Seth Lugo is looking for a rebound season.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo finished second in American League Cy Young voting and earned an All-Star selection in 2024. He finished the year with a 3.00 ERA and 181 strikeouts. His 2025 campaign told a completely different story, as Lugo pitched to a 4.15 ERA. On Monday, the veteran starter revealed a change that could help him bounce back in 2026.
According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Lugo said he has a new grip and new mindset for his slider. Additionally, Lugo -- who made his spring training debut against the Chicago Cubs on Monday -- saw an uptick of two MPH on his slider, according to Rogers.
Lugo ultimately threw two scoreless innings against the Cubs. He surrendered two hits and recorded one strike out in a strong spring debut.
Is Royals' Seth Lugo Poised for a Bounce Back Season?
At 36 years old, is Lugo on track for a big campaign? In all reality, he probably won't finish as a Cy Young finalist once again in 2026. However, Lugo getting back on track and pitching at a respectable level is a realistic possibility.
Lugo's 20.5 percent strikeout rate in 2025 was well below his career average of 23.3 percent. A harder slider could lead to an increase in strikeouts. However, strikeouts will not make or break Lugo's performance. After all, his 21.7 strikeout rate in 2024 was also below his career average.
When Lugo is going right, he is a guy who creates weak contact. In 2024, Lugo recorded a hard-hit percentage against rate of 39 percent -- which was better than his career average. In 2025, however, Lugo turned in a 45.4 percent hard-hit rate against.
Perhaps Lugo's most pressing concern in 2025 was his command of the strike zone. His 5.7 percent walk rate in 2024 ranked in the 86th percentile, while he fell all the way to the 32nd percentile in walk rate in 2025 with a mark of 9.0 percent.
If Lugo can find a way to create more soft contact while also limiting walks, he should be able to pitch to an ERA somewhere in the 3's in 2026 at the very least. His slider adjustment may be what helps Seth Lugo bounce back and make a positive impact in the Royals' starting rotation once again. It will be a pitch to pay close attention to throughout spring training.