Royals add four players to 40-man roster, DFA two and send one to Omaha

The Kansas City Royals filled out their 40-man roster Friday, completing the process to protect young players before the reserve list deadline Friday night.

Added to the roster were left-handed pitchers Daniel Tillo and Angel Zerpa, catcher Sebastian Rivero and outfielder Khalil Lee. In corresponding moves, the Royals have designated two pitchers for assignment (right-hander Glenn Sparkman and left-hander Gabe Speier) and sent right-hander Chance Adams outright to Triple-A Omaha.

Lee, 22, was invited to major league spring training and spent last season at the club’s alternate training site after being named the George Brett Minor League Hitter of the Year and Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) Player of the Year in 2019.

Rivero, 22, has participated in big league spring training the last two seasons and worked at the alternate training site in 2020. The 2018 South Atlantic League All-Star split 2019 between Wilmington (Class A+) and Omaha.

Tillo, 24, played at Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas in 2019, then participated in major league spring training and the alternate training site in 2020.

Zerpa, 21, spent most of his 2019 campaign with Burlington (Rookie) and made one start at Idaho Falls (Rookie). He was the winning pitcher for Burlington in Game 1 of the 2019 Appalachian League semifinals, tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.