ARLINGTON, Texas – Last season marked the first for former Mississippi State standouts Hunter Renfroe and Chris Stratton in Kansas City. Renfroe, 33, now on his sixth big league team, battled his way through injuries in 2024 while Stratton, 34, made 57 appearances for the Royals, also his sixth team. Kansas City made the playoffs for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series.
Renfroe, who played at State between 2010 and 2013, contended with toe and hamstring injuries last season, which forced him to miss 42 games. However, he is fully healed and ready to contribute to what is expected to be a contending KC squad in the American League Central.
“For sure, some things you really can’t control like an injury, but what you can do is build off that and try to build your body up better, figure out what’s going on, and recoup what you lost,” Renfroe said.
“It (being injured) sucks, it is what it is and you want to be part of the team as much as possible, and you obviously feel like you’re letting the team down when you’re injured, so I try to put my body in the best possible way right now. I feel good and healthy. That’s all I can ask for.”
Stratton, on the other hand, brought the Royals pen a veteran presence after being part of Texas’ surprising run to its first World Series title in franchise history in 2023.
“All the experience gained from last year is only going to pay dividends for this year,” said Stratton, a Tupelo native. “Feel like we’ve got a great group (returning) and (added) a few additional guys that are going to help us continue on that trend.”
The Royals opened the 2025 season on Thursday afternoon by hosting Cleveland. But earlier this week, KC was in Texas to finish out spring training play with two against the Rangers, one of Stratton’s former teams, and yes, it was a special return for the ex-Bulldog to Arlington considering he was part of the Rangers’ first-ever championship team in 2023.
“Yeah, absolutely (trips back here will always be special),” he said. “Only being here for three months, felt like I was here all year. That locker room was great, too. Each place has things you really enjoy. The people were definitely the biggest part of every place that I’ve been. That was a great room over there, still talk to a few guys over there. Wish them the best.”
Last season, Stratton and Renfroe also had a third MSU product sharing the clubhouse with them in Adam Frazier, who is now with Pittsburgh. And even though they’re both sad to see their fellow State alum depart for the Steel City, they consider themselves blessed to still be teammates.
“Being able to grow up together in college, that’s part of everybody’s (journey). It’s a big phase in your life, going to college, getting away from your parents, meeting new friends and really getting into the competitive side of baseball at that point, you’re growing as a human being as well,” Renfroe said of his friendship with Stratton. “It was really cool to be able to grow up with those guys. Now, we’re raising families together. Our kids have grown up together. It’s really cool and special. We see each other a little bit outside of baseball in the offseason, but it’s special to be able to play together again. What we did last year was so special, being in the playoffs. It’s been so fun.”
Stratton concurs.
“Frazier and Hunter were here last year together. Missing Frazier, but yeah, it’s special to get to share a locker room with him (Renfroe),” he said. “A great guy, a lot of great memories through baseball and get to do life together a little bit. He just had his second (child). I just really enjoy getting to play with him, been a great friend.”
Both MSU products were elated to see fellow Bulldog Michael Rooker get rewarded with a well-earned contract extension from the A’s in January (five years, $60 million) after several productive seasons in the Bay Area.
“Really happy for him,” Stratton said. “Know it’s been a bit of a winding road (for him). Everybody’s career never goes quite how they envisioned it. I think as long as we continue that trend and represent Mississippi State the way that we have, only good things will come from that.”
Veteran presence
Renfroe and Stratton also agree that it is very cool to be part of a club which many consider a serious contender in the AL, not just for 2025 but for years to come.
“I think it all started last spring training. Talking to some of the young guys the two weeks, there was such a different feel,” Stratton recalled. “That veteran presence is hard to quantify. In the world that we live in with technology and analytics getting pushed, it’s hard to describe that experience that others have gone through and being able to help some of the younger guys along the way. Hopefully, I can continue to do that, do my part. I know Hunter’s doing the same with the hitters, but it’s a collective group effort. We have a really talented locker room. I’m excited to see what this year holds.”
And those are sentiments echoed by his fellow Bulldog.
“You’ve got guys like Salvy (Perez) who have won for many years and the stretch they had where they were struggling really bad, it was one of those in-between phases where every team goes through it eventually,” Renfroe said.“They were rebuilding. They’d lost a lot after those years they’d won so many games. The talent was there, they were just waiting for it to blossom. Obviously, we’ve got Bobby (Witt Jr.) and those guys, it’s just so special and now we have these starting pitchers in (Michael) Wacha, Cole (Ragans) and those guys who have done spectacularly well, (Seth) Lugo, and a lot of young guys. The leadership’s there obviously, the young talent is here. It is a great mix. To have one year of playoff baseball under our belt now, I think that’s going to mean a lot to us.”
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.
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