Royals catcher Miguel Olivo throws the ball during spring training at the team's complex in Surprise, Ariz., on Sunday. Olivo was surprised when he heard manager Trey Hillman named John Buck the starting catcher.

Surprise, Ariz. ? Kansas City Royals Manager Trey Hillman worked Monday to clear up some confusion about who will be the team’s starting catcher when the season opens.

While Miguel Olivo thought he was going to be competing for the starting catching job, Hillman said John Buck would remain the Royals No. 1 catcher.

“There was a miscommunication to Miguel,” Hillman said Monday. “I’m not going to throw anyone under the bus. Neither Dayton (Moore, general manager), nor myself told Miguel Olivo he was coming in here as the starting catcher.

“We got him for a reason. We want to utilize his skills. We think he’s a talented player with a chance to be a starting catcher.”

Olivo hit .237 with 16 home runs and a career-high 60 RBIs last season in 122 games with the Florida Marlins. Buck led the Royals with 18 home runs, while hitting .222 with 48 RBIs in 113 games. Buck, however, hit just .195 after the All-Star break and only two home runs in his final 50 games.

Hillman said he’s talked to both men about the catching situation. He told Olivo that he was acquired by the Royals in December for a reason.

“Miguel understands the situation,” Hillman said. “We got him for a reason. We didn’t get him to sit there and let him rot on the bench. He’ll get some catching time. We’re going to take a look at him in some other places.”

Hillman said Olivo “did act surprised” when he told him Buck would be the starting catcher but felt better about the situation after talking to Hillman.

“My agent tells me when I sign here that I come here to fight for a job,” Olivo said. “The manager makes the decision. I agree with him. Whatever he says is the way it is going to be.”

However, Olivo said he’s been a starting catcher his entire career and has no intention of giving up the starting job without a fight.

“In my mind, we’re fighting for the job,” Olivo said. “In my mind, I’m the starting catcher. In my mind because that’s the way I’ve been all my career. I respect John Buck. He respects me. We talk. We are good friends. Baseball is competition. Everybody comes here to get a job. I come here to fight for my job.”

Could Olivo win the starting job?

“Anything is possible, sure,” Hillman said. “What I told John Buck is you have to maintain a certain level of performance to maintain your status as a starter. For me, that’s a no-brainer. That’s for everybody.”