KCSN Weekly: Boys in Blue split the week, Chiefs sign Elam, and the Sunshine State schools get coaching updates
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
This is the time of year when things calm down, except for on the diamond.
The NFL slows to a crawl before the draft. College basketball fades out after the tournament chaos. And suddenly, for the first time in months, everything funnels back to one place.
Right now, that place is Kauffman Stadium.
Royals Report: 3-3 Split
The Kansas City Royals are officially underway, and the first week has already offered a little bit of everything.
After dropping two of three to the Atlanta Braves to open the season, Kansas City responded by taking two of three from the Minnesota Twins in its home opener series.
The biggest development, though, came on the mound, and not in a good way.
Closer Carlos Estévez hit the IL after taking a 103 mph comebacker off his foot. The injury came in a rough outing where he surrendered a walk-off grand slam and blew a 2–0 lead in just one-third of an inning. It’s a tough early blow for a bullpen that leaned heavily on him last year, when he converted 42 of 48 save opportunities with a 2.45 ERA.
The time off could reset both his health and his early-season rhythm, if you are looking for a silver lining.
Elsewhere, it’s been a much more encouraging start, outside of Carter Jensen getting benched for sleeping in and arriving late to the ballpark. That said, it seems like a little much to be on the front page of ESPN and TMZ. I am sure the Royals’ top-rookie prospect will bounce back with a big year after taking responsibility after the game.
Outfielder Kyle Isbel has been the early standout, hitting .500 with two home runs, four RBIs, and a 1.333 OPS.
And maybe most importantly, the rotation has looked sharp from top to bottom. Cole Ragans owns the highest ERA among starters at 3.60, while Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron, Kris Bubic, and Seth Lugo have all been excellent, with Wacha and Lugo still scoreless.
It’s early, but the formula is clear: if the pitching holds, this team will be in games every night.
Chiefs Check-In: Merritt gets his hands on former 1st-rounder
It’s been quiet for the Kansas City Chiefs, as expected this time of year.
The one notable move came with the addition of cornerback Kaiir Elam, a former first-round pick who now joins a cornerback room featuring Kristian Fulton, Nohl Williams, and Kader Kohou.
Elam’s career hasn’t fully taken off yet, but the traits are there. A former All-SEC talent out of Florida, he brings size, athleticism, and upside on the outside. With defensive backs coach Dave Merritt’s track record of developing corners, this feels like a classic low-risk, high-upside swing.
Beyond that, this is the holding pattern, the stretch before the NFL Draft where there is more speculation than anything else.
P.S. It is Draft Guide release week!
The KCSN Draft Guide is available for pre-order. A Chiefs-specific book with detailed analysis, profiles of hundreds of prospects, player comps, a Chiefs draft pick trade chart, scheme fit analysis, and more. The book release is April 6th.
KCSNU
Kansas retains Self
Kansas announced that the same man who has roamed the Allen Fieldhouse sidelines since 2003 will be returning.
Bill Self confirmed he will return for the 2025–26 season, a significant development for the program. Self, who has led Kansas to four Final Fours and two national titles, remains the anchor of the program as it heads into a critical offseason.
The timing is key here because the transfer portal opens immediately after the national championship, and stability at the top gives Kansas a clear advantage as roster decisions begin.
K-State’s Alexander begins building out staff
For Kansas State, new head coach Casey Alexander took his first real step toward shaping the program, announcing three additions to his coaching staff.
The Wildcats hired three assistants from Alexander’s time at Belmont: Kerron Johnson, JJ Butler, and Luke Smith. The group brings a mix of player development, recruiting experience, and familiarity with Alexander’s system, which should help streamline the transition in year one.
What to Watch This Week
Royals
Three against the Milwaukee Brewers (5–1) to finish the homestand.
At the Cleveland Guardians (4–3) for a three-game road trip.
NFL Draft rumors will soon heat up, but it is the Royals’ time right now. It is a long season, but every week matters.
We'll be back next week to break it all down right here on KCSN.com.