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Mike Moustakas Shows Huge Improvement For KC Royals

Joel Wagler
Joel Wagler

KCKingdom

Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) – Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Moustakas is showing significant improvement at the plate so far this season.

Mike Moustakas, third baseman for the Kansas City Royals has struggled for most of his career against left-handed pitchers, but there is evidence that Moustakas may have figured out how to produce  some positive results this season.

If these gains remain true, Mike Moustakas may have finally turned an important corner in his career as a Major League hitter.

The Kansas City Royals fans have always wanted to cheer on and support Moustakas, but his struggles through his first four seasons at the plate have made watching him very frustrating at times.

Fortunately, statistics indicate we may be seeing the emergence of a new Mike Moustakas in 2015.

Next: Career Splits

Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) – Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Career Splits

Throughout his career, Moustakas hasn’t hit well against left-handers for the KC Royals. His career statistics against south paws is pretty brutal.

  • Plate Appearances – 561
  • Slash Line –  .221/.280/.340/.619.
  • Home Runs – 10
  • Runs Batted In – 44

Compare that to his numbers against right-handers over his career.

  • Plate Appearances – 1559
  • Slash Line – .249/.301/.399/.701
  • Home Runs – 45
  • Runs Bated In – 165

Only about a quarter of his career plate appearances have come against lefties, but his stats are noticeably inferior. Now take note, Moustakas hasn’t been very good at the plate for most of his career, even against right-handers. Things got so bad that at the beginning of 2014, he even platooned with Danny Valencia.

Next: 2015 Splits

Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) – Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

2015 Splits

Now, for 2015, in a much smaller sample size, things are looking significantly more promising. Interestingly, Moustakas has almost as many plate appearances against lefties as he has against righties this season.

Against left-handers:

  • Plate Appearances – 58
  • Slash Line – .314/.386/.451/.837

Against right-handers:

  • Plate Appearances – 69
  • Slash Line – .339/.397/.468/.865

There just isn’t that much difference in these splits thus far. It will very interesting to see if Mike Moustakas can maintain these improvements, not only against lefties specifically, but overall.

Next: Opposite Field Hitting

Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) – Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Moustakas Hitting To Opposite Field

The biggest difference in Moustakas’ performance in 2015 is that he has finally had success hitting to opposite field. According to Fangraphs, in his career, Moustakas had most of his success pulling the ball.

  • Pull – .332
  • Up the middle – .282
  • Opposite – .229

These numbers are much different in 2015. The concentrated effort to hit the ball to opposite field is really started paying off.

  • Pull – .270
  • Up the Middle – .333
  • Opposite – .474

These numbers are so very encouraging. Moustakas having success hitting the ball up the middle, and even more success going to left field, makes him so much more dangerous and harder to defend. This is very good news for the KC Royals.

Next: One Small Concern

Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) – Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

A Small Concern

There is one serious worry  that has to be looked at that may be a by-product of Mike Moustakas trying to hit to left field. In his career, Moose has had a terrible habit of hitting weak pop-ups to infielders. In his career, he has popped up 17.9% of all of his batted balls to infielders, according to Fangraphs.

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As inflated as this number is already, it is much worse so far this season. Moustakas has hit an astronomical 27.8% of his batted balls into the air to infielders. When he doesn’t square the ball up, he is getting poor results.

Just how bad are these numbers? Since coming into the league in 2011, Moose’s Infield Fly Rate of 17.9% is the 5th worse mark in the majors.

Of the fours players ahead of him, none are regulars anymore, and only two have played in the Major Leagues this season.

This season, only Starlin Castro (31.8%) has a worst Infield Fly Rate than Mike Moustakas for the Kansas City Royals.

Next: Improvements Very Encouraging

Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) – Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Moustakas Improvements Are Very Encouraging

Infield pop-ups notwithstanding, the improvements Moustakas has made in hitting left-handers, and taking the ball to the opposite field, are far more positive. Not only have his numbers looked good against lefties, but against righties as well.

Hopefully, he can bring down that Infield Fly Rate while maintaining the successes he has enjoyed so far this season.

Seeing Mike Moustakas finally making necessary adjustments at the plate is incredibly encouraging, and it has been very fun to watch. Moose looks to be gaining confidence as more time passes with his new approach.

Even if Moustakas’ numbers drop overall, this new confidence should serve him well going forward as a hitter for the Kansas City Royals. Once again, everyone can be positive about his future. Moustakas is just another reason to be excited about the KC Royals.

Next: What To Expect From Kris Medlen

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Joel Wagler

Joel Wagler

Joel has been covering the NFL, MLB, college football and basketball, and even some entertainment topics for over 11 years. He's written for KC Kingdom, Arrowhead Addict, Kings of Kauffman, Yanks Go Yard, Toro Times, and Winter is Coming. Joel is currently the Senior Sports Director FanSided, part of the Minute Media family.