The Kansas City Royals added a potential key contributor for the upcoming season this week.
The Kansas City Royals continue to quietly reshape their pitching depth as they prepare for the 2026 season, turning once again to experience as a stabilizing force.
With Spring Training approaching, the organization has focused on adding low-risk arms capable of competing for bullpen roles while also providing insurance over the long grind of a full season.
These types of signings often fly under the radar but can prove valuable for a club navigating the balance between internal development and immediate competitiveness.
Kansas City’s bullpen picture remains fluid. While several younger arms are expected to factor into late-inning roles, the front office has shown a willingness to supplement that group with veterans who have logged meaningful major league innings.
The latest addition fits that mold: a right-handed reliever with more than a decade of MLB service time who spent last season moving between multiple teams, offering strikeout ability but inconsistent run prevention.
That veteran is Hector Neris, a 12-year major leaguer whose track record includes years as a trusted late-inning option. Over 26 2/3 innings in 2025, he posted a 6.75 ERA but still collected 35 strikeouts, reminding evaluators that the raw tools are not entirely gone.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported the agreement this Monday. “Hector Neris signs with Royals. Minors deal with MLB camp invite,” he wrote on X.
Neris has appeared in high-leverage situations throughout his career, most prominently during extended stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. At his peak, he was relied upon to close games and bridge innings in playoff races, using a deceptive splitter to generate swings and misses against hitters on both sides of the plate.
The deal gives Neris a chance to showcase himself in camp while giving the Royals flexibility, as he does not immediately occupy a 40-man roster spot.
While recent seasons have been unsuccessful, Neris’ body of work includes one of the best campaigns of his career in 2023, when he delivered a dominant regular season out of the Astros’ bullpen.
Neris now enters a competitive Spring Training environment where opportunities may hinge on performance, health and roster maneuvering. For Kansas City, the signing represents a calculated gamble on experience and swing-and-miss ability.
If Neris can tighten command and limit hard contact, he could emerge as a useful bullpen piece. If not, the Royals retain flexibility while continuing to evaluate options ahead of Opening Day.