Royals Seek Catching Depth Beyond Jorge Alfaro

Kansas City's third catcher spot remains a question mark despite minor league signing

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:11am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a catcher's mask, chest protector, and other equipment in an abstract, deconstructed style, representing the complexities of finding the right backup catcher for the Royals.A cubist interpretation of the Royals' search for a third catcher to complement their starting duo.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Royals have signed veteran catcher Jorge Alfaro to a minor league deal, but questions remain about whether he is the best option to complement their catching duo of Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. While Alfaro has some MLB experience, his recent offensive and defensive metrics suggest he may not be an ideal fit as the team's third catcher.

Why it matters

Securing adequate depth at the catcher position is crucial for the Royals as they look to build a competitive roster for the 2026 season. The third catcher spot opened up when Luke Maile entered free agency, and the team will need to ensure they have the right mix of talent and experience to support their starting catchers.

The details

The Royals signed Alfaro, a 32-year-old former prospect, to a minor league contract. While Alfaro has a career .692 OPS and 27% caught-stealing rate across 9 MLB seasons, his recent offensive and defensive metrics suggest he may not be the ideal choice to complement Perez and Jensen. In 2025, Alfaro posted a 54 wRC+ with an OPS under .600 for the second consecutive season, and his underlying metrics, including strikeout rate and expected performance, were not encouraging. Defensively, his pop time was impressive, but his caught stealing, blocking, and framing metrics were below average.

  • The Royals' third catcher spot opened up when Luke Maile entered free agency.
  • In 2025, Alfaro played in 14 MLB games with the Nationals in September.

The players

Jorge Alfaro

A 32-year-old catcher who has played in the MLB for 9 seasons, most recently with the Nationals in 2025. He signed a minor league contract with the Royals in the offseason.

Salvador Perez

The Royals' starting catcher, who has been with the team since 2011.

Carter Jensen

The Royals' other starting catcher, who is expected to share time with Perez.

Luke Maile

The Royals' former third catcher, who entered free agency after the 2025 season.

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What’s next

The Royals will need to evaluate Alfaro's performance during spring training and determine if he is the best option to serve as their third catcher. If not, they may need to continue searching for a more suitable candidate to complement Perez and Jensen.

The takeaway

The Royals' search for a third catcher is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect of their roster-building efforts. While Alfaro has some MLB experience, his recent offensive and defensive metrics suggest the team may need to look beyond him to find the right fit for this crucial role.