Kansas City Royals keep coming back to Alcides Escobar

One had to figure that there was no possible way Alcides Escobar would return to the Kansas City Royals in a playing capacity. With Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi, and Nicky Lopez, as well as the future arrival of Bobby Witt Jr., there just did not seem to be a place for Escobar on the roster.

But much like a horror movie villain, Escobar is back. The Royals have signed their former shortstop to a minor league deal, bringing him back into the system.

Kansas City Royals bring Alcides Escobar back as depth piece

The Royals have continued bringing the band back together, as Escobar joins Wade Davis, Jarrod Dyson, and Greg Holland from the consecutive World Series teams as players who returned to Kansas City. Ervin Santana missed out on that time, signing in 2013, but he has also returned. Clearly, the Royals value the postseason experience, and their ability to let the younger players know what Kansas City was like during those days.

But Escobar also serves a more practical purpose as well. Mondesi has not exactly been a paragon of health during his career. Lopez was actually ticketed for Triple-A before Mondesi’s placement on the Injured List prior to Opening Day, and while he has performed well thus far, has not been known for his ability to hit over his career.

Frankly, the same could be said for Escobar. Had only two seasons where he was even close to a league average bat, producing a career .258/.293/.343 batting line with 224 doubles in 5702 plate appearances. However, he was a playoff hero for the Royals in 2015, as he was the ALCS MVP and led off the World Series with an inside the park homer.

If Escobar does return to the majors, it will be the first time since he departed Kansas City following the 2018 season. He spent the 2019 season in the White Sox system at Triple-A after being let go by the Orioles, and was in Japan last year. Given the questions in the Royals’ infield right now, this may be his best chance to return to the majors.

The Kansas City Royals have signed Alcides Escobar to a minor league deal. Although he is a depth piece for now, he could make his return this season.