Kansas City Royals will look different next season
By John McCarty
SECOND BASE – NICKY LOPEZ
The star of the minor leagues in 2018, Nicky Lopez has been a solid hitting performer at all levels since the Royals selected Creighton University product in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.
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If there is a player likely to be moved this offseason, it would be Whit Merrifield. Lopez can take over at second base next season if that does happen. Obviously if Merrifield isn’t traded, then he gets the nod at second base, at least to start the year.
THIRD BASE – HUNTER DOZIER
Third base has a bunch of question marks, as Hunter Dozier has yet to prove he is a major league player and Cheslor Cuthbert hasn’t proven his worth either. Cuthbert has basically disappeared from the organization after an injury.
Dozier currently may be the best in house candidate for the job for at least another season, which is why until Kelvin Gutierrez is ready, Dozier is probably the best option for now.
SHORTSTOP – ADALBERTO MONDESI
In a season of full yuck, Adalberto Mondesi has been, among the hitters, the lone bright spot. Mondesi has been a star since basically taking over the shortstop job, posting .321/.361/.563 slash line in his past 30 games.
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Always good defensively, the emergence of Mondesi at the plate is a welcome development for an organization starving for something positive this season. It’ll be weird not having Alcides Escobar around, but it’s time to move on.