Royals option Rivero, Zuber to Triple-A Omaha

The Kansas City Royals cut their spring training roster down to 40 players on Tuesday, optioning catcher Sebastian Rivero and right-handed reliever Tyler Zuber to Triple-A Omaha.

Rivero, 22, was added to the Royals’ 40-man roster this offseason. He did not play in 2020 due to the cancelation of the minor league season but spent most of the summer at the Royals’ alternate training site. In 265 career minor league games, the Venezuelan backstop has a .250 batting average with 12 homers and a .636 OPS.

Zuber, 25, spent the entire 2020 season as part of the Royals’ bullpen, posting a 4.09 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 20 walks while holding oppposing hitters to a .197 average in 22 innings.

27 members of the Royals’ 40-man roster are still in major league camp, as well as 13 non-roster invitees.