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Kansas City Royals: Five Players With Most to Prove in 2017

By Leigh Oleszczak

Jun 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) celebrates with teammate Eric Hosmer (35) after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) celebrates with teammate Eric Hosmer (35) after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Joakim Soria (48) – Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Joakim Soria (48) – Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

ROYALS WITH THE MOST TO PROVE – NUMBER 3: JOAKIM SORIA

Any time there’s a list with a “redemption factor”, Royals fans know that Joakim Soria will be making an appearance.

It’s honestly not a crazy statement to say that had Joakim Soria not choked last season, the Royals might have gotten into the playoffs.

I didn’t put Soria higher on this list because he typically only did one inning of work on the mound. The other guys have a much bigger impact and are appearing in just about every game of the season.

Soria had a tough year in 2016. He re-joined the Royals and fans were stoked, but that excitement turned to hatred pretty early on in the season when their former closer was blowing games right and left.

It’s honestly not a crazy statement to say that had Joakim Soria not choked on the mound last season, the Royals might have gotten into the playoffs as a Wild Card. That’s how negative of an impact Soria had on this team in 2016.

With the bullpen losing Wade Davis and Luke Hochevar, the relieving corps aren’t going to be what they once were in Kansas City. H-D-H aren’t running out of that pen (well, the first H will be at some point) and there’s no Ryan Madson to come in and wow everyone out of nowhere.

Joakim Soria is going to have to step it up this year or his return to Kansas City could be short lived.

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