KANSAS CITY -- Yet another sign that Spring Training is almost here: It was Royals Truck Day at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday.
Royals clubhouse personnel packed almost 60,000 pounds worth of bats, balls, luggage, video equipment, medical supplies, strength and training equipment, jackets, pine tar, bubble gum, sunflower seeds and much more into an 18-wheeler headed for Surprise, Ariz., in preparation for the beginning of Spring Training next week.
The truck is scheduled to arrive in Surprise at 8 a.m. MT on Saturday. Royals pitchers and catchers report Feb. 18, while position players report Feb. 22.
Royals visiting clubhouse manager Chuck Hawke, who supervised the loading, admits there was a little more hop in everyone's step Wednesday.