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KC Royals: Four position players due for bounce back season in 2020

By Cody Rickman

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Kansas City Royals center fielder Brett Phillips (14) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on September 16, 2019 in Oakland, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Kansas City Royals center fielder Brett Phillips (14) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on September 16, 2019 in Oakland, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Brett Phillips #14 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Brett Phillips #14 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Brett Phillips (Outfielder)

  • 2019 stats – .138/.247/.262 with 4 extra base hits (2 home runs) worth 0.3 WAR (34 wRC+)
  • 2019 AAA stats – .240/.378/.505 with 39 extra base hits (13 triples and 18 home runs) with 112 wRC+
  • 2020 Steamer projection – .211/.299/.369 with 32 extra base hits (12 home runs) worth 0.6 WAR (74 wRC+)

Brett Phillips struggled mightily in 2019 at the MLB level offensively. He also started out slow for the first two months in AAA Omaha, then he made some adjustments in June and proceeded to hit .277/.408/.613 with five doubles, ten triples, and 13 home runs with 40 walks vs 52 strikeouts. With more sustained playing time at the MLB level, Phillips could be able to unlock the sustained success he experienced prior to his MLB call-up in 2019.

Phillips is an exciting defender capable of providing Gold Glove fielding in each of the outfield positions. The only thing holding him back from being an every day starter on the Royals roster is his inconsistency to make contact at the plate.

Phillips has seen his K% drop during 2019, but he still hovers around 30%. The plate discipline is there, as he generally sees four pitches per plate appearance and walks at a rate above 10%. He has struggled making contact with pitches in the zone (77.7%) and too much contact on pitches outside of the zone (60.0%).

If Phillips ever figures it out at the plate at the major league level, he could be extremely valuable as his power, speed, and athleticism make him an extra base machine and a defensive highlight reel. Phillips also possesses one of the strongest arms in the outfield and would be a plus-plus defender for the Royals in the corners.

The talent and the potential are there for an All-Star level player if he can improve his contact ability and hit above a .240 batting average. If Phillips receives extended stretches of playing time, he has an outstanding chance at exceeding his 2020 projections and becoming the center fielder of the future.

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