Former Florida Gator Jonathan India has avoided arbitration in 2025. The Kansas City Royals on Friday announced that they have agreed with India for him to return on a one-year, $8 million contract that allows him to avoid arbitration.
We have agreed to terms with Jonathan India on a contract for 2026, avoiding arbitration.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) November 21, 2025
The Royals received India in a 2024 trade with the Cincinnati Reds that sent right-handed pitcher Brady Singer to the Reds for India and left fielder Joey Wiemer.
In his first season with Kansas City, he hit .233/.323/.346, with a .669 OPS. He had 29 doubles, nine home runs, drove in 45 RBIs, and had 63 runs scored. The 28-year-old from Fort Lauderdale, FL was a pitch magnet in 2025, ranking fourth in the league for hit by pitch after being hit 15 times.
2025 wasn’t the second baseman’s best year in the field and in 2026 the Royals will look for him to bounce back, showing their belief in him by re-signing him for one season. Last season, he played in 21 games in left field, in which he had 30 putouts on 32 chances and was credited with one error.
India made 20 appearances at third base, in which he had only eight putouts on 51 chances. He was credited with four double plays, had five errors, and a .902 fielding percentage at third.
Eventually, he was moved back to his original position he played at the University of Florida, and in his first several seasons in the big leagues, but unfortunately he could not find a defensive groove in 2025. In 76 appearances at second base (68 starts), the most out of all three positions he played last season, he had just 111 putouts on 295 chances. He was credited with being a part of 38 double plays, but had the largest error number of the year and his highest error number since 2023. He committed seven errors last season for a total of 12 errors this season, his highest error number since 2021.
The Royals put faith in India on Friday when they helped him avoid arbitration. It will now be up to the infielder to perform and earn the salary he was just given for 2026.