic and he had a distinct tendency to hang it in a bad spot. In 2023 he started tinkering with a cutter, and it’s become a bigger part of his repertoire over the past two years, replacing the breaking balls. He only threw 11 innings in 2025, but he ditched the slider entirely, using the 91.1 mph cutter instead. It’s pretty close to a turbo slider not dropping that much but with some gloveside cut. It’s a nasty pitch, and more to the point, Kopech may have a lot easier time locating it than his old slider, which required him to really rip through and spin the baseball.

The case for signing Kopech

The idea is pretty simple. The best pure arm talent still available in free agency is Michael Kopech. The power stuff in relief is pretty hard to argue with here. The questions with Kopech are all about his command and his health, but when he’s healthy he’s remained an effective pitcher who balances out the high walk rate with a lot of strikeouts based on raw stuff alone. This despite a whole litany of mostly minor injuries in the years since he returned from Tommy John surgery.

If the Tigers can do even a little bit to help him refine the arm slot adjustment and the new cutter he’s worked on, they’ll have a top 30 reliever here. The dream of converting him back to starting is probably dead, but the continued excellence in his fastball and the developments he’s been working on with the Dodgers could make him a minor steal for the Tigers and a nice reinforcement for the bullpen.

Yes, the Tigers should probably go out and add the best starter they can if they aren’t comfortable with their rotation depth. Kopech can’t come at the expense of signing another starter if that’s their plan. And yes, adding both Kopech and a Lucas Giolito level starter would require opening two more spots on the 40-man roster. That can be arranged without too much difficulty to bolster the pitching staff.

All bets are off if Kopech ends up getting a flurry of good offers and ends up getting a big enough deal that it would get in the way of the Tigers adding a starter. The Giants have been rumored as interested in recent weeks, but nothing has come of it yet, and beyond that the Kopech news has been light. If the Tigers could snatch him up right now for $5-6 million with a 2027 team option, I would love it.

No argument it’s a volatile profile, but the upside is worth a minor risk for the Tigers. If he’s banged up in 2026? Well he isn’t hurting anything and he won’t cost as much as Alex Cobb. Without access to his medicals, it’s impossible to insist that this is a good idea. Maybe he’s got too much wear and tear in his shoulder, elbow, and knee. The optimistic view is that maybe the things he’s been working on come together and he’s pitching the eighth and ninth inning by midseason, lengthening the bullpen and giving A.J. Hinch even more flexibility.

The Tigers were unwilling to go out on a limb to sign a major free agent this offseason. Perhaps they’ll still go get themselves a mid-rotation starter once Tarik Skubal’s arbitration hearing clarifies their 2026 payroll. Who knows, maybe they’ll blow our minds by signing Eugenio Suarez to play third. Yes I’m kidding. But taking a smaller swing with this kind of upside is a plus and an aggressive, smaller scale move would be welcome either way. In Kopech’s case the potential reward is worth the risk and we’d love to see the Tigers staff get a crack at tuning him up a bit more.

Recently MLB Network hosts Houston native Robert Flores and Harold Reynolds released their own Houston Astros Franchise Favorite list, followed by another Houston native Brian McTaggart Astros beat writer for the Houston Astros. I figured why not weigh in the deep end of this pool. If you look at this graphic you will see the list I have compiled.

This list took some removing and replacing a few times. There simply aren’t enough spots for everyone I think deserves to be on this list.

The Starting 9: Catcher: Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio logged more time at other positions than catcher, he logged only 428 games at backstop, and 1989 games at 2B, 363 games in the OF, so why would I put him as the backstop. First, it is where he began his career, and Second Jose Altuve has already cemented his place in Astros history with 2 world Series titles, batting titles galore. What Biggio did could solidify him as the ultimate utility guy over the tenure of his storied 15 year career. Bottom line, I could not leave him out of the starting 9. Mr. 3,000 was the definition of Houston baseball, both he and his partner in crime Jeff Bagwell never wore another uniform. This scrappy kid from Smithtown, NY made his home in the dirt, he was either sliding in to extend a double, diving for line drive, or sprinting around the bases after one of his famous lead off home runs. THis 7 time All Star, 4 time Gold Glover, 5 time silver slugger and Hall of Famer deserves the ability to be placed on this lineup as a catcher. He may disagree and give the accolades to to Ausmus, but since this is my list he will be our starting catcher.

