Royals 2019 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2019 Kansas City Royals predictions? Four seasons removed from World Series glory, Kansas City embarks on year two of an indefinite rebuild. In any other division the Royals’ current roster would consistently struggle. However, in perhaps MLB’s weakest grouping, the AL Central, Kansas City could surpass a light projected win total.
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Veteran skipper Ned Yost molded the Kansas City Royals from doormat to World Series champion. Now, the dream ride has come full circle for the 63-year-old baseball lifer.
Yost will be tasked with another slapdash roster mainly comprised of inexperienced, yet rising, youngsters. The good news is his club’s a year older. The bad news is All Star Royals Catcher Salvador Perez (Tommy John’s) will miss the entire 2019 season.
This should be an interesting campaign for the Royals in many regards.
2019 MLB Team Previews – Kansas City Royals
- Kansas City Royals American League Central Odds +3500
- Royals American League Odds +9000
- Royals World Series Odds +1500
Key Additions:
- Billy Hamilton
- Jake Deikman
- Brad Boxberger
The Royals signed a speedy bat and middle relief to bring veteran presence to their commited rebuild.
Billy Hamilton represents the speedy bat. Although, Hamilton, 28, struggles getting on base, when he does he’s almost impossible to keep from swiping extra bags. He’ll mesh well on one of MLB’s fastest teams.
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32-year-old Deikman brings a decent fastball and eight years of MLB service to a club which fell hard during middle relief situations in 2018. Deikman’s lost some velocity, but his accrued professional knowledge will serve KC’s youngsters well.
Finally, one-time All Star Brad Boxberger will slot as the Royals’ 2019 closer. Boxberger led the AL with 41 saves during the 2015 season with Tampa Bay.
Key Losses:
- SS Alcides Escobar
Former World Series winner and All Star Alcides Escobar’s departure represents the end of an era for Kansas City die hards. Though fading on the wrong side of 30 -231/279/313 slash last year- Escobar’s locker room presence will be missed.
On October 9, 2018 Kansas City granted Escobar’s free agency request. The 11-year-vet signed a non-guaranteed minor league deal recently with the Chicago White Sox.
2019 Kansas City Royals Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- SS Adalberto Mondesi
- 2B Whit Merrifield
- LF Alex Gordon
- RF Jorge Soler
- 1B Ryan O’Hearn
- 3B Hunter Dozier
- DH Lucas Duda
- C Martin Maldonado
- CF Billy Hamilton
Headlining this young nucleus are prospects Adalberto Mondesi, Whit Merrifield and Jorge Soler. Though, collectively, the Royals will be hard pressed to find consistent scoring from its current bats.
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The rest of KC’s starters are fringe players: youngsters and faded vets. The Royals’ biggest strength is their speed along the base paths. Merrifield (45 SB) and Mondesi (32 SB) help themselves routinely into scoring position.
2019 Kansas City Royals Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- RHP Brad Keller
- RHP Jakob Unis
- RHP Jorge Lopez
- RHP Homer Bailey
Brad Keller and Jakob Unis, each nine game winners last year, give the Royals’ rotation youth and upside.
Meanwhile Jorge Lopez is green, appearing sparingly for Kansas City over the last two seasons. Veteran Homer Bailey posted career-worst numbers in 2018 winning one game against thirteen losses for Cincinnati before his ensuing trade and release.
Rebuilding for the long haul, obviously this group of arms is either unproven or on their last MLB legs. Don’t expect many wins from Kansas City’s starters. However, do expect Keller and Unis to make strides.
2019 Kansas City Royals Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RHP Brad Boxberger
As listed above, during a thrifty winter, Boxberger is Kansas City’s number one haul.
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Boxberger proved his worth while saving 32 games last season with Arizona. The 31-year-old veteran should provide the most reliable piece for a makeshift Royals pitching staff.
2019 Kansas City Royals Predictions:
In a rebuilding division, Kansas City is a little further along than Detroit and on even terms with Chicago since Perez’ injury. The Royals are a few seasons away from contending for a playoff spot. The main takeaway from this year’s Kansas City squad will be how well their top prospects develop. Expect to find out if Mondesi and Merrifield have what it takes to shed the prospect label and become solid MLB players.
What do you think of our 2019 Kansas City Royals predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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