KC Royals: What A Difference A Decade Makes

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David DeJesus – Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Center Field

The Royals are used to having good center fielders with players like Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran chasing down balls.

2005: David DeJesus

When Carlos Beltran left the Royals, fans were devastated. It didn’t take long for them to get over it with David DeJesus coming out of nowhere to have an impact on the Royals.

This may be one of the lone similarities between these two teams. Their center fielders were the best players on their teams in both of these years.

Cain had career bests in nearly every offensive category, but perhaps the most surprising were the 16 home runs

David DeJesus batted .293 in 2005 and led the Royals with a bWAR of 4.4. Not only could he hit a little bit, he actually flashed better defensive statistics in 2005 than Cain did in 2015. (Don’t shoot the messenger)

While DeJesus didn’t have any impact on Gordon’s injury, he was part of a big moment for the 2015 Royals. In a series against the Rays, who DeJesus played for at the time, the Royals lost Alex Gordon for a good chunk of the year. This tested their depth and their heart, and saw the Royals pass each test with flying colors.

2015: Lorenzo Cain

Lorenzo Cain may not have had the numbers defensively that DeJesus did, but he still had the better season.

Cain finished the year with a bWAR of 7.1 and finished third in the American League voting for most valuable player.

Cain had career bests in nearly every offensive category, but perhaps the most surprising were the 16 home runs. His previous high was seven and the year before he had only hit five on the year.

Cain’s increased power and ability to maintain his batting average led the Royals to their second straight playoff appearance. His bases clearing double in game five of the World Series, all but finished the Mets with a very dangerous Wade Davis on the mound.

DeJesus didn’t have the team around him to have a shot at the playoffs, but he didn’t have the great season that Lorenzo Cain did either.

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