Kansas City Royals Reveal Technological Changes for TV, In-Stadium Viewership

· Yahoo Sports

The Kansas City Royals will start their season on the road against the Atlanta Braves on Friday, but Monday's home opener against the Minnesota Twins will be a new experience for fans.

The Royals will have a wire cam and drone at home moving forward, making them only one of two MLB teams to use both devices, per KSHB 41's Addi Weakley.

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Royals group director of branded content and innovation Scott Lichtenauer said the two cameras provide a “different way for fans to see the game that’s more engaging and more effective to show the action on the field.” Fourteen MLB.TV teams have wire cams this season, including Kansas City, but the Milwaukee Brewers are the only other club to have both cameras. 

The drone will show overhead shots of the stadium and field, while the wire cam shows the pitch and the outfield simultaneously.

Royals Enter Exciting Era Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14). © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

This is the perfect time for Kansas City's broadcast changes, as the team is worth watching. The squad did not have a winning record from 2016 to 2023, but things turned around in 2024.

The Royals finished 86-76 and made the AL Division Series that year after signing superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to a franchise-record 11-year, $288.9 million contract extension. They then missed the playoffs at 82-80 last season, but signed third baseman Maikel Garcia to a five-year, $57.5 million extension after his breakout campaign.

Garcia, who earned his first All-Star nod in 2025, won the World Baseball Classic (WBC) MVP Award after he and Team Venezuela beat Team USA 3-2 in the final on March 17. Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and outfielder Jac Caglianone also helped Team Italy unexpectedly get to the semifinal.

The Royals signed Pasquantino to a two-year, $11.1 million arbitration extension in January after he tied for 17th in MLB with 32 homers and finished sixth with 113 RBIs in 2025. Meanwhile, Caglianone will play his first full big-league season after entering last year as Kansas City's top prospect and No. 22 on MLB Pipeline.

Catcher and captain Salvador Perez also re-upped with a two-year, $25 million deal in November before leading Venezuela to the WBC title as its captain as well. The 35-year-old is the Royals' lone holdover from their 2015 championship squad, but he still produces. He notched 30 homers, 100 RBIs, and a .729 OPS last season.

Kansas City also has a talented pitching staff including 2026 WBC players Michael Wacha (USA) and Seth Lugo (Puerto Rico). Ace Cole Ragans had a 3.14 ERA over 32 starts in 2024 before an injury-shortened 2025 season, while reliever Lucas Erceg (2.64 ERA) and Matt Strahm (2.74 ERA) both dominated last season. Additionally, closer Carlos Estevez led MLB with 42 saves. 

On top of that, the only Royal with a long-term injury is starting pitcher Alec Marsh (shoulder), per MLB.com. Right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek (oblique) and second baseman Michael Massey (calf) are expected back in April, while right-hander James McArthur's return date is to be determined as he works back from elbow surgery. He missed all of 2025.

In short, Kansas City is healthy and talented enough to win the AL Central. The team has to execute on the field, but this era is a far cry from the 2016 to 2023 years. 

The Royals will play the Braves at 7:15 p.m. ET on Friday.

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