In a few weeks, the Kansas City Royals will go on their spring training tour. In February, they’ll travel to Surprise, Arizona to get ready for the 2024 season. The first exercise for the Royals’ pitchers and catchers is scheduled for February 14; the team’s first full-squad workout is scheduled for February 19. At Surprise Stadium on February 23, the Royals take on the Texas Rangers to open Cactus League play. During spring training, games are open to the public. The Cactus League schedule for the Royals includes 31 games. The Rangers will be their opponent on March 23 in their last spring training game.
The Royals are going to make a diversion before returning home. On March 25, KC and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, its Double-A affiliate, will square off in an exhibition game. The exhibition game in Springdale, Arkansas’s Arvest Ballpark is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m. CT. The Royals’ general manager, J.J. Picollo, stated in a press release, “We are happy to be able to play this exhibition game in front of their fans. Northwest Arkansas has been such a great partner for 15 years.” “Although we were unhappy that COVID forced us to postpone our 2021 game, we are even more thrilled for Naturals fans to have the opportunity to witness so many well-known players who have called Springdale home. This evening will be fantastic for our organisation.
“We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the Kansas City Royals at Arvest Ballpark in 2024,” Naturals vice president & general manager Justin Cole said. “The Royals have been tremendous partners over the years, and we could not be more excited to welcome our Major League affiliate to Springdale in just over two months.” The Naturals have served as a Royals minor-league affiliate since 2008. The Royals relocated their Double-A team to Northwest Arkansas after multiple years in Wichita. The Naturals have sent 101 former players to the Royals’ big-league club. Notable call-ups include Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, Brady Singer, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Greg Holland. Each starred with the Naturals before making his major-league debut with the Royals.
