Royals hope Soria has a bounce-back season

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Joakim Soria shouldn't have any issue with confidence, not with 202 career saves.

Yet when he returned to Kansas City last season, given a $25 million, three-year deal to serve as the primary setup man for closer Wade Davis, his confidence appeared to be precisely the problem.

He converted one save in eight chances. Only two relievers, Nate Jones of the White Sox and Tyler Thornburg of the Red Sox, had more blown saves in the American League. And by the time the Royals were out of contention in September, Soria had become the scapegoat for many fans.

"When he was pitching good, he was down in the zone and his timing was on and the confidence was there," Royals bullpen coach…