Three Ps paved left-handed reliever Jake Diekman’s path to the Royals bullpen. That’s proximity, power and Palmer.
The text messages began to flood Diekman’s phone moments after his signing became official on Wednesday evening. The Royals, who added right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger last week, continued their quest to construct a formidable and experienced bullpen and erase the memory of last season’s faulty relief corps.
The Royals were ever present in Diekman’s hometown of Wymore in southeast Nebraska, an area overrun with fans of the ballclub. That’s why Diekman, 32, said he spent all night trying to respond to everyone who was part of a “massive overload” or messages he received.