KC Royals: Five Bold Predictions For 2016

Eric Hosmer Will Hit 30 Home Runs

Eric Hosmer has done a lot of great things for the Royals. He just took home his third Gold Glove award and was a key contributor in winning the World Series. If he hadn’t tempted fate in trying to tie-up game five of the World Series, who knows what would have happened.

So far the only thing Eric Hosmer hasn’t done is live up to his power potential. While he seems content with hitting for average instead of power, he still may not have fully developed into his full power potential. He is only 26 years old and played all of the regular season in 2015 at the age of 25.

Here’s a look at a scouting report on Bleacher Report from 2011:

"His lack of power numbers is somewhat a mirage as he is learning to turn and drive on more fastballs instead of settling for clean line drives. He is a big kid who will develop power as he further matures as a hitter."

Eric Hosmer hit ten of his home runs in the second half of the 2015 campaign. He only hit eight in the first half of the season and played in eight more games during the first half.

If Hosmer further develops his power in 2016, he is very capable of hitting 30 home runs. He’s well protected in the lineup with Lorenzo Cain and Kendrys Morales surrounding him, so he should get good pitches to hit.

If Hosmer can live up to this bold prediction, he’ll be the first Royals’ hitter to hit 30 home runs in a season since Jermaine Dye accomplished the feat in 2000.

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