Kansas City Royals: Stock up, stock down
With a record of 29-74, the Kansas City Royals find themselves only one game ahead of the Oakland Athletics for the worst record in the MLB. While not expected to be serious challengers in 2023, there was hope that the Royals could have a couple breakout seasons and surprise some around the league. But the exact opposite has happened. With the second-fewest runs scored and the third-most allowed in the MLB, this has been a historically bad season for the Royals.
Here are the Royals trending up and down in 2023.
Stock up
Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop: After a strong rookie campaign, Witt Jr. has shown improvements in his game in his second season.
A streaky hitter, he is slashing .253/.294/.442 with 39 XBH and 28 stolen bases in 2023 and has shown massive improvement on the defensive side. After committing 19 errors in 2022, he has only committed seven on the diamond this season.
While he will still need to work on his plate discipline as a top-of-the-order hitter, Witt Jr. is a special talent who has speed and power that rivals almost anyone at the shortstop position in the MLB. He could be the face of the Royals franchise for the next decade plus.
Maikel Garcia, third base: One of the Royals' top prospects, Garcia got his first taste of the majors last season and in 2023 he has taken over as the team's primary third baseman.
Slashing .275/.324/.380 with 18 XBH, 29 RBI and 14 stolen bases, Garcia has been one of the few bright spots on the Royals in 2023.
A primary shortstop, Garcia has shifted over to third base and has done it with great success. He has shown the ability to make all the plays needed to be an above-average defender at the hot corner. Garcia and Witt Jr. should be able to handle the left side of the infield for the Royals for years to come.
Stock down
Brady Singer, pitcher: After going 10-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 2022, Singer has had a disastrous 2023 season when he was expected to be the leader of the Royals rotation.
Currently 6-8 with a 5.55 ERA, he is the American League leader in hits allowed with 124 in 108.2 innings pitched.
While he has shown flashes of his 2022 form, he hasn't been able to give the Royals consistent innings. If it wasn't for the lack of major-league-ready options, they might have removed him from the rotation at this point.
The Royals will hope that Singer can return to his frontline starter form as they close out their disappointing 2023 campaign.
MJ Melendez, outfielder: Melendez has struggled in 2023 after an up-and-down rookie season, currently slashing .213/.290/.346 with seven home runs and 33 RBI. He has struggled with strikeouts this season. With 113 strikeouts, Melendez is currently in eighth place in the American League and his .346 slugging percentage is the sixth worst out of all qualified hitters in the AL.
After slugging 41 home runs across two minor league levels in 2021, the hope is that Melendez will find the power stroke that propelled him through the Royals farm system as the season winds down.
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