KC Royals: What A Difference A Decade Makes

Designated Hitter

The Royals parted ways with longtime designated hitter Billy Butler following the 2014 season. This move left many wondering who would ground into double plays and turn triples into doubles for the Royals going forward.

2005: Mike Sweeney

In the 2005 season, Mike Sweeney was in his tenth year with the Royals. Sweeney was a fan favorite, and had already done a lot in his career with the Royals.

2005 was also the last season the Sweeney played most of the year at a healthy level. Following the 2005 season, Sweeney spent a lot of time on the disabled list or playing with a hurt back.

In 2015, Morales both revitalized his career, and turned general manager Dayton Moore into even more of a genius.

Sweeney put up pretty good numbers in 2005 with a .300 batting average and hitting 21 home runs. In spite of his good numbers at the plate, he managed only a 1.8 bWAR. It was his second straight season with a bWAR of less than two, and was perhaps just another sign of his decline.

Mike Sweeney is a Kansas City legend and wasn’t part of the problem when it comes to the 2005 Royals. Even legends need some help around them.

2015: Kendrys Morales

While Mike Sweeney was already a Kansas City legend by the time he worked his way into the role of designated hitter, Kendrys Morales was a question mark when he was named the Royals DH.

Mike Sweeney had problems staying healthy towards the end of his career, but Morales had problems staying healthy before the 2015 season.

After breaking his leg in a freak accident, Morales’ numbers were never quite the same as they were prior to the injury. In 2015, Morales both revitalized his career, and turned general manager Dayton Moore into even more of a genius.

Morales hit 22 home runs in the regular season and also clubbed 41 doubles. He drove in 106 runs and batted .290, which tied the batting average he held at the time of his injury five years prior.

Sweeney was a player basking in the twilight of his career, while Morales was a player hoping for one more shot at redemption. His ‘never say die’ attitude and compelling comeback story also describes the team he played for in 2015.

Next: Rounding Third