Royals Pitcher Mitch Spence Shows Dramatic Velocity Increase in Spring Training Outing
Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence has immediately made his presence felt during his inaugural Spring Training appearance, capturing the attention of coaches and fans alike with a significant and clear surge in his pitching velocity. The notable outing took place last weekend in Arizona, where Spence delivered a brief but impactful performance against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Radar Gun Readings Highlight Substantial Speed Jump
During the game, radar gun readings provided concrete evidence of Spence's enhanced speed, marking a substantial leap compared to his statistics from the 2025 season. In his two-inning appearance, which included two strikeouts, Spence's cutter averaged an impressive 92.7 miles per hour, while his sinker reached a peak velocity of 94.9 mph. These figures quickly became a focal point of discussion as the Royals' coaching staff conducted their early evaluations of pitchers during the initial phase of Spring Training.
Spence's pitch speeds during the Brewers game demonstrated a noticeable and marked increase relative to his performance last season. While with the Athletics in 2025, he averaged 91.1 mph on his cutter and 92.6 mph on his sinker across 32 appearances, making the recent jump all the more remarkable.
Manager Matt Quatraro Comments on the Velocity Surge
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was quick to acknowledge the evident difference in velocity during Spence's outing. "He's thrown three to four miles an hour harder. That's a huge jump," Quatraro emphasized. "And that gives hitters a lot less time to react." The Royals organization had already been familiar with Spence prior to his arrival, and Quatraro noted that the pitcher's recent performances have also showcased improvements in other critical areas of his game.
"He's been very interesting," Quatraro remarked. "The velo has really ticked up and the slider has gotten much, much sharper. So it's a really interesting look."
Spence Attributes Improvement to Offseason Preparation
Spence himself attributed this velocity boost to a dedicated and focused offseason preparation regimen, which centered on refining his mechanics and building overall strength. The pitcher engaged in a comprehensive training program and participated in physical therapy sessions throughout the winter months to achieve these gains.
"The biggest thing this offseason was just cleaning up some stuff with my mechanics," Spence explained. "I started going to physical therapy and just kind of got my arm stronger from the workout program. I think it just kind of clicked."
Additionally, Spence revealed that he has devoted considerable time over the past few seasons to honing and perfecting his sinker. This pitch once again reached 94.9 mph during a subsequent outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, further solidifying his progress. "Now it's been fantastic," Spence stated. "So now it's just trying to figure out when to use it, how to use it and just build confidence with it."
Focus on Acclimation and Building Innings
For Spence, the primary focus during Spring Training revolves around becoming comfortable with his new team, the Royals, and gradually building up his innings. He elaborated that this process involves learning the intricacies of how the new organization operates and integrates its players.
"They're still trying to probably get to know me and figure out how I kind of go about things," Spence said. "The biggest thing right now is just getting comfortable and getting acclimated over here and trying to get some innings under my belt."
Spence's Path to the Major Leagues
Mitch Spence's journey to the majors has been a notable one. He was selected by the Athletics with the first overall pick of the Major League phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, chosen directly from the Triple-A roster of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. This background adds context to his current development and the heightened expectations surrounding his performance with the Royals.
As Spring Training progresses, all eyes will remain on Spence to see if he can maintain this elevated velocity and continue to refine his pitching arsenal, potentially positioning himself as a key asset for the Kansas City Royals in the upcoming season.
