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KC Royals: Alex Rios Trying To Salvage His Season

By Alec Tilson

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Kansas City Royals right fielder Alex Rios went 1-for-4 with a run in last night’s 4-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

It’s been a frustrating season altogether to watch KC Royals outfielder Alex Rios as the everyday right fielder. But he’s actually been one of the team’s valuable players in the second half and currently rides a nine-game hitting streak.

Rios missed a month-plus right out of the gates with a bad-luck hand injury.

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When he did come back in June, he hit for a .219 batting average that month, and Royals fans kicked around every idea possible to upgrade that position before the trade deadline.

Especially concerning: Rios is hitting .145 with runners in scoring position this season. That must improve.

Rios was hitting .213/.240/.262 entering July 1.

Then things changed for Rios.

That month he had a .297 batting average, six doubles and four stolen bases.

Rios has now raised his season totals to .265/.298/.366.

No signs of power and an ugly on-base percentage, but for the last two-and-a-half months, Rios has actually salvaged his 2015 campaign.

Rios is second on the team with 15 doubles since the All-Star break. He’s fifth on the team with 50 hits and he’s making harder contact more often this side of the break. (Via FanGraphs.com) His 21.6% line-drive rate since the break is right there with designated hitter Kendrys Morales (22.8%) and center fielder Lorenzo Cain (22.3%).

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He’s been worth 1.0 wins (fWAR) in the second half, which isn’t great, but it’s certainly helped the Royals. Only Cain, Ben Zobrist, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have been worth more.

Still, I think there’s something about his playing style that can rub fans the wrong way.

Rios is like the anti-Alex Gordon in terms of style.

He’s got long arms and legs, a smooth stride and an effortless way about the field. (Gordon, as we know, is all hustle. Plays all-out, high-energy baseball.) Rios makes the game look easy so it can appear that he’s not playing with urgency.

I think that’s just Rios’ nature; he’s not loafing it, but it a little more fire from him wouldn’t hurt.

Rios does everything well, but nothing great – though he is a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases this season.

The Royals inked him for one-year, $11 million so expectations were high. I don’t think anyone is satisfied with Rios’ four total home runs or his .298 on-base percentage this season.

Especially concerning: Rios is hitting .145 with runners in scoring position this season. (FanGraphs) That must improve.

He’s close to 35 years old, however, and expectations might have been a bit unfair.

If Rios can be the hitter he’s been since the All-Star break, and provide sound defense in right field, he could earn playing time in the postseason and exhibit stability in the Royals’ lineup.

Next: KC Royals Bullpen Holds The Key

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