SURPRISE, Ariz. — Just before the Kansas City Royals gathered for Royals Rally earlier this month, reliever Lucas Erceg received a call from general manager J.J. Picollo and manager Matt Quatraro. They wanted to give him a heads-up about the team’s decision to sign former All-Star closer Carlos Estévez, who would likely join Erceg in the back end of the Royals’ bullpen in 2025. More importantly, they wanted to reassure Erceg that his role as a late-inning reliever wasn’t going anywhere.
Erceg, who wasn’t expecting such a courtesy call, appreciated the gesture. “That creates the culture, that creates the foundation,” he said. “That’s pure class from the Royals as an organization.” The 29-year-old right-hander emphasized that he’s not concerned about his specific role—he just wants to pitch in meaningful innings. The Royals plan to use him in high-leverage situations, whether that’s closing games in the ninth inning or setting up in the seventh or eighth. The addition of Estévez gives Quatraro more flexibility to deploy Erceg where he’s needed most.
“I don’t really care what my role is going to be,” Erceg said. “I’ve been telling all my friends and family, there’s nothing quite like that feeling—you can’t even put it into words—of what the postseason is like. But I want to experience it again, for sure.”
Erceg’s strong second half in 2024, after being acquired from the Oakland A’s at the trade deadline, solidified his place as a key piece of the Royals’ bullpen. He thrived as the closer, showcasing his power arm and reliability in high-pressure situations. In his spring debut on Wednesday, Erceg allowed a run and a walk but topped out at 98.1 mph with his fastball, mixing in his sinker, slider, and changeup. Despite being hit by a comebacker, he assured everyone he was “all good” afterward.
This spring marks the first time Erceg hasn’t had to compete for a roster spot, allowing him to ease into camp like an established reliever. Last season, he posted a 3.36 ERA overall but a stellar 2.88 ERA with the Royals, striking out 31 batters in 25 innings. He also shined in the postseason, allowing just two runs in six innings over five appearances. The 2024 season was a career year for Erceg, who set personal highs in innings pitched (61 2/3) and games played.
After the season, Erceg and his wife moved into their new home in Phoenix, giving him time to reflect on his whirlwind year. “There was a certain point where I just hit auto-pilot,” he said. “Finally, I was having coffee in my backyard, just reminiscing on what I went through. It was really, really cool.”
This spring, Erceg is focused on refining his arsenal, particularly his four-seam fastball. He wants to avoid leaving it in the middle of the zone, especially with two strikes. In 2024, 52.1% of his two-strike four-seamers were in the heart of the zone or lower, a trend he’s working to correct. “More times than not, I missed more over the plate and down, rather than miss above the strike zone,” he said. “That kind of got me into trouble.”
With his sights set on another postseason run, Erceg is determined to build on his breakout 2024 season and continue being a dominant force in the Royals’ bullpen.
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