The Royals could almost put the same group of infielders on the field for an entire series and rotate them daily without becoming overly vulnerable. Versatility, particularly positional versatility, has been a buzzword this offseason and early in spring training.
Whit Merrifield played every infield spot last season, and free-agent signing Chris Owings appears slated for a role in which he’ll play nearly every day despite not having a set position.
Defending out of the shift might be where that versatility shows up most. The Royals, a team entering the season with a stated goal of being elite defensively, shifted infielders the fifth-most of any team in the majors last season (27.