In 2024, the Kansas Metropolis Royals made a historic turnaround, enhancing by 30 wins over their dismal 2023 marketing campaign. The Royals went from doormat to aggressive in a single day.
With a famous person in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and two beginning pitchers who completed within the prime 4 within the Cy Younger voting final yr in Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, the Royals ought to stay an AL Central contender.
Listed below are 5 daring however real looking predictions for the 2025 season that do not contain Witt.
MJ Melendez turns his profession round
In AAA, Melendez sported a .371 on-base proportion, after posting a .366 OBP in AA. He hit 48 residence runs at these two ranges in simply 148 video games. Expectations have been excessive that he might get on base within the majors and hit for energy.
That has not been the case. He has 51 homers in three seasons and a paltry .303 OBP. Issues have been horrible in 2024 when he produced an OBP of simply .273.
He is reworked his strategy and stance on the plate this offseason. He’ll use these modifications to show his profession round, be a viable, productive left fielder for the Royals and assist lengthen their batting order.
The bullpen will trim a complete run from their 2024 ERA
The bullpen was a catastrophe for a lot of final season. It collected a 4.13 and pitchers struggled with their roles all yr.
A revamped ‘pen, with a number of exhausting throwers, ought to produce significantly better outcomes. The backend can be deep with Carlos Estevez, Hunter Harvey and Lucas Erceg to shut down offenses. It might be a dominating group.
Salvador Perez fights off Father Time yet one more yr
Perez is 34, however the Royals have labored to lighten his work behind the plate. He’ll play loads of video games at first and can function the designated hitter typically.
Resting him has allowed him to proceed to supply. He had 27 residence runs and 104 RBI final season and now has Jonathan India hitting leadoff, and Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino nonetheless getting on base in entrance of him. Perez ought to have extra alternative to drive in runs. He blew away his profession document for walks at 34, although he nonetheless swings and misses an excessive amount of.
He could not match his stroll totals once more, however his energy and manufacturing ought to nonetheless maintain for an additional yr. He’ll beat Father Time for an additional season.
Prospect Jac Caglianone will debut and have an effect
Sooner or later this season, Caglianone will be part of the Royals and make a distinction down the stretch. The teenager impressed in spring coaching, slashing .500/.609/1.167 whereas hitting three residence runs with 5 walks and solely three strikeouts in 23 plate appearances.
Royals win the AL Central
The AL Central is just not the perfect division in baseball, however it may be essentially the most aggressive. Outdoors of the White Sox, the opposite 4 groups are fairly shut. Every has weaknesses however has areas wherein they’ll excel.
The Tigers have sturdy beginning pitching, however their offense has been decimated by accidents this spring. The Guardians have a star in Jose Ramirez, however nobody else in that lineup scares anybody. The Twins have proficient stars, however a lot of them are injury-prone.
The Royals have a famous person in Witt, a powerful rotation on paper, an improved bullpen and a productive prime 4 of their batting order. They might have the sting and may win the division.
