Because the Crimson Sox strategy Opening Day, it’s time to start out taking at have a look at the opposite American League playoff contenders. Subsequent up, a group that’s led by an MVP candidate.
What’s this group’s deal?
In 2024 the Royals bounced again from a 106-loss season to win 86 video games and end in second place within the AL Central. These Royals would sweep their Wild Card sequence towards the Baltimore Orioles earlier than falling to the Yankees within the ALDS. It regarded like a Kansas Metropolis miracle. 2025 would see a bit of that progress fall again to earth. Regression to the imply comes for us all. However they nonetheless received 82 video games final 12 months.
This winter the Royals added outfielders Starling Marte and Lane Thomas. They’ll be a part of high prospect Jac Caglianone in his sophomore season within the majors. Caglianone is contemporary off a WBC run with Crew Italy that noticed him slash .286/.500/.571 with a house run and a Ok:BB of 4:5. Excessive pattern and high quality sizes abound with the WBC, however this can be a man who put up a OPS north of 1.000 in AAA. They’re anticipating some runs like that blended right into a full season.
Bobby Witt Jr. was a famous person once more and completed fourth in AL MVP voting. He was an All Star. He received a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. Whenever you decide to basically a without end cope with a participant, that’s what you need to see.
KC additionally noticed a breakout season for third baseman Maikel Garcia. He completed 14th in MVP voting, was an All Star, received a Silver Slugger, and earned himself an extension that runs a minimum of by way of 2030. Oh yeah, he additionally received WBC MVP this week after Venezuela took the championship. From Opening Day 2025 to Opening Day 2026 he’s had a reasonably good 12 months.
Vinnie Pasquantino bounced again from an injury-shortened 2024 season to play in 160 video games final 12 months, hitting .264/.323/.475 with a private greatest 32 house runs. “The place’s the f’ing wine?“ certainly. Pasquatch seems to be able to be the strong contributor at first base they want. Particularly when he’s beaned up.
The beginning rotation options Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Noah Cameron, and Kris Bubic. The Royals had one of many higher rotations within the sport final season by ERA and are set to take action once more with this crew. Lugo and Wacha are of their mid-30s, however the different three are all underneath 30.
They acquired former Crimson Sox pitcher and Matt Strahm to shore up the bullpen.
It’s possible you’ll keep in mind Aaron Sanchez from his time on the Blue Jays a decade in the past. Properly, he’s in camp as a non-roster invitee and remains to be simply 33 years previous. Previous good friend John Schreiber remains to be there, too.
There are a variety of questions within the rotation — even when it may be good. The lineup is Witt, Pasquantino, Garcia, and Perez with perhaps Caglianone becoming a member of them. They want a bounce-back season from Jonathan India.
The WBC featured various Royals throughout the groups within the event and there’s expertise right here, however is there sufficient? Bobby Witt Jr. remains to be only one particular person within the lineup.
Who’s their most likeable participant?
Most likeable isn’t all the time synonymous with greatest, however on this occasion there’s a powerful case for it. Bobby Witt Jr. is all the time taking part in onerous on the market and appears like he’s loving each second of it. How are you going to not root for that?
Who’s their least likeable participant?
I virtually need to say Salvador Perez as a result of it seems like he’s all the time hitting towards the Crimson Sox. Because it seems although, .276/.308/.483 isn’t his greatest break up towards a group. And his 16 homers are simply second to groups not within the AL Central (he has 17 towards the Yankees). That’s probably not sufficient to override his normal standing as a catching legend. He’s been round so lengthy he seems like a well-recognized opponent however with out actual onerous emotions.
Michael Wacha, has, if something, been just a little worse for the Royals than he was in Boston, as his well being and efficiency proceed to fluctuate wildly.
Matt Strahm’s hair is simply…scary.
Possibly this house will get crammed by Jac Caglianone. Do you know that the C in Jac stands for Caglianone? His title is Jeffrey Allen Caglianone, however he goes by Jac, like a PIN Quantity. What are we even doing right here?
Schedule towards the Crimson Sox
The Crimson Sox will likely be in Kansas Metropolis Could 18-20 and the Royals go to Fenway Park from September 11-13.
With some well being and progress from their youthful gamers like Caglianone and Garcia — and in an AL Central that’s most likely weak after the Tigers — they may bounce proper again as much as 84-85 wins. They will perhaps even sneak into the division lead if issues go incorrect in Detroit they usually flip Tarik Skubal this summer season.
