Kansas City Royals: Five bold predictions for 2019
By Cullen Jekel
Kansas City Royals Bold Predictions for 2019: Number Three
The Next Great Closer Emerges
When the Royals began their ascent in 2013, it was due in large part to their great bullpen. That year, Greg Holland, after two solid seasons, proved to be an elite closer, earning 47 saves en route to his first All-Star appearance. He followed that up with another 46 saves in 2014 and 32 saves in 2015 before going down with an injury.
In stepped Wade Davis.
Davis finished eighth in Cy Young voting in 2014 despite being a set-up man. When Holland went down in 2015, the Royals didn’t miss a step as Davis ended the year with 17 saves an an incredible 0.94 ERA over 67-and-1/3 innings. The following season, he made his second straight All-Star game before his injury derailed his season at 27 saves and a 1.84 ERA.
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Kelvin Herrera was next. He earned 12 saves in 2016, 26 in 2017, and 14 last year before getting moved before the trade deadline.
What Holland, Davis, and Herrera all had in common was that they had been in the organization at least two seasons before stepping into the closer’s role. Also, none of those relievers were signed through free agency. Holland was drafted by the Royals in 2007; Herrera signed as an amateur free agent; and Davis came over with James Shields from Tampa Bay in a huge trade before the 2013 season.
Now, usually, a great closer is next to useless on a rebuilding team unless he’s used as trade bait. However, if one emerges this year from somewhere within the Royals organization, it stands to reason that the Royals will hang on to him with their goal being to compete by 2020 or 2021.
But who will it be?