SURPRISE, Ariz.
As the Royals congregated at their spring-training complex on Sunday morning, a mere fortnight separated the club from its season opener against the New York Mets on April 3.
On a Sunday night at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals will raise a World Series championship flag and kick off the season on national television. Mets starter Matt Harvey will toe the rubber in a rematch of last season’s final game.
The opener will feature pageantry and pomp. For now it still offers intrigue. Even as a now veteran club prepares to defend its title, Royals officials say they do not know the final composition of their 25-man roster.