KCKingdom
Fansided

Kansas City Royals: Positives and negatives so far in 2019

By Bradley Potter

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 28: General view of the scoreboard and fountains in the outfield during the game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on May 28, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals defeated the White Sox 8-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 28: General view of the scoreboard and fountains in the outfield during the game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on May 28, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals defeated the White Sox 8-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (27) greets left fielder Alex Gordon (4) (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (27) greets left fielder Alex Gordon (4) (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Kansas City Royals have played a fourth of their season. Has it been a failure? If the only thing to use as a guideline are results, then yes. However, individually and at times, No!

The Kansas City Royals are in the second year of the big transition from the first wave of players from Dayton Moore’s tenure to the next. Last year at this time, they were in much the same position as they find themselves now.

There is a big difference though.

This time last year the team was full of players destined for other teams or out of baseball. Bad contracts were traded or kept until complete. This year the team has players with a real chance for a future in Kansas City. While looking over the official Kansas City Royals statistics on their website, some interesting things show up.

The Positives

The defense is playing very well right now.

Ryan O’Hearn and Hunter Dozier have upped their game and Dozier’s bat has been one of the best in the majors. His MLB .303/.398/574 slash line has been a great start and he has been the biggest and best surprise for most Royals fans. Dozier doesn’t look like the same player he was last year and that’s great to see.

Alex Gordon‘s hot start has been great to watch.

I noticed a difference in Alex Gordon during spring training and it carried over into the season. He just seems more relaxed and energized. His swing is sharp and he is hitting balls to all fields. Pitchers have noticed the change too, as they are pitching him inside more, and hitting him more. If they miss him, he’s hitting the ball down the third base line.

Adalberto Mondesi and Jorge Soler have had good, if not inconsistent, starts.

Mondesi is currently fourth in the league in RBIs and tied for first with six triples with Whit Merrifield, both stats according to ESPN. Soler also has ten homers. In short, the top of the lineup is hitting well. Left-handed pitchers with good breaking balls are still giving the team problems though.

Scott Barlow has been lights out in May.

Scott Barlow has quickly established himself as the go-to guy for Ned Yost. He has struck out 34 batters in 22.1 inning and batters are only hitting a paltry .185 against him.

Ian Kennedy and Jake Diekman have also pitched well out of the bullpen. After a really bad start of the year, the bullpen is doing better and a lot of that is because of those three.

Richard Lovelady has thrown some good innings, but it’s too soon to know how he will pan out.

Home/Kansas City Royals