First Baseman: Jeff Bagwell

Clearly this Hall of Famer is second to none in Houston Astros history. An original member of the Killer B’s, leading the club to division titles and its first ever World Series. This NL Rookie of the Year, MVP, 4 time All Star, as well 3 time silver slugger carved his name in Astros history. This blistering bruiser of the baseball made mincemeat out of pitches thrown his way and executed his defense like an art. His .297 Career Avg. 2,314 hits, 1,517 Runs , and a .408 OBP sets the standard.

Second Baseman: Jose Altuve

Jose Altuve, clearly in the running for GREATEST HOUSTON ASTROS PLAYER OF ALL TIME. Some say the time has not yet arrived, others differ. Since I was a kid I recall seeing Astros greats put on the orange and blue. From the Astrodome to Daikin Park, and I cannot recall a single player who has had a greater impact on a franchise as much as Jose Altuve. He is a 2 time World Series Champion, a Gold Glove winner, AL MVP, 3 time batting champion, 7 time silver slugger, and a 9 time all star. One of the only questions remains for this Titan of the diamond, will he reach the 3,000 hit plateau? I will throw my hat in the “Yes he will”, ring when it comes to 3,000. Beyond that, this man has put his team on his back and done his best “Take out the Yankees”move in the postseason, enough times to never be forgotten, and solidify a case for a statue in H-Town (as we call it.)

Third Baseman: Alex Bregman

Many old school Astros fans will say, what about Ken Caminiti, Doug Radar, Enos Cabel or even Morgan Endsberg? Not to mention Phil Garner clearly in the Top 5 of third baseman. At this point I looked at what happened under their tenure holding down the Hot Corner, and what kind of positional prowas did they represent while in Houston. We know Alex Bregman has moved on, but we will never forget what this 5’11” or 6’0” (depends on the day) kid from Albuquerque, New Mexico brought with him after stopping at LSU where he grew into a favorite to be a Top draft pick in MLB’s amature draft. This 3 time All-Star, 2 time World Series Champion, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and All Star game MVP gave his all to the Houston Astros. An astounding career on the diamond and in the batters box, as well a “Pro’s Pro”. One of my favorite things about Alex was his ability to bridge cultural divides with his teammates, there was no language barrier with him, he was always in the lab with the guys. Having spoken with him on a couple occasions there aren’t many that are obsessed with baseball as this man is and will always be. I think he deserves to have his number retired once his career has come to a close.

Shortstop: Carlos Correa

In 2015 the Houston Astros played the New York Yankees in a 1 game Wild Card Playoff, Carlos Correa was asked , “Being your first postseason game are you nervous about playing here, in Yankee Stadium against such a storied franchise?” Carlos replied, “I have been preparing for this since I was 6, I’m not nervous, I am ready.” That made an impression on me and from that point on he took the mantle of leader. He lead the team to their first World Series in 2017. He’s won Rookie of the Year, a Gold Glove, and Platinum Glove, as well a 3 time All-Star twice wit the Astros. Carlos Correa’s speech to Framber Valdez on the mound in the 2020 ALCS Game 6 almost single handedly helped them win that series. When he left the club felt a void and in an unexpeceted return to Prodigal ahs come home. Now at third base this newly minted third baseman has his eyes set on another World Series.

