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Kansas City Royals: Lucas Duda doesn’t need to be on the team

By Leigh Oleszczak

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Lucas Duda #9 of the Kansas City Royals bats in an MLB baseball game against the New York Yankees on April 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Royals won 6-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Lucas Duda #9 of the Kansas City Royals bats in an MLB baseball game against the New York Yankees on April 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Royals won 6-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Royals aren’t good, but that means they should be giving their younger players more opportunities to prove their worth. Somehow, Lucas Duda continues to get more opportunities than necessary.

When the Kansas City Royals signed Lucas Duda last year, the move wasn’t a terrible one. He provided a decent first base option that the Royals could potentially trade at the deadline (which they did).

When the Royals decided to bring Duda back this year, however, the move didn’t make as much sense. Ryan O’Hearn was coming off an impressive rookie campaign, which made him the easy option to put at first base. Hunter Dozier could provide another first base option if need be.

While O’Hearn has had a disappointing 2019 campaign (that led to him getting demoted), Duda still serves little to no purpose on this team. This is the chance for the Royals to figure out if they have any other viable options at first, but instead they’re choosing to roll with Duda, who is currently slashing .154/.270/.288 with two home runs and nine RBI in 52 at bats.

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Duda missed time due to injury, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing obviously because it gave the Royals a chance to see what O’Hearn could provide. With O’Hearn now back in the minor leagues, Duda is going to see starts at first base because he’s the only one whose preferred position is at first.

Whit Merrifield played there on Sunday and hopefully Dozier becomes the main option at first once he returns from the injured list. Cheslor Cuthbert is also someone who could spend time at first base and he can at least hit (he’s slashing .286/.327/.510).

Dozier’s return from the injury will make Duda even more unnecessary, unless the Royals are hoping he does enough to become trade bait (that seems unlikely). I get that this team is going nowhere, but that’s exactly why Duda’s presence is even more puzzling. Rebuilding teams need to let the younger options take their lumps and prove their worth.

The Royals know what Lucas Duda can provide and it’s not much. Hopefully when it comes time to bring up another prospect, he’s the one who is designated for assignment to clear space for the next player to get his shot in the big leagues.

dark. Next. Why Would the Royals Tank?

First base has been a bit of a problem for the organization this year, but it doesn’t have to mean that Duda is the only answer there. He shouldn’t be on the team.

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