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Royals hoping Wang is spring success story

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- In every Royals camp, it seems, someone off baseball's radar screen suddenly emerges.

Last year it was Ryan Madson, who hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011, but he made the Royals' Opening Day roster and had a superb season.

This year's camp surprise could be 35-year-old Chien-Ming Wang, who won 19 games in back-to-back seasons in 2006-07. But Wang hasn't pitched in the big leagues since '13.

Those kind of slim odds seem right up the Royals' alley.

Kansas City signed him to a Minor League deal this offseason, just to take a chance and based, too, on the fact he used to work with pitching coach Dave Eiland when the two were with the Yankees.