Left Field: Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman fell off the Hall of Fame ballot after 1 time through, I believe something is very wrong with that. The Big Puma was one of the most prolific switch hitters during his playing days, and probably one of the most effective all time in an Astros uniform. Back in 2012 Bleacher Report ranked Switch hitters all time. Lance Berkman was 9th on that list, guess who ranked lower? Newest Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran (12th) he’s the lone Hall of Famer behind him. Those that are ranked 1-8, 6 are hall of famers and 7 if you count Pete Rose. While these things can be debated back and forth, it appears that Lance Berkman is at least by this list a snub. A 6 time All-Star, career .293 hitter, 1,905 hits, 366 Home Runs, 1146 R, and 1234 RBI. Lance Berkman should clearly be in the Hall, and hopefully his peers will feel the same way down the road. His 6 seasons of 100+ RBI, hitting over .300- 5 seasons, and posting a career OPS+ of 144 in my mind puts him up there. Who can forget that amazing iver the shoulder grab on Tal’s Hill quite possibly the worst addition to a MLB field in our lifetime.

Center Field: Cesear Cedeno

Cesear Cedeno was one of the best Center Fielders in baseball, especially playing in the wide open spaces of the Astrodome. He won 5 Gold Gloves navigating the outfield in Houston, as well earning 4 All-Star selections. Some say Cedeno was THE Best CF in baseball those 5 years he won the Gold Glove. He also was able to hit for power at times. I recall a conversation with Jose Cruz at Reckling Park home of the Rice Owls and I asked him. “If you, Cedeno, Wynn, Puhl and others played at Minute Maid park (prior to its name change) would you guys have hit more home runs?” Cheo Cruz, “Definitely my friend, we would have hit soooo many more. That is without a doubt, but when we hit it, there was never a cheap Home Run, it was a feat.” I think Cedeno’s 550 stolen bases is often over looked, along with his 2,087 hits, .285 career avg. and his OPS of .790 (.805 w/the Astros) OPS+ of .123. Cesar was truly one of the greats and earns my center field spot.

Right Field: George Springer

This 4 time All-Star, World Series MVP, and 3 time Silver-Slugger was drafted and grew up in Houston. George Springer is one of the most Clutch MLB Superstars of this generation. I had other options in right field, Kyle Tucker, Terry Puhl (Astros Hall of Fame), Richard Hidalgo and Hunter Pence all deserve a mention. None thought did it like, George Freakin Springer, on a cool October night George Springer went 0-4 with a strikeout. Many wondered “Why is he batting lead off?” Well George found that clutch gene, and the rest is history. Yes I know baseball fans outside of Houston hate hearing this, but what George Springer did was without any assistance, no scandal, no trash receptacle just George being George. He went on to hit a Springer Dinger in 4 consecutive World Series games. Going 11 for 25 and hitting 5 home runs in the next 6 games. This 11th overall pick of the Houston Astros made his mark. Clubbing 20 plus Home Runs 4 seasons in a row, an OPS of .974 in 2019. Not to mention his amazing grabs in Right Field. Springer along with the Golden Era Stros Bregman, Altuve and Correa were a force to be reckoned with until they eventually parted ways.

Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez

There I am sure could be others you could slot in here, but no one even in a down year makes the Top 30 after a year where he was limited by games played. Before I move forward I think we lean into the injuries a little to much with Alvarez. The bottom line, he is one of the most prolific Left handed hitters in all of baseball. In his young career he won A.L. Rookie of the Year after only playing 87 games in his rookie campaign, is a 3 time All-Star, a Silver Slugger award winner, hit the series clinching go ahead 3 run home run in game 6 of the 2022 World Series, as well won ALCS MVP in 2021. Yordan Alvarez who hits better when he plays in the field is on a trajectory to become one of the best DH players alongside David Ortiz. The man lights up the score box, as well takes out light panels in scoreboards. He hit 31 or more home runs 4 straight seasons from 2021-2024. He still has more in the tank where that came from.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brad Ausmus

Although he didn’t end his career as a Houston Astros backstop, nor did he endear himself to Astros fans post playing career. There is no doubt that the man who lifted more than Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio in the clubhouse back in the late 90’s was catcher for more games than any other 1,243 games. Brad Ausmus was a defensive menace for opposing base runners, and one of the best battery mates an Astros pitching staff has ever seen. Out of his 3 Gold Gloves 2 were awarded to him while in as Astros uniform. I was in attendance when he hit the biggest home run of his career which sent Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS into extra’s. We all recall the 18 inning marathon that ended with Chris Burke hitting the walk-off. I would say, without Ausmus home Run that obviously never happens.

