Kansas City Royals: Time to bring up the kids
By David Hill
Goodbye Chris Owings – hello Nicky Lopez
The Kansas City Royals have done everything possible to put Owings in the lineup, starting him at five different positions while giving him all of three days off this season. Their reward – a .147/.209/.255 batting line with two home runs in 110 plate appearances heading into Friday.
Meanwhile, the Royals have a replacement already in Omaha. Nicky Lopez has hit ever since being drafted by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft. Thus far at AAA, the 23 year old infielder has produced an excellent .341/.437/.477 batting line, hitting two homers and four doubles while stealing five bases. In 103 plate appearances heading into Friday, he has drawn 14 walks and struck out only three times.
Lopez does not have the defensive versatility that Owings does, as he has only played at second and short in his minor league career. However, with a player like Whit Merrifield on the roster, that lack of flexibility does not matter nearly as much.
Owings may have the ability to play different positions, but none of that matters if he cannot produce. At this point, Owings has a -0.5 WAR, one of the worst marks in the game. There is no purpose to his remaining on the roster, aside from the Royals bizarre love of mediocre middle infielders.
Nicky Lopez can be a part of the Kansas City Royals future. It is time to give him a look.