KC Royals: A look back at success and a vision for the future
By Gage Stagner
All is not bleak though, as the Royals have added to their farm system in recent years.
They put all their eggs into the pitching basket in the 2018 draft by grabbing Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, Kris Bubic, and Johnathan Bowlan. They since added the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas – Bobby Witt Jr. The shortstop conveyed the cover of Sports Illustrated recently and adds hope to a fanbase in need.
Live Feed
White Cleat Beat
Adalberto Mondesi also plays shortstop, but surely the Royals will fight that battle when it’s time for Witt to join the big club. Mondesi seems to have some of that Esky-magic in him with his slick glove and speed and is your favorite player’s favorite player. He and Witt could form a stupendous duo in the middle of the infield.
As many baseball fans say, “You’re only as good as you are up the middle.” That brings us to center fielder Bubba Starling. The almost-quarterback at the University of Nebraska finally debuted in the majors this year and has drawn mixed reviews. He’s hitting just .213 at the moment with two homers, nothing special.
Yost will probably let Starling start most of the rest of the year in center to see a larger sample size, but the early indications are not promising. He has a cannon for an arm, but if he can’t hit and doesn’t have power, at the age of 27, he may already have worn out his welcome.
Next our the tweeners like middle-infielder Nicky Lopez, Ryan O’Hearn, and Cheslor Cuthbert. Lopez makes a lot of contact, but is only hitting .221 in a pretty decent sample size. He has only played shortstop and second base and could be the odd man out in the future if Witt and Mondesi become the double-play starters that we all want them to be.
Ryan O’Hearn has been this year’s biggest disappointment hitting just .175 with seven home runs. He has untapped power that we witnessed more last season, and while his swing is pretty when the ball meets the bat, that just happens too few and far between at the moment to ensure a spot in the Royals future plans.
Cuthbert, still just 26, seems to have been with the Royals forever. He has never really garnered a regular starting position but has impressed when in the lineup. He has decent power and if the Royals want to vault into contention in the next handful of years, Cuthbert could be in the plans as a utility guy who hits for power and average at the very least.
Lopez and O’Hearn will not be eligible for arbitration until a few years and Cuthbert is eligible this offseason, so Royals management will be able to keep control of them if they choose.