Kansas City Royals: Thoughts on every player on the 40-man roster
By Eric Treuden
Infielders (10):
1B/3B/OF Hunter Dozier
2021 stats: 543 PA, 144 G, 16 HR, .216/.285/.394, 82 wRC+, -0.2 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 504 PA, 117 G, 17 HR, .236/.308/.424, 97 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR
30-year-old Hunter Dozier has defensive versatility on his side and is a strong right-handed power bat in the Royals’ lineup. 2021 was a bit of a down year for the slugger but FGDC has him projected to turn things around a bit. Royals fans should be hopeful that he is able to return to his 2019 form, but they should also be prepared for disappointment should this be the new normal for Dozier.
2B/SS Maikel Garcia
2021 stats (in A/A+): 480 PA, 104 G, 4 HR, .291/.380/.405
2022 FGDC projections: N/A
Maikel Garcia, 22, is nowhere near big league-ready but needed to be added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He possesses an exciting skillset including excellent speed on the basepaths, doesn’t strikeout much, draws his fair share of walks, and gets on base a ton. He is one to keep an eye on down the line.
2B/SS Nicky Lopez
2021 stats: 565 PA, 151 G, 2 HR, .300/.365/.378, 106 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 609 PA, 141 G, .270/.334/.359, 91 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR
While FGDC has Nicky Lopez coming down to earth somewhat in 2022, Royals fans and executives have every right to be excited about his future with the club. Lopez stole 22 bases and scored 78 runs last season, dominating on defense as well, ranking amongst the top middle infield defenders in the major leagues.
2B/OF Whit Merrifield
2021 stats: 720 PA, 162 G, 10 HR, .277/.317/.395, 91 wRC+, 3.2 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 644 PA, 149 G, 11 HR, .280/.327/.410, 99 wRC+, 2.7 fWAR
Whit Merrifield possesses a similar skillset to Lopez … high-contact, high-stolen bases, durable, and respectable on defense. He is capable of bouncing all around the infield and outfield and is now regarded as one of the veteran presences on this Royals team. He is an annual lock to hit double-digit home run totals while stealing 30 or more bases as well.
3B/SS Adalberto Mondesi
2021 stats: 136 PA, 35 G, 6 HR, .230/.271/.452, 91 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 588 PA, 136 G, 19 HR, .248/.288/.429, 90 wRC+, 1.4 fWAR
Adalberto Mondesi struggled with injuries last season, missing significant time in April, May, and June, and then missing all of July and August. With the emergence of Nicky Lopez as the club’s full-time shortstop, Mondesi got his first career look at third base, where he performed respectably. FanGraphs has him projected as the club’s designated hitter in 2022 and the FGDC has him hitting 19 home runs in the upcoming campaign, a career-high for the switch-hitting speedster.
1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn
2021 stats: 254 PA, 84 G, 9 HR, .225/.268/.369, 70 wRC+, -0.7 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 42 PA, 10 G, 2 HR, .231/.302/.422, 94 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR
Ryan O’Hearn was able to get his bat into the lineup a little bit more in 2021 due to his ability to play the corner outfield. In 2022, he may not get many opportunities due to the presence of Carlos Santana on the big league roster and prospect Nick Pratto knocking on the door. O’Hearn does not hit lefties very well but he has exceptional pop in his bat and is capable of hitting the ball a long way when he makes contact.
1B/OF Nick Pratto
2021 stats (in AA/AAA): 545 PA, 124 G, 36 HR, .265/.602/.988, 156 wRC+
2022 FGDC projections: 231 PA, 53 G, 11 HR, .247/.325/.473, 114 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR
The hope is once Nick Pratto makes it to the big leagues, he will never look back. Pratto has light-tower power (as evidenced by his 36-homer showing last year) and is also an exceptional defensive first baseman as he won his first career MiLB Gold Glove Award last season. Pratto, like O’Hearn, has dabbled in the corner outfield somewhat and is a potential option there moving forward as well. Once he makes it to The Show, there should be no turning back.
1B/3B Emmanuel Rivera
2021 stats: 98 PA, 29 G, 1 HR, .256/.316/.333, 80 wRC+, -0.1 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 98 PA, 23 G, 3 HR, .253/.298/.400, 87 wRC+, 0.1 fWAR
Emmanuel Rivera is currently projected to begin 2022 on the big league roster, partly because of his decent performance last year but mostly because of a lack of other options at this moment. He has a 50-grade power tool and a 55-grade throwing arm, rating as a passable offensive talent and an above-average defender. He could always serve as a right-handed platoon option at any of third base, first base, or designated hitter.
1B Carlos Santana
2021 stats: 659 PA, 158 G, 19 HR, .214/.319/.342, 83 wRC+, -0.3 fWAR
2022 FGDC projections: 427 PA, 99 G, 14 HR, .235/.342/.393, 102 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR
It has been a few seasons since Carlos Santana was an above-average baseball player. The longtime Cleveland Indian is limited to first base defensively and may see the vast majority of his playing time at DH in the coming season. The 35-year-old switch-hitter is still drawing walks at an alarmingly solid rate and is still a capable on-base machine.
3B/SS Bobby Witt Jr.
2021 stats (in AA/AAA): 564 PA, 123 G, 33 HR, .290/.361/.576, 143 wRC+
2022 FGDC projections: 581 PA, 134 G, 23 HR, .267/.322/.468, 111 wRC+, 3.2 fWAR
The entire baseball world has been eagerly awaiting Bobby Witt Jr.‘s arrival in the big leagues ever since his first professional season in 2019. Last season, Witt was absolutely dominant at the plate and in the field. He is projected to be the face of the Royals in the very near future and is a near-lock to crack the big league roster out of Spring Training.