03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 25
MLB ’24 AL CENTRAL PREVIEW KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Sunday, March 24, 2024 25
2023: 56-106, fifth place | Manager: Matt Quatraro (second season) | Opening Day: March 28 vs Minnesota
ONE TO WATCH
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
(.276, 30 HRs,
96 RBIs, 49 SBs),
OVERVIEW
TOP HITTERS
C Salvador Perez (.255, 23, 80), 3B Maikel Garcia (.272, 4, 50), OF Hunter Renfroe (.233, 20, 60 with Angels and Reds), 2B Adam Frazier (.240, 13, 60 with
Orioles), 1B Vinnie Pasquantino (.247, 9, 26 in 61 games due to injury).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Michael Wacha (14-4, 3.22 ERA with Padres), LH Cole Ragans (7-5, 3.47 with
Rangers and Royals), RH Seth Lugo (8-7, 3.57 with Padres), RH Brady Singer
(8-11, 5.52), RH Jordan Lyles (6-17, 6.28).
KEY RELIEVERS
LH Will Smith (2-7, 4.40 ERA, 22 saves with Rangers), RH Chris Stratton (2-1,
3.92 with Cardinals and Rangers), RH Nick Anderson (4-0, 3.06 with Braves),
RH John Schreiber (2-1, 3.86 with Red Sox), RH Matt Sauer (6-5, 3.41 with Yankees minor league teams), LH Jake Brentz (Tommy John surgery), LH Daniel
Lynch IV (3-4, 4.64).
OUTLOOK
The Royals aggressively
overhauled their roster
in the offseason, signing
several veterans with postseason experience to help
nurture a young core of
promising players. Wacha
and Lugo should immediately upgrade the rotation,
while Ragans was a revelation after his midseason
arrival in a trade with
Texas. The Royals need
Singer and Lyles to bounce
back from tough seasons
at the back of the rotation.
Almost the entire bullpen
is new, with Smith taking
over the closer job. In the
field, Bobby Witt Jr. earned
MVP votes for his dynamic
sophomore season, along
with a franchise-record
11-year, $288.7 million
contract.
— Associated Press
ASHLEY
LANDIS/AP
HE’S HERE
Kyle Wright, RHP Nick Anderson, RF Hunter Renfroe, RHP Michael Wacha (left), RHP Chris Stratton, RHP Seth Lugo,
LHP Will Smith, 2B Adam Frazier, C Austin Nola.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
RHP Jackson Kowar, 3B Matt Duffy, RHP Brad Keller, RHP Zack Greinke, RHP Collin Snider, RHP Jonathan Heasley,
RF Edward Olivares, RHP Taylor Clarke, RHP Dylan Coleman, 2B Samad Taylor, RHP Max Castillo.
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