Who would you put in this list?

Please share in your comments below, agree or disagree as you see fit. I do not believe there is simply one answer to this, and it is always fun to see where others are on these lists.

Always Positive, Always Stros

Brett Chancey

The Astros Can’t Afford to Stand Pat and Dana Brown Knows It

With FanFest now in the rearview mirror and the Super Bowl still dominating the sports calendar, it’s easy for Houston Astros fans to mentally hit pause before spring training truly begins. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: this roster is not finished, and pretending otherwise risks slamming the Golden Era window shut far sooner than anyone wants to admit.

If the Astros genuinely believe they can make another run at a World Series, Dana Brown has a lot more work to do. And no amount of optimism, prospect hype, or internal faith should change that reality.

Yes, the national conversation has focused almost entirely on Houston’s crowded infield and which piece, Christian Walker or Isaac Paredes, might be moved. That’s fine. It’s a real storyline. But it’s also a convenient distraction from two far more pressing issues that could undermine this team long before October even comes into focus.

The Catcher Situation Is a Problem

Victor Caratini signing with the Minnesota Twins didn’t just create a hole on the roster. It exposed a blind spot.

The Astros can talk all they want about Yainer Díaz being the everyday catcher, and long term, that’s probably the right call. But anyone who watched this team closely last season knows the truth: Caratini carried far more weight than a typical backup catcher should.

He didn’t just fill in, he delivered. He switch-hit. He came up clutch. He stabilized the pitching staff. More often than not, he was the reason the Astros survived injuries and inconsistency without falling out of the AL West race.

Expecting César Salazar to replicate that is wishful thinking at best. This isn’t a knock on Salazar, who is serviceable behind the dish, it’s an acknowledgment of reality. Caratini was a luxury Houston leaned on heavily, and now that safety net is gone.

That makes adding a veteran backup catcher non-negotiable. No, the Astros won’t find another Caratini. But they must find someone Joe Espada can trust to catch meaningful innings, provide competent offense, and step in if Díaz hits a rough stretch or simply needs a breather. Anything less is rolling the dice with a position that quietly mattered far more than fans want to admit.

One Left-Handed Starter Isn’t a Plan, It’s a Risk

Then there’s the rotation, where the lack of left-handed pitching borders on negligence for a team with championship aspirations.

Yes, Houston can go eight or nine deep with starters on paper. But only one of them, Colton Gordon, throws left-handed. That’s not just a minor imbalance. It’s a strategic disadvantage, especially against elite lineups in October.

Gordon was fine. At times, he was even decent. But “fine” is not the standard for a team chasing another American League crown. And relying on him as the lone lefty option is asking for trouble when injuries inevitably hit.

There’s no cavalry coming from the farm system, either. No left-handed starter is knocking on the door ready to provide depth. That means the responsibility lands squarely on Dana Brown to find solutions, preferably plural, not just hope the rotation stays healthy and everything goes “all right.”

Some fans continue to dream about a Framber Valdez reunion on a short-term, high-AAV deal. Don’t hold your breath. That ship has sailed. Valdez will get paid elsewhere, and the Astros were never going to meet that price tag anyway. Brown’s path forward is clear: veteran, plug-and-play left-handers who can stabilize the rotation when chaos strikes.

Trades Aren’t Optional, They’re Necessary

The reality is the Astros no longer have the luxury of relying on their farm system to patch holes. Years of success have depleted that pipeline, and now the only way forward is through calculated, sometimes uncomfortable trades.

Whoever gets moved between Walker and Paredes has to bring back real value, players who can fill multiple needs, not just depth pieces. And if Jake Meyers or Jesús Sánchez are still on the market, those assets must be leveraged to address weaknesses that are glaring to anyone paying attention. You have depth in the outfield and that depth needs to translate into soloutions at other positions of need.

