Kansas City Royals: Projecting positional player stats for 2020 season
By Cody Rickman
Second Base
- Nicky Lopez (2020 Steamer projection) – .272/.326/.377 with 35 extra base hits (7 home runs) – 1.3 WAR
Nicky Lopez struggled for the first three months after he was called up to the Royals major league roster in May. The progress Lopez showed in August and his performance in September/October when he slashed .289/.333/.444 showed what he is truly capable of.
Lopez is capable of playing average to slightly above average defense at shortstop and is considered a plus defender at second base. If Lopez is able to build on his success in the minors and his late season performance in 2019, then the Royals will have above average second baseman for years to come.
Lopez possesses solid speed and good plate discipline to be a solid choice to hit at the top of the lineup in the future. The potential and progression of Lopez has allowed the Royals to move Whit Merrifield to a full-time role in the outfield, which will increase Merrifield’s defensive value.
Third Base
- Maikel Franco (2020 Steamer projection) – .267/.329/.473 with 42 extra base hits (19 home runs) – 1.3 WAR
Signed this offseason after the Philadelphia Phillies released him, Maikel Franco takes over at third base allowing the Royals to move Hunter Dozier to full-time role in the outfield. Franco, at age 27, still possesses a tremendous amount of potential. Outside of his rookie campaign in 2015 where he hit .280/.343/.497 with 14 home runs, Franco has generally been a .249/.302/.431 hitter averaging 22 home runs the last four seasons.
According to some of the statistical metrics, Franco is an upgrade defensively over Dozier at third base. A closer look at the statcast metrics shows Franco isn’t a defensive upgrade over Hunter Dozier’s statcast metrics at third base, as he struggles and is more error prone.
Nevertheless, the signing of Maikel Franco allows the Royals to have similar offensive production now in two positions (third base and right field) without losing a great deal defensively. If Franco can find his potential at the plate, then Dayton Moore will look like a genius.
Franco possesses the potential to be a 30+ home run hitter and the ability to hit above a .270 batting average. If he is able to meet his potential at the plate, his defensive shortcomings won’t stand out as much.