Kansas City Royals: The always intriguing Hanser Alberto will fit in well

The Kansas City Royals aren’t quite ready to compete for a playoff spot in 2021, but this year’s roster continues to shape up to potentially be a much improved and more fun product for fans to enjoy.

The recent signing of infielder Hanser Alberto adds not only a really fun piece to the roster that fans will quickly fall in love with, but also someone who should be able to fill a void in the Kansas City Royals lineup.

Kansas City Royals add much-needed infield depth in Hanser Alberto.

The Kansas City Royals made the signing of Hanser Alberto official on Sunday evening, inking the 28-year-old former Baltimore Oriole infielder to a minor league deal, with the opportunity to make $1.65 million at the major league level.

A fan-favorite while with the Orioles over the last two seasons, Alberto’s numbers at the plate are a unique case study that can be boiled down to a very simple philosophy.

He hits ’em where they ain’t.

There’s no reason to over-analyze or over-think what Hanser Alberto brings to the field. He mashes lefties, plays an adequate second base, and brings a personality that every single major league club would love to in their clubhouse.

Before the start of the 2019 season, Alberto was placed on waivers four different times, eventually claimed by the Orioles twice. Projected to be one the first roster casualties of 2019 spring training, Alberto ended up finding a home at Camden Yards, breaking out with some very unique numbers.

Appearing in 139 games, Alberto hit .305/.329/.422 with 12 home runs, 21 doubles, and a career-high wRC+ of 97. He may have walked at a low 2.9 percent clip, but Alberto struck out just 9.1 percent of the time. Alberto was worth 2.0 Wins Above Replacement in 2019, decent value for a four-time waiver claim.

You won’t find another major leaguer who swings at more pitches than Hanser Alberto, swinging at 61.7 percent of pitches last season and making contact 88.7 percent of the time.

His Statcast numbers are also mind-blowing. Alberto ranked among the bottom 1 percent of hitters in average exit velocity (82.3 mph), hard-hit rate (20.7 percent), and walk rate (2.2 percent) in 2020, but in the 95th percentile in strikeout rate and 90th percentile in whiff rate.

He doesn’t hit it hard, but he finds gaps in the field and puts the ball in play.

Alberto’s real claim to fame is his ability to destroy left-handed pitching. He hit .375 against lefties last season, with a .396 OBP, .917 OPS, and a 148 wRC+.

The story against right-handed pitching is a bit different. Alberto slashed .257/.278/.357 with a wRC+ of 71.

Alberto has the potential to fill many roles for the Kansas City Royals. He’s primarily a second baseman, but has significant experience at third base and first base, and has even seen some time in the outfield. He should have no problems making the Royals Opening Day roster has a quality bench piece, with the potential for much more playing time.

The Kansas City Royals currently have Nicky Lopez as the likely starting second baseman, but the 25-year-old hit .136 against lefties last season. Expect to see Hanser Alberto get the starting nod against left-handed pitching, either spelling Lopez or even outfielder Franchy Cordero, if the exciting young outfielder is healthy in 2021.

Like the rest of their offseason additions, Hanser Alberto doesn’t make the Kansas City Royals a contender for an AL Central title, but he does provide value, will fill multiple roles, and is a quality under-the-radar signing.

Embrace the weirdness with him, Kansas City Royals fans. Just ask any Baltimore Orioles fan, Hanser Alberto is fun.