Kansas City Royals: Adalberto Mondesi helped most by shortened season

If Adalberto Mondesi is 100% healthy, he will finally have the break-out season that Kansas City Royals fans have been teased with the past two seasons.

Kansas City Royals fans have been waiting to see what Adalberto Mondesi is capable of, with a full season of health.

Mondesi has shown flashes of his ability in stretches of good health in 2018 and 2019. In both seasons he was unable to put together a full season due to injury.

Mondesi was out the first couple of months of the 2018 season due to a shoulder injury. He missed the end of the 2019 season with the most serious injury being the left shoulder subluxation requiring off-season surgery.

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The shoulder injury may not be completely behind Mondesi. Left shoulder subluxations require a few years to build the strength and regain the flexibility to stabilize the shoulder. The Royals would be intelligent in encouraging him to take fewer risks that could aggravate the left shoulder.

Risky activities such as sliding head first into second using the left arm to grab the bag and diving at ground balls hit to his left side (forcing him to land with all his weight on his left shoulder) should continue to be discouraged.

The Royals should also pay close attention to his ability to access his power on the right-side of the plate. The left shoulder is used in the follow through on a right-handed swing and if the shoulder is still a problem, his exit velocity will be noticeably less than his left-handed exit velocity.

If Adalberto Mondesi’s shoulder is 100% healthy, then Kansas City Royals fans are in for breakout season.

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Mondesi has been a top prospect for so long, so there might be some prospect fatigue. Some of us may have forgot just how promising Mondesi’s talent is. He had enough potential to make his major league debut during the 2015 World Series.

He still has the talent to be the best player on the Royals, if he can remain healthy. The 60-game, mad dash to the finish, 2020 season will be the perfect time for Mondesi to put together a fantastic season.

2018 (1st hint of a star)

Mondesi had a strong finish in 2018, hitting .287/.317/.517 (122 wRC+), 26 extra base hits (13 home runs) with 29 stolen bases over the last 64 games he appeared in from July to October.

2019 (2nd glimpse at stardom)

Mondesi carried over the strong finish in 2018 with a hot start in 2019, hitting .288/.325/.487 (107 wRC+), 26 extra base hits (6 home runs) with 20 stolen bases in the first 58 games he appeared in from March to May.

2020 (Expectation)

The Royals are scheduled to face the AL Central and the NL Central during the 2020 season. There are only a few tough left-handed pitchers in both the AL Central and the NL Central, so Mondesi will get to hit mostly from the left side of the plate.

Mondesi is capable of bettering his 2019 start, hitting .290/.320/.500, with 28 extra base hits (8 home runs) with 25 stolen bases. He could finish the 2020 season as the league leader in stolen bases and triples.

Importance for 2020 success

Barring any unpredictable illness, I expect Mondesi to finally breakout in 2020. His speed, power, and ability to hit above a .280 batting average are enviable at such a premium defensive position. Mondesi’s 2020 breakout will feature plus defense at shortstop, an ability to generate havoc on the basepaths, and the ability to generate extra-base hits.

It is important for Mondesi to breakout during the 2020 shortened season. If he breaksout now, the Royals will be in a better position to offer him a long-term extension (less expensive). Locking up a star shortstop who is still 25 years old will be important for the Kansas City Royals and their plans to return to a playoff caliber team.

Would you sign Adalberto Mondesi to a long-term contract if he has a breakout season statistically and remains fully health during the 2020 season?