Kansas City Royals: The polarizing Seuly Matias

What do the Kansas City Royals have with Seuly Matias? Even they may not know.

Over the past year, Seuly Matias may have become the most polarizing prospect in the Kansas City Royals system. He has tools that make the Royals, and their fans, dream of another impact power hitter sitting in the middle of their lineup. His cannon arm has drawn comparisons to the likes of Yoenis Cespedes and Andre Dawson, a howitzer in right that would make any runner think twice about taking an extra base.

However, despite his tremendous power and electric arm, there are issues that are easily seen in his production this past year. In an injury hampered season, Matias put together a horrendous .148/.259/.307 batting line in 221 plate appearances. A year after exploding as a prospect with 31 homers in the South Atlantic League, Matias had just four home runs last season.

That lack of power was not the most disturbing part of Matias’ 2019 campaign. Over his 221 plate appearances, he struck out an astonishing 98 times. In fact, as Matias had just 28 hits on the year, barely more than one hit for every four strikeouts he had on the year.

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Nonetheless, Matias continues to intrigue. With his tremendous power potential, it is easy to look at him as another Joey Gallo type – a hitter that will strike out a ton, but also hit tremendous home runs and be a weapon in the middle of the lineup.

However, even at his most turnstyle-esque, Gallo never struck out at that rate. Matias had a 44.3% strikeout rate last season, whereas Gallo never posted a strikeout rate in the minors above 36.8% during his minor league career. Gallo also managed a .254/.370/.589 batting line in the minors, whereas Matias, to this point, has produced a .218/.299/.499 batting line.

At just 21 years old, there is still plenty of time for Matias to get back to being a top prospect in the Royals system. However, a change in approach is needed. The idea of swinging from the heels and looking to launch the ball into the stratosphere at every plate appearance needs to be put to rest.

One of the most important lessons a young player can learn is that there is a time to swing, and a time not to swing. For Matias, every time he steps into the box, it is a time to swing, and to swing as hard as possible. Perhaps learning that lesson, and a change in approach when he has two strikes, will allow Matias to fulfill his destiny and become another Gallo.

Until that happens, Seuly Matias will continue to intrigue with his power. But unless he can make more consistent contact, it appears that the Kansas City Royals have an AAAA player at best.