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KC Royals: Five things that would make 2021 a successful season

By Leigh Oleszczak

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Whit Merrifield #15 celebrates with Jarrod Dyson #1 of the Kansas City Royals after the Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians of the home opener at Progressive Field on April 05, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Royals defeated the Indians 3-0. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Whit Merrifield #15 celebrates with Jarrod Dyson #1 of the Kansas City Royals after the Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians of the home opener at Progressive Field on April 05, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Royals defeated the Indians 3-0. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Royals second basemen Whit Merrifield (15) reacts after hitting a solo home run – Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA Texas Rangers Sports
Kansas City Royals second basemen Whit Merrifield (15) reacts after hitting a solo home run – Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA Texas Rangers Sports /

What would make a successful KC Royals season?

Star players staying at the top of their game

Prior to this season, the Royals extended both Hunter Dozier and Salvador Perez, tying them to Kansas City for the next several years. Because of this, it’d be nice to see both of these guys continue to hit and defend well to make those contracts seem worth it.

Dozier has been battling a thumb injury early on, but Perez has hit a home run and defended well behind the dish, as per usual. This section could also include Whit Merrifield, who is the Royals’ biggest star (at least currently on the team) and has shown no signs of slowing down in the first week of the season despite being 32 years old.

The Royals extended all three of these guys because they believed they could help them contend even when leaning more heavily on some of the younger talent on the team.

What would make a successful KC Royals season?

Prospects developing and making an impact

We never want to see prospects rushed to the major leagues, but we definitely want to see some of them up in Kansas City making an impact by the season’s end. It’d be great if the Royals could get some big league production out of guys like Daniel Lynch and Jackson Kowar on the mound.

While everyone wants to see Bobby Witt Jr. as soon as possible, it’s best not to rush him and let him truly develop in the minors. If he’s progressing and smashing his way through the farm system, then the Royals will know it’s time to call him up and let him help this team.

If the Royals still have a top 10 farm system at the end of the 2021 season despite a large chunk of those guys joining the big league squad (and excelling, at that), this year will have been a success.

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The 2021 campaign is going to be a fun one for Royals fans. Hopefully, by the end of the season, all of these have happened and we can look back and call this year a success for the Kansas City Royals.

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