There will be competition. Royals manager Ned Yost declared five positions — and maybe more — to be open as the club continued workouts Thursday in preparation for its first full-squad session on Monday. The team will hold camp battles for starting jobs at first base, third base, center field, right field and designated hitter in the coming weeks.
The implication, of course, is that four positions are fairly firm. Salvador Perez is a lock a catcher, while Alex Gordon is expected to start in left field. Alcides Escobar and Whit Merrifield are favorites to start at shortstop and second base, respectively.