Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India will not be in the starting nine when the Royals continue a series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday evening. India was held out of the starting lineup on Sunday due to a quadriceps injury but was able to return on Monday. However, India has returned to the bench. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case the 28-year-old suffered a setback. As a result, Cavan Biggio will get the nod at the hot corner and bat in the nine-hole. Through his first 16 games in Kansas City, India has seen time at both third base and the outfield. He has posted a .198/.328/.250 line with stellar 14.9 percent walk rate and an 11.9 percent strikeout rate. He remains a strong option in points leagues given his low strikeout rate and ability to draw walks.
Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India (quadriceps) is back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the New York Yankees and veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco in the Bronx, serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff. Right-quad tightness kept India out of the series finale on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians, but he's back in there a day later. The Royals have been using the 28-year-old in both left field and at second base early on this year, but he'll serve as the DH for this one. India has only five career at-bats against Carrasco, hitting a solo home run against him. In his first 15 games with the Royals this year, India has gone 11-for-53 (.208) with no homers, three doubles, three RBI, five runs scored, nine walks and eight strikeouts. He hasn't torn the cover off the ball early on, but India will be an attractive DFS play against Carrasco.
Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India (quadriceps) is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. India was pulled in the sixth inning of the team's loss to Cleveland with right-quad tightness, so it's not a huge surprise that he's not in there. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if India is back in the lineup for Monday's series opener in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. The 28-year-old isn't too concerned about the injury and is hoping to be available off the bench on Sunday, so it sounds like something that shouldn't land him on the injured list. With India out on Sunday, Maikel Garcia is starting at third base and is batting leadoff against Guardians right-hander Ben Lively. Garcia is worth a look as a DFS sleeper in the leadoff spot. He has two hits and an RBI in four career at-bats against Lively.
Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India (quad) was forced to exit early during Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. India was pulled out of the contest in the sixth inning due to right quad tightness. It seems that he was removed for precautionary reasons, but the Royals are likely to do additional testing to determine the severity of the issue. India has been off to a slow start with his new team. He's hitting .208 with three RBI in 15 games. The Royals would likely use a combo of Maikel Garcia, Cavan Biggio, and Tyler Tolbert if India is forced to miss time.
Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India (head) is back in the team's lineup on Monday at third base, batting leadoff against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 28-year-old's status for Monday was unclear after a 98-MPH Emmanuel Clase fastball hit him in the head on Sunday night. However, it appears he's avoided a severe injury and will occupy the hot corner to start a three-game series against the Brewers on the road. India has done well as a table-setter for the Royals thus far, compiling a .429 OBP across 11 at-bats (three hits). He'll continue to be a viable source of runs as long as he's batting at the top of Kansas City's order.
Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India (head) was struck in the head by a pitch in the ninth inning of Sunday's game against the Guardians. The initial belief is that the injury is non-concussive, but he will be evaluated further in the coming days, reports Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Thankfully, it appears that India has avoided a serious injury. He's done his job so far as the Royals' leadoff hitter through the first three games, posting a .429 OBP. He figures to be a useful middle infield option for fantasy once he returns to the field.
Jonathan India Expected To Be Leadoff Hitter, Could Play Multiple Positions
Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India is expected to be the leadoff hitter to open the season. India has been productive in that spot during camp and will likely continue in this role. In addition, Anne Rogers of MLB.com noted that while India is expected to play every day, he will likely do so at multiple positions. Throughout camp, the Royals have provided India with opportunities in the outfield and he has seen previous work at third base in the minor leagues. If he were to shift to several positions, this could open the door for more opportunities for No. 2 second baseman Michael Massey. Last season, India posted a .248/.357/.392 slash line with 15 home runs and 13 stolen bases. He drew walks at an elite 12.6 percent rate. India carries great value in drafts as he should provide a high total of runs batting in front of Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino.
Jonathan India Starting In Left Field In Spring Opener
Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India will hit leadoff and start in left field in the team's Cactus League opener on Friday against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. The Royals acquired India from the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason in exchange for right-hander Brady Singer. The 28-year-old has never played a position other than the keystone in the majors, but KC made the trade for him with a plan in mind for him to become more of a super-utility man. If India sees playing time in the outfield during the regular season, it would open up a spot at second for Michael Massey. India played in a career-high 151 games in his final season in Cincy and is a decent power/speed threat, but his move from hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark to Kauffman Stadium is definitely a downgrade. He could eventually gain 2B eligibility, but RotoBaller has India ranked as the No. 19 fantasy second baseman.
Jonathan India Will See Starts In The Outfield During Spring Training
According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, infielder Jonathan India will receive starts in the outfield during spring training. The 28-year-old said that he should also see opportunities at the hot corner. Even though India has never played in the outfield, he expressed, "I'm athletic, and I know I can do it. I'm going to get some work in, see how it goes." Throughout his major league career, India has only seen starts at the keystone. Last season, India posted a .248/.357/.392 line with 15 home runs and 13 stolen bases. He generated an impressive .352 xwOBA and a 12.6 percent walk rate, which placed him in the 87th and 97th percentile, respectively. Currently, Maikel Garcia is slated to cover third base, while MJ Melendez is slated to cover left field. India could see his fantasy value increase if he gains more positional eligibility during the 2025 season.
The Cincinnati Reds are trading second baseman Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brady Singer, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. India has spent the first four seasons of his major league career with the Reds and held a cumulative .253/.352/.412 slash line with 63 home runs. Last summer, India posted a .248/.357/.392 line with 15 home runs and 13 swiped bags. Under the hood, India boasted a stellar 12.6% walk rate and an above-average .352 xwOBA. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to operate as the starting second baseman in Kansas City with the upside to bat toward the top of the lineup. Batting in front of Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez should present India with solid scoring upside.
Jonathan India
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Royals
