Will this player make the Opening Day roster?
The Kansas City Royals' catching situation for the 2026 season seems to be set. Veteran Elias Diaz is doing everything he can to make the team consider going with three catchers on the big league roster, however.
On Monday, the Royals were defeated 6-2 by the Cleveland Guardians during a spring training contest. The game was not especially notable, but it was important for Diaz. The 35-year-old veteran catcher went 2-2 at the plate and is now 6-7 overall so far this spring.
Salvador Perez is going to start behind the plate in 2026. Top prospect Carter Jensen is expected to be the designated hitter and backup catcher. The idea is that Jensen and Perez can swap catching duties at times this season, as that would give the veteran more time at designated hitter.
Would the Royals consider a three-catcher roster, though? It is uncertain at the moment, but they signed Diaz for a reason. They are giving him an opportunity to impress in spring training, and he is taking advantage of the situation.
Elias Diaz Playing Well During Spring Training
Diaz has only had seven at-bats. Yet, he is clearly ready to make a case to be on the team. He is sending a direct statement without saying a single word.
Having Diaz on the big league roster would not be a bad idea. It would give Jensen another veteran catcher to learn from. It would also give Kansas City another catcher to turn to without having to worry about replacing the DH spot late in games as well.
Sure, many teams do not go with the three-catcher approach. Kansas City's situation is unique, however, since their catching situation involves the DH role as well. If other bench players out-perform Diaz for the remainder of the spring, then the Royals may go in a different direction. Diaz can potentially earn his spot on the roster, though.
Of course, Kansas City is paying attention to more than just Diaz's offense. They want to see how he handles duties behind the plate, both from a leadership and defensive performance standpoint.
With Perez currently participating in the World Baseball Classic, Diaz will continue to see consistent playing time over the next week with the Royals. The opportunity is there, the question is whether or not he will continue to play at a high level. So far, so good for Elias Diaz during spring training.