Every spring training spawns the same story lines — a position battle, an underperforming player with renewed vigor, a consensus to leave the previous season in the past.
But for the Royals, this particular spring training is unlike any in the last six years.
As they stepped onto the back fields here for their first full-squad workout of the season Monday, there was no clear front-runner for the job at first base, vacated by Eric Hosmer. Mike Moustaskas’ replacement at third base was undetermined. Center field, manned for just as long by Lorenzo Cain, had its own vacancy sign staked in the ground.