The Royals solidified their starting rotation Thursday, naming Alec Marsh their fifth starter when the team breaks camp next week.
Marsh, 25, beat out fellow right-hander Jordan Lyles for the last spot in the rotation. Lyles will pitch out of the bullpen, and Marsh will round out the team’s rotation of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha.
“It was awesome just going in there and earning that spot,” Marsh said. “You know nothing’s guaranteed. I was just trying to take it day by day this spring and that’s what I’ve got to continue to do moving forward. But I’m just ecstatic. Any way I can help this club I’m going to do it.”
Marsh went 3-9 with a 5.69 ERA in 74 1/3 innings last season after being called up in late June. In six games this spring, Marsh has a 3.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
“Expectations have always been high for him,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We saw him make really good strides at the end of last year. He came into camp and continued to make those strides not only with his stuff ticking up, but his command and composure. So we think he’s really just scratching the surface.”
Lyles, 33, went 6-17 with a 6.28 ERA last season while pitching 177.2 innings for the Royals. Lyles is entering the final year of a two-year, $17 million contract he signed last season.
“Nothing is guaranteed to anybody and that’s not an indictment that Jordan can’t start games or be a big part of helping us win,” Quatraro said. “It’s just at this moment we have some tough decisions to make and one of them was we thought Alec was deserving of being in that spot.”
Health also played a role as Lyles, who has had back issues recently, has a 7.88 ERA this spring in three games covering eight innings. The Royals will close out their spring training schedule Monday and return to Kansas City for Thursday’s season opener against the Twins. First pitch is 3:10 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium.
