Kansas City Royals will look different next season
By John McCarty
LEFT FIELD – ALEX GORDON
I’m not sure that I believe Alex Gordon should be starting, but it will be his last year with the Kansas City Royals. Gordon is a World Series hero and long time member of the organization, so even if he’s not the best option, he deserves one last hurrah.
Jorge Bonifocio has struggled thus far despite the opportunity to build on a nice rookie season and Jorge Soler‘s injury likely ensures Gordon is the left fielder. This is at least the case during the first half of the 2019 season.
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CENTER FIELD – BRIAN GOODWIN
Center field is a tough position to predict. Neither Brian Goodwin or recently acquired Brett Philips have been very good, both hitting under .240 and neither have an OPS at .700.
Both can play defense and both don’t apparently hit very well. Both strike out a lot. For a team with a lot of outfielder depth, they don’t appear to have a candidate to be a quality center fielder. If Whit Merrifield isn’t traded, he could be a candidate here as well.
RIGHT FIELD – JORGE SOLER
The Wade Davis for Jorge Soler trade didn’t make much sense at the time, but Soler has shown some signs of development. He was actually on his way to what we believed would be a quality season before an injury derailed his season.
Injuries are part of the Soler story though and that’s what the Royals have to keep in the back of their mind. Soler’s half season has been better than Bonifacio and even though he’s not great defensively, he might be better than the alternative.
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DESIGNATED HITTER – JORGE BONIFACIO
The Royals will want to continue to develop Jorge Bonifacio‘s bat and would likely have preferred a better season with the available playing time. Unfortunately, the Royals rookie sensation a season ago was busted with an 80-game suspension and that limited his ability to develop in year two.
Bonifacio could be someone slotted in right field from time to time. Perhaps he and Soler will rotate playing right field while the other one takes swing as the designated hitter.