Jonathan

India

Royals manager Matt Quatraro deemed India’s early exit as precautionary while speaking to reporters after the contest. The 29-year-old utility specialist will undergo further evaluation to determine the severity of the issue later this weekend. There should be some additional clarity shortly but it doesn’t sound like a major concern.

India is getting to lead off for a Royals team that’s been robbed of its top five hitters by the WBC and is off to a 4-for-13 start with five walks in seven games. He seems likely to open up batting sixth in the regular season, but there might be a scenario in which he returns to the leadoff spot and Maikel Garcia bats cleanup, which is where he finished last year.

Garcia spent a lot of time hitting cleanup down the stretch last season, but he’s led off in all three of his appearances this spring, suggesting that the Royals are leaning towards employing him there in the regular season. That would give Salvador Perez’s stock a little boost, since he’d move up from fifth to fourth. Jonathan India, who opened up in the leadoff spot last year, would hit in the bottom half of the order if Garcia leads off, making him a weaker bet as a late-round, bounce-back option.

A candidate to be non-tendered on Friday, India will now return to the Royals for a second season. He had a miserable 2025 in his debut with the club, slashing just .233/.323/.346 with nine homers and 45 RBI in 567 plate appearances.

India’s three-run homer was the entirety of the offense for the Royals on Friday. In his first season with Kansas City, the former first-round selection has slashed .234/.324/.347 while picking up nine homer in the process. It’s fair to say that India has not done enough to be guaranteed a starting role in 2026.

India was plunked during Thursday’s contest against the Guardians, but this doesn’t appear to be related. It’s just a night off for the versatile 28-year-old. Michael Massey will start in his place at second base and will bat seventh against Phillies’ right-hander Walker Buehler on Friday evening in Philadelphia.

Massey, who already sat against lefties on Tuesday and Wednesday, is out of the lineup for just the second time in 10 games against righties since he came off the IL. The Royals are picking Jonathan India over both Massey and Adam Frazier at second base tonight. Masset is batting .333/.351/.389 in 37 plate appearances since returning from an ankle sprain.

That’s the good news. The bad is that were both hit at 64-65 mph, and he struck out in his other at-bat. India hasn’t done anything to deserve regular playing time the rest of the way, but it’s not like the competition is very strong. He could take at-bats away from Adam Frazier, Jac Caglianone and Michael Massey going forward.

India returns to Kansas City’s lineup following a minimum stay on the shelf with a left wrist sprain. The versatile 28-year-old has hit .232/.324/.342 with eight homers and 41 RBI in 532 plate appearances over 124 games this season in his Royals debut.

India seemed in line for a reduced role with Salvador Perez and Jac Caglianone due to see DH time, but his wrist will take him out of the mix entirely for at least the next eight days. A big disappointment in hitting just .232/.324/.342 this season, he could be a non-tender candidate this winter.