KCSN Weekly: Rice cleared, Royals drop five of seven, and transfer portal updates
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
Happy Friday, KCSN subscribers.
The Royals are still sorting out early-season inconsistencies, the Chiefs are mostly operating behind the scenes ahead of the draft, and college programs are reshaping their rosters in real time. It’s not the loudest week on the calendar, but it’s one where direction starts to quietly reveal itself.
Here’s where things stand.
Royals Report: Early-season skid + stadium news
The Kansas City Royals hit a bump this week, going 2–5 and falling to 5–8 on the young season.
Last night was a frustrating example. Seth Lugo turned in a strong outing of 6 1/3 innings, but the offense couldn’t back him in a 2–0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
There were some bright spots, though.
Carter Jensen rebounded from a slow first week, hitting .313 with two home runs, a double, and four RBIs this week. Meanwhile, Maikel Garcia stayed productive, collecting 10 hits with two doubles and a home run.
On the mound, Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Noah Cameron combined to allow just six earned runs over 24 innings. Only Wacha came away with a win, though, as run support remained an issue. Kris Bubic and Cole Ragans had tougher outings in their turns.
It’s early, but the formula is clear: the pitching is keeping them competitive, but the offense has to catch up.
New potential stadium site announced
Away from the field, the Royals’ long-term future in Kansas City took another step forward this week.
According to reporting from KCUR, city leaders are advancing a proposal to build a downtown ballpark at Washington Square Park near Crown Center. The project is estimated at around $1.9 billion and would include surrounding development, funded through a mix of public and private dollars.
Nothing is finalized yet, and the Royals have not committed, but it’s another signal that momentum is building toward a long-term stadium decision with the current lease at Kauffman Stadium running through 2031.
Chiefs Check-In: Rice set to play + 30 visit check-in
It’s been a quieter stretch for the Kansas City Chiefs, but there’s still movement behind the scenes as the NFL Draft approaches.
According to reporting from Nate Taylor of ESPN, wide receiver Rashee Rice will not face league discipline stemming from the offseason allegations, bringing some level of clarity to a situation that had been hanging over the organization.
With free agency slowing down, the focus has now fully shifted to the draft, now less than two weeks away.
Per Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports, the Chiefs have been active on the Top 30 visit front.
Here’s the full list of reported visits:
Defensive prospects:
Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami EDGE)
David Bailey (Texas Tech EDGE)
Arvell Reese (Ohio State LB)
Caleb Banks (Florida DT)
Treydan Stukes (Arizona DB)
Chris Johnson (San Diego State CB)
Jack Dingle (Cincinnati LB)
Offensive prospects:
Makai Lemon (USC WR)
Carnell Tate (Ohio State WR)
Kevin Coleman Jr. (Missouri WR – local visit)
Ted Hurst (Georgia State WR)
Kadyn Proctor (Alabama OT)
Justin Joly (NC State TE)
Oscar Delp (Georgia TE)
The takeaway is simple: the Chiefs are keeping their options open after years of picking at the bottom of the first round. You never know what could fall to them on draft night. With multiple premium picks and several needs, they’re doing their homework across the board.
KCSNU
Transfer Portal SZN
The games may be over, but the movement hasn’t slowed. In fact, the transfer portal opened mere hours after Michigan won the 2025-2026 National Championship.
For Kansas, the biggest news was that forward Flory Bidunga entered the transfer portal. The sophomore was a staple in the Jayhawks’ offense all season, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field.
At Kansas State, new head coach Casey Alexander is approaching things differently. Early signs point toward a full reset, with an emphasis on finding players who fit his system and timeline rather than patching together a quick turnaround. The biggest news thus far is that Andre Kostich announced his return, but Alexander is also targeting Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski, who played for him this past season.
For Missouri, Anthony Robinson II, Sebastian Mack, and T.O. Barrett have all entered the transfer portal. Barrett averaged 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and three assists in 14 starts, while Robinson II departs after three seasons, averaging 7.4 points per game.
It’s the reality of this time of year. Constant movement.
What to Watch This Week
Royals
Three of four with the Chicago White Sox are still on the docket.
Kansas City then hits the road for a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
Kris Bubic takes the mound tonight as Kansas City looks to get back on track.
Right now, the Royals are trying to find consistency, the Chiefs are quietly preparing for what could be a defining draft, and college programs are rebuilding in real time.
We’ll see what starts to stick next week.