Standing pat isn’t a strategy. It’s surrender by complacency.

Dana Brown still has time, but time is ticking away and you can’t afford to let it run out. The Golden Era doesn’t stay open out of nostalgia, it stays open because tough decisions are made before they become desperate ones. Dana, the ball is in your court, shoot your shots because we all know you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take and you could end up missing the playoffs too.

Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokić is reportedly ramping up for his return from a knee injury that’s sidelined him for 14 games. 

That’s according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported Tuesday that the Nuggets intend to reevaluate Jokić’s injury in “about a week.” The report doesn’t include a precise timeline. But it sounds like the three-time MVP isn’t long from his return to the court. 

Jokić hasn’t played since hyperextending his left knee on Dec. 29 against the Miami Heat. He was initially given a four-week timetable to be reevaluated.

All-NBA, MVP at risk for Jokić

Per Charania, the Nuggets won’t rush Jokić back. They’re prioritizing his long-term health and availability for the postseason over Jokić’s eligibility for end-of-season honors such as MVP and All-NBA. Per a rule instituted in the 2023-24 season, players must play a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season awards. If Jokić misses four more games, he won’t be eligible.

The Nuggets have thrived despite the injuries to Jokić and most of the rest of their starting lineup. Fellow starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson have all faced extended absences this season. Jokić’s backup Jonas Valančiūnas missed 11 straight games with a calf strain sustained a game after Jokić sustained his injury.

The Nuggets have gone 8-4 in Jokić’s absence and enter Tuesday at 31-15, good for a second-place tie with the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference. 

Role players such as Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. have stepped up amid the injuries, while Jamal Murray is making a case for his first All-Star selection as the team’s unquestioned court leader in Jokić’s absence with averages of 26 points, 7.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 44.8% from 3 this season.

Despite the team success, the sooner Jokić can return the better, obviously. But Denver’s ability to remain competitive amid the injuries under first-year head coach David Adelman has reduced any pressure to rush Jokić back. The priority in Denver is to have Jokić, Gordon, Braun and Johnson back healthy for the postseason and a chance to unseat the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Royals announced they have invited 25 non-roster players to spring training in Arizona, including former first-round picks Blake Mitchell, Frank Mozzicato and Gavin Cross. The list also includes some MLB veterans trying to make the club, such as catcher Jorge Alfaro, infielder Josh Rojas, and pitchers Jose Cuas, Héctor Neris, and Aaron Sanchez.

Here is a rundown of the 25 players with non-roster invites:

Pitchers

AJ Causey is a sidearming right-hander who was selected by the Royals in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. He posted a minuscule ERA of 1.72 with 75 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 73.1 innings across High-A and Double-A, and walked just one batter with 13 strikeouts in the Arizona Fall League.

Dennis Colleran boasts a 100 mph fastball that he used to strike out 72 hitters in 66.1 innings last season, while posting a 2.85 ERA.

Jose Cuas pitched for the Royals from 2022 to 2023, and was a very effective reliever his first season with a 3.58 ERA in 47 outings. The 31-year-old sidearmer has since played for the Cubs and Blue Jays, but returned to the Royals on a minor league deal.

Chazz Martinez is a 26-year-old left-hander out of the University of Oklahoma. He had a 1.85 ERA in 31 outings for Northwest Arkansas, before struggling upon a promotion to Omaha.

Frank Mozzicato was the seventh overall pick of the 2021 draft known for a big curveball that causes a lot of whiffs. But he has failed to add velocity and has struggled with control, posting a 1.24 ERA in 36.1 innings at High-A, but struggling with a 7.46 ERA and 53 walks in 56.2 innings at Double-A.

Héctor Neris is a 12-year MLB vet who had 18 saves in 2024 with the Cubs and Astros. The 36-year-old had a 6.75 ERA in 35 games last year, but still struck out 11.8 hitters per-nine-innings.

