Kansas City Royals 2018 Season Review
The 2018 campaign was a disaster for the Kansas City Royals. However, for as bad as the past year was, the future is certainly bright.
One had to know the 2018 campaign would be rough for the Kansas City Royals. Although they had signed a few stopgap free agents, while bringing back Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar on one year deals, it seemed unlikely that they would contend. The Indians were still the class of the AL Central, and the Twins seemed like they could be a formidable team. Maybe, if everything went right, the Royals could hover around .500, and would potentially make a run for the postseason.
Instead, the polar opposite happened. The Royals best laid plans cratered, leaving the team in sell mode early in the season. Jon Jay, Moustakas, Lucas Duda, and Kelvin Herrera were sent elsewhere, as Kansas City stumbled through most of the season. The end result? A 58-104 record, the second worst mark in the majors, and tied with the 2004 Royals for the second worst mark in team history.
However, there are few similarities between the 2004 Royals and this year’s edition. The Royals from that time frame were in a perpetual cycle of mediocrity, with just one season over .500 from 1995 through 2012. That year was the first of three consecutive 100 loss seasons, as the Royals were one of the biggest pushovers in the game. This time, there is promise for the future, and hope that the halcyon days of just three and four years ago will return quickly.
Before we can look ahead, let us look back at the past season for the Kansas City Royals. it was not all bad, despite the record.
The Kansas City Royals youth gave reason for hope in the near future
It took some time, but the Kansas City Royals finally began their rebuild in earnest. When the youngsters had a chance to play in September, the Royals actually put together a winning month, leading to far more optimism that usual around a team that lost 100 games.
That optimism begins on offense. Whit Merrifield continued to develop into a solid piece for the Royals, leading the American league with 192 hits and 45 steals. Adalberto Mondesi finally displaced Alcides Escobar from shortstop, a move that needed to happen after the 2017 campaign. When he was inserted in the lineup, Mondesi looked like a future star, hitting 13 homers and stealing 35 bases in 75 games. Ryan O’Hearn was a monster in September, belting 12 homers in 170 plate appearances, giving hope that he can be that valued middle of the order bat.
While he did not perform at the same level at the plate, Brett Phillips also gave plenty of reason for hope. He was a human highlight reel in the outfield, making amazing catches and showing off his howitzer for an arm. While the Royals have to hope he develops into Lorenzo Cain offensively, he already has similar defense.
On the pitching side, Brad Keller went from being a Rule V draftee to a viable Rookie of the Year candidate. He posted a surprising 3.08 ERA and a 1.304 WHiP over his 140.1 innings, proving to be a potential middle of the rotation arm. Fellow rookie Heath Fillmeyer showed promise to be a back of the rotation arm, and Jakob Junis shook off a rough couple of months to finish the year strong.
The Kansas City Royals have some pieces in place, and may have the beginnings of their next core. They just need the right pieces to supplement the youth movement.
And then, the other side for the Kansas City Royals…
For all the positives that the Kansas City Royals had last season, there were plenty of negatives. Most of that came from the veterans on the team.
The biggest negative may be that Alcides Escobar still managed to receive 531 plate appearances, as Ned Yost just could not quit the glove first shortstop. Alex Gordon had a hot month, and still plays excellent defense, but his bat has continued to lag behind. The bench was not that much better, with the likes of Hunter Dozier, Cheslor Cuthbert, and Rosell Herrera failing to show that they can be a part of the future.
However, as bad as the offense was, the pitching staff was even worse. jason Hammel had been a disaster in 2017, but was a complete dumpster fire last season. Hammel posted a 6.02 ERA and a 1.630 WHiP, but at least he is gone after this season. Ian Kennedy, meanwhile, is signed for two more years, and has an 8-22 record with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.348 WHiP since the start of 2017. Maybe, somehow, he can rediscover the form he displayed in 2016, as unlikely as that would seem.
Even with those disappointments, the biggest disappointment may have been Danny Duffy. Expected to be the staff ace, Duffy struggled again, posting a 4.88 ERA and a 1.490 WHiP, both his worst numbers since his rookie campaign. His 4.1 BB/9 rate was a major part of the problem, as Duffy was unable to command his stuff when healthy. If the Royals want to compete next season, it all may come back to whether or not Duffy can turn his performance around.
There was a lot that went wrong for the Kansas City Royals in 2018. Nonetheless, the future is very bright.
Looking ahead for the Kansas City Royals in 2019
Typically, when a team losses 100 games, there is not a lot of positivity surrounding them. That is not the case with the Kansas City Royals.
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Perhaps this is due to their strong September, when the Royals had a winning record. Or it is due to the excellent play of Adalberto Mondesi and Ryan O’Hearn, giving hope that the Royals prospect can really be what the team has hoped for. Recent draftees, especially on the pitching side, have dominated the minor leagues.
However, the Royals will still take some time to return to greatness. The top pitching prospects, like Brady Singer, Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar, and Yefri Del Rosario are all in A ball. There are some intriguing hitters getting closer, but the next real wave of top minor league talent to reach the majors should do so in the next three or four years.
There are possible ways to speed up that process. The Royals could look to add more low cost free agents late in the offseason to one year deals, with the idea of flipping them should the team be out of contention again. If those players succeed, unlike the free agent crop of last year, then the Royals rebuilding process could take a major step forward.
Next. Royals minor league award winners. dark
Chances are, the 2019 campaign will be a struggle for the Kansas City Royals once again. However, with the beginnings of a new young core, the Royals should be fun to watch.