--There were 13 Royals on the opening-day roster who were not on the 2008 season-opening roster. They are 1B Mike Jacobs, SS Mike Aviles, CF Coco Crisp, Cs Miguel Olivo and Brayan Pena, INF/OF Willie Bloomquist, RHPs Kyle Farnsworth, Kyle Davies, Juan Cruz, Robinson Tejeda, Jamey Wright and Doug Waechter and LHP Horacio Ramirez.
--2B Mark Teahen made his fourth consecutive opening-day start -- all at different positions. He opened 2008 in left field, 2007 in right field and 2006 at third base. That is one shy of the record according to STATS Inc. Pete Rose, Tommy Harper, Al Oliver and Paul Molitor started at five positions in five straight seasons. The others starting at four positions in four consecutive season openers were Pete Ward, Jim Northrup, Steve Braun, Dale Murphy, Barry Bonnell, Tony Phillips, Joe Carter, Aubrey Huff and Carl Everett. Teahen is one of seven players on the list who did not start as the DH. --SS Tony Pena Jr., who was the starting shortstop when last season began, made the team as a backup this year. After hitting a puny .169 with six extra-base hits in 95 games last year, Pena has eye surgery immediately after the season. He hit .275 in spring training with two home runs, which is one more than he hit in 2008. Pena lost his starting shortstop job to Mike Aviles.
--RHP Brandon Duckworth, who has appeared in 43 games, including 18 starts, the past three seasons with Kansas City, will begin the season in the Class AAA Omaha rotation. Duckworth was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts last year with the Royals.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9.21 -- Spring training ERA of Zack Greinke, who is the Royals' No. 2 starter.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The (second base) competition between (Alberto) Callaspo, (Willie) Bloomquist and (Mark) Teahen, that's been interesting. I think they bring different things to the party and they all bring very valuable pieces to hopefully to having a very good year." -- Royals manager Trey Hillman.
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