Kansas City Royals: What to expect from Ryan McBroom moving forward
By Cody Rickman
In 2,591 minor league at-bats, Ryan McBroom has hit .288/.353/.473 with 270 extra base hits, 102 being home runs. What should we expect from McBroom moving forward on the Kansas City Royals roster?
*STATS AS OF SEPTEMBER 6TH*
On August 31st the Kansas City Royals traded for Ryan McBroom from the Yankees for cash considerations. The 27-year-old McBroom put together an all-star season for the Yankees AAA affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, hitting .315/.402/.574 with 29 2Bs and 26 HRs in 413 at bats. McBroom’s power numbers in the international league placed him near the top of the leaderboard for each of the significant power statistics (Slugging, OPS, HRs).
Since the trade and being called up to the Kansas City Royals roster, Ryan McBroom has started all three games this week against the Detroit Tigers (two at First Base, one in Right Field). In his first 12 MLB plate appearances McBroom has reached base five times (four hits, one BB) and driving in his first RBI along the way.
Hitting
More from Kansas City Royals
- This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
- The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
- DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
- 3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year
- LAST CHANCE to Claim $250 GUARANTEED Bonus With FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!
McBroom brings a nice approach at the plate where he exhibits patience and hunts for fastballs. He takes advantage of mistakes with his easy swing and stays behind the ball to go the other way on outside pitches. McBroom does a good job of recognizing pitches and looks to take advantage of mistakes and capitalize with power.
I project McBroom to be a solid hitter with a .260 average, .340 OBP, and between 23 – 27 home runs per year. This would make McBroom a solid middle of the order bat for the Royals. If Ryan O’Hearn continues to develop and make solid contact vs. RHP then McBroom could become a candidate to be a platoon bat against tougher RH starting pitching.
Fielding/Arm
McBroom looks to be slightly above average at First Base. Being a tall (6’3”), athletic, left-handed first baseman allows him to make the routine plays at First. His start in Right Field looked awkward for him and the Royals may try to get him some work out there this upcoming offseason and Spring Training to expand his versatility and allow his bat to stay in the line-up. He has an average arm best suited for handling the shorter throws in the infield.
Baserunning
McBroom is a slightly below average baserunner in terms of speed. He isn’t going to clog up the base paths and appears to make smart decisions with baserunning, but he won’t be stealing many bases for the Royals.
Next. Five Underrated Royals Prospects in 2019. dark
Outlook
The KC Royals have time and patience to give Ryan McBroom plenty of at-bats moving forward. McBroom may be a late developing MLB breakout joining a Royals squad already ripe with the likes of late developing breakouts Whit Merrifield, Jorge Soler, and Hunter Dozier. I watched all three of McBroom’s first MLB games against the Detroit Tigers and came away thinking the Royals may have found themselves a consistent middle of the order power hitting first baseman.