KC Royals: Projecting the Starting Rotation for 2016

Second Starter: Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez was the Royals most reliable starter last season. He led the team in quality starts and reached the 200 innings marker for the first time in his career. He was the only Royal to pitch 200 innings last season.

Volquez has embraced the role of mentor to Yordano Ventura, a pitcher he has said reminds him of himself when he was younger and now has back to back seasons of success.

He stymied a Blue Jays team that was full of pop and touched 98 on the radar gun, well above his average fastball velocity.

Volquez elevated his game to another level when the playoffs rolled around. He stymied a Blue Jays team that was full of pop and touched 98 on the radar gun, well above his average fastball velocity. He also showed heart and grit, something the Royals have a lot of these days, pitching in the World Series only days after learning of his father’s passing.

Volquez has done a lot for the Royals already, and while he probably became their ‘Ace’ during the 2015 season, that’s not the role he had headed into the year. That’s also not the role I envision for him this year.

If all goes well, Volquez will be the number two starter throughout the course of the 2016 season. If he can pitch to an ERA of around 3.55, a mark he hit last year, then all should be well.

If Volquez is the number one starter for the Royals next year, then the guy on the next slide faltered yet again. Volquez wasn’t signed to be the ace and the Royals don’t need him to be the best on the staff. They need him to do what he does best, which is turn in consistent quality starts, eat innings, and continue to usher along the mental development of Yordano Ventura.

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