Helcris Olivárez was signed as a minor league free agent after stints in the Rockies, Red Sox, and Giants organizations. He has a blazing fastball that can hit 100 mph, but has trouble with control. Last year, the left-hander posted a 3.65 ERA but with 43 walks in 37 innings across Double-A and Triple-A.

Shane Panzini is a 24-year-old right-hander drafted out of high school in 2021. He had the best season of his pro career with a 3.39 ERA and an improved strikeout rate of 9.4 per-nine innings in 109 innings.

Hunter Patteson dominated High-A ball this year with a 1.99 ERA in 13 starts, before going to Double-A and posting a 4.41 ERA in 49 innings. The lefty was a fifth-round pick out of Central Florida in 2022.

Aaron Sanchez faced the Royals in the 2015 ALCS as a member of the Blue Jays, and was a 2016 All-Star. He has not pitched in the big leagues since 2022, but was named Pitcher of the Year in the Dominican Winter League this year.

Catchers

Jorge Alfaro is a nine-year MLB vet who has hit .253/.301/.391 in his career. The 32-year-old played in a handful of games with the Nationals last year, and last had significant big league time in 2022.

Canyon Brown is a ninth-round pick in the 2024 draft who hit .225/.309/.297 in 70 games at High-A.

Omar Hernández is a 24-year-old switch-hitter who hit .225/.259/.275 in 75 games across High-A and Double-A last season.

Elih Marrero is a former Red Sox prospect who spent last season in the Rangers organization and is the son of former Royals outfielder Eli Marrero. He hit .257/.381/.657 with two home runs in 13 games in the Dominican Winter League.

Blake Mitchell is a former first-round pick with the Royals and a top 100 prospect on many lists. The 21-year-old suffered a wrist injury that caused him to miss the start of last season, and returned to hit .218/.390/.320 with three home runs in 60 games, then a .434 on-base percentage in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League.

Ramón Ramírez was the best hitter for the Columbia Fireflies last year, hitting .244/.339/.442 with 11 home runs in 70 games.

Luca Tresh is a 26-year old former North Carolina State catcher who hit .259/.321/.473 with 10 home runs in 72 games for Omaha last year.

Infielders

Connor Kaiser is an Overland Park native who has appeared in a handful of MLB games with the Rockies and Diamondbacks. The 29-year-old hit .236/.345/.406 with six home runs in 71 games at Triple-A last year.

Kevin Newman has played in eight MLB seasons, mostly with the Pirates, as a career .259/.300/.355 hitter. He was a 2.2 rWAR player in 2024 with the Diamondbacks, but hit just .202/.209/.272 in 56 games with the Angels last year.

Josh Rojas is a career .241/.317/.353 hitter in seven MLB seasons as a left-handed hitter. He is an exemplary defender and can play all over the field, and was worth 2.2 rWAR in 2024 with Seattle.

Abraham Toro plays mostly first and third with a little time at second, and hit .239/.289/.371 with seven home runs in 77 games with Boston. The 29-year-old switch-hitter has also spent time with the Astros, Mariners, Brewers, and Athletics.

Daniel Vázquez is a slick-fielding shortstop who was ranked #16 in the farm system by MLB Pipeline last year. The 22-year-old hit .260/.333/.351 in 116 games, but really impressed in the Arizona Fall League with a line of .329/.459/.468 in 22 games.

Peyton Wilson is a versatile, switch-hitting former second-round pick, who hit .259/.353/.389 in 103 games in the high minors last year.

Outfielders

Gavin Cross was the ninth overall pick in the 2022 draft, but had his career derailed early on by illness. His numbers have been underwhelming, but he seemed to come on at the end of last year, and ended the year at .241/.291/.413 with 17 home runs.

Carson Roccaforte enjoyed a breakout season by hitting .258/.373/.470 with 18 home runs and 43 steals across High-A and Double-A. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter also led the entire organization with 82 walks.

The first workout for Royals pitchers and catchers is Wednesday, February 11. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday, February 16.