2014 Opening Day: A Look At The Kansas City Royals Roster

Kansas City Royals 1B

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Lineup: Norichika Aoki, Omar Infante, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, and Alcides Escobar

Grade: B

The Royals have lacked a threatening offense for quite some time.  They averaged .260, the leading home run hitter only hit 20 out of the park, and ranked in the bottom half of runs scored, all according to ESPN.com.

However, two key improvements have been made over the off-season. The Royals traded for Aoki and signed Infante in the off-season. Both Aoki and Infante provide major improvements on offense at two positions that were downright dreadful last season.

While they are not as good defensively as the players they replaced, they make up for it with firepower at the plate. Mike Moustakas has a lackluster campaign, but as made major strides this spring. Hosmer, Perez, and Butler were great last year, and continue to be so this year.

If the Royals can get a guy to hit over 30 home runs (I’m looking at you, Billy), then this offense will be dangerous. Manager Ned Yost loves to steal and bunt, and this team will be great at both.