Small Ball Season

Today is the first spring training game for the Kansas City Royals.

Five weeks from tonight, they’ll open the season in Atlanta against the Atlanta Braves.

And as always, the question comes immediately: How do they look?

The honest answer is that I don’t know. And I’m not sure the games will tell us.

I stopped in briefly last week to reconnect and get a feel for the room. I’ll be back in the middle of March when the roster begins to take shape and decisions feel more real. But in February, it’s rarely about results.

Salvador Perez getting ready for another Royals season

I’ve seen teams dominate spring training and struggle once the season starts. I’ve also seen teams look average in March and then play deep into October. Spring records can be misleading because most players aren’t focused on winning games yet. A pitcher might be refining a new pitch. A hitter could be adjusting timing. Veterans test routines. Young players try to prove they belong.

This is Small Ball season.

When I was there last week, the energy was upbeat. Handshakes. Hugs. Offseason updates. New faces settling in. Day one always carries belief because the record is 0–0 and possibility feels real.

On paper, this team should contend. The pitching is strong, and there’s reason to think they can compete for the division and make a run. But no one can predict health. No one knows who will surprise, who will struggle, or which moment will quietly change everything.

What I do know is that the next month and a half is about preparation. It’s about fundamentals, repetition, communication, and attention to detail. It’s about building habits and reinforcing culture long before the games count.

Five weeks from now, no one will remember the spring record. But they will feel the impact of the work done now.

That’s Small Ball.

Question: What are you refining today that will matter when your season begins?