SPRINGDALE — The Kansas City Royals Caravan made its annual stop in Springdale on Monday, and the prevailing theme from players and management was this season is going to be a different year.
The caravan was hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and was held in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club’s weekly meeting. The Naturals are Kansas City’s Double-A Minor League Baseball affiliate.
The caravan featured left-handed pitchers Bruce Chen, Will Smith and Danny Duffy. Chen and Smith were both in the Royals’ starting rotation at season’s end, and both will have to fight to stay there. Duffy was 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA last season before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.
The Royals had a busy offseason as they acquired pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis from Tampa Bay to bolster the pitching staff that could also feature Ervin Santana, Jeremy Guthrie and Luke Hochevar.
With one of the youngest rosters in baseball, Kansas City finished third in the American League Central last season and posted a winning record in 2003. Royals owner David Glass has raised the bar considerably higher.
“Our objective is to make the playoffs,” Glass said. “We have some really good kids that are the face of the franchise right now. I think we are on the way up. Hopefully this year, with the moves we have made, we have a shot.”
Chen will pitch for China in this spring’s World Baseball Classic and the Royals’ veteran is a strong bet to return to the rotation. Chen carries a career 71-72 record after going 11-14 last season
Smith will battle for a spot in the rotation, but the former Naturals player could also become a long reliever in an already strong bullpen. He will head to Arizona in a few weeks and said he is looking forward to competing for a roster spot.
“I like the additions that we have made,” Smith said. “We feel like we will put a starter out there every day that will give us a chance to win ballgames. I’m ready to get things cranked back up and rolling.”
Smith credited Chen with easing the transition to Major League Baseball. Smith, who spent all of the 2011 season with Northwest Arkansas, was 6-9 last season with a 5.32 ERA. He made his Major League debut in May in Yankee Stadium.
“It was nice to be able to pick his brain,” Smith said. “He was a good veteran to have around to talk with day in and day out. The first game was kind of a blur, it happened so fast. I got to start my career off against Derek Jeter. It was still one of the greatest days of my life even though it didn’t go the way I wanted it to.”
The Naturals open the season April 4 and they will host the Texas League All-Star Game on June 25.