SURPRISE, Ariz.
It was a Saturday afternoon in the Royals spring-training clubhouse, and the place was quiet.
Half of the squad had gone to San Antonio, Texas, for a pair of games, and most of those who stayed in Arizona were nowhere to be seen. Miami was on its way to beating Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament on one of the flat-screen televisions near shortstop Alcides Escobar’s locker, but he paid it no mind.
It was about 90 minutes before Escobar was due to bat leadoff against the Angels in a spring game, and he was silently scrolling through his phone when a reporter approached with a burning question.