First base remains the biggest question mark among the position players heading into spring training.

The leading candidates are Ross Gload, Ryan Shealy and Billy Butler, but not necessarily in that order.

The Royals started seven different players at first base last season, led by Gload with 74. Gload, the only one of the candidates who swings left-handed, hit .288 with seven home runs and 51 RBI in 102 games.

Shealy was the Opening Day starter at first base but hit just .221 in 52 games and had three different stints on the disabled list with hamstring injuries. Shealy is a .311 hitter in the minors with 110 home runs in 494 games.

"I think Ryan really has a chance to be the surprise of spring training because this time last year we felt very good about him," general manager Dayton Moore said. "He had 176 at-bats last year trying to play through injuries and tough some things out. He didn't get off to a good start and let it snowball on him. You can't let 176 at-bats influence our decision about Ryan Shealy in a negative way."

Butler was drafted as a third baseman and moved to the outfield, but last year the Royals opted to try Butler at first base. He has played only a handful of games at first base, including 11 starts in the majors in 2007, and is a work in progress there.

"Billy Butler, we don't expect him to be ready to play 162 games at first base," Moore said. "He's continuing to develop and evolve as a first baseman. I know (manager) Trey (Hillman) is prepared to give him a hard look there. He'll earn opportunities to play first base, but to say he's going to play there every day is a tall order at this point."

Butler would likely DH more than play first.

"We like the talent that we have there with Ross Gload, Billy Butler and Ryan Shealy all competing for an opportunity there," Moore said. "There is versatility there with all those players."

The wild card in the first base sweepstakes could be Justin Huber, who hit 18 home runs and had a .517 slugging percentage in 77 games with Class AAA Omaha. He won the Texas League batting title with a .343 average in 2005.

Huber was a catcher in the Mets' organization before the Royals acquired him in a trade, then was switched to the outfield and later to first base. He is out of options, so the Royals must make a decision on him.

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