The Royals head into 2023 with a pair of infield spots sewn up. Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino are arguably the 2 most essential gamers within the group. They’ll be at shortstop and first base, respectively, on an on a regular basis foundation if wholesome.
Who will fill in alongside them on the dust is a key query for the entrance workplace and first-year skipper Matt Quatraro. The second and third base positions look fluid, and whereas there are maybe a pair of early favorites for enjoying time, each will probably have to carry out nicely early on to carry the job.
Michael Massey
Massey, 25 subsequent week, enters the season because the presumptive second baseman. The Illinois product was known as upon in early August and received into his first 52 massive league contests final 12 months. By way of 194 plate appearances, he hit .243/.307/.376 with 4 house runs. Massey solely walked in 4.6% of his plate appearances whereas putting out at a 23.7% clip that was a bit greater than league common.
It was a high-quality debut however not a powerful displaying that’d firmly stake a declare to the job. A former fourth-round decide, Massey has typically been seen by prospect evaluators as a well-rounded participant however one with out overwhelming upside. He’s coming off a wonderful displaying within the higher minors, although, hitting .312/.371/.532 in 87 video games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.
Hunter Dozier
Dozier is headed into the third season of a four-year contract extension. The primary two years haven’t gone because the membership envisioned, with the previous eighth general draftee hitting solely .226/.289/.391 with a 7.4% stroll fee and 26.7% strikeout proportion in additional than 1000 plate appearances. Paired with a nook solely defensive profile, Dozier’s manufacturing has checked in beneath alternative stage over that stretch. He’s but to constantly keep the extent he confirmed in 2019, when he linked on 26 house runs with a .279/.348/.522 slash.
Regardless of the previous few seasons’ struggles, the Royals appear set to offer Dozier one other crack. Basic supervisor J.J. Picollo instructed reporters on the eve of Spring Coaching that the 31-year-old was prone to see common work at third base (by way of Anne Rogers of MLB.com). He’s performed primarily first base and the nook outfield since 2020. Public defensive metrics haven’t been notably enthused along with his glovework wherever on the diamond.
Nicky Lopez
Lopez has been in Kansas Metropolis’s Opening Day lineup in every of the final three years. That constant taking part in time was as a consequence of his elite contact expertise and defensive profile up the center. Lopez has bottom-of-the-scale energy and an offensive method designed to hit the ball on the bottom. He rode an unsustainable .347 batting common on balls in play to some success in 2021 however has in any other case been a nicely below-average hitter on the MLB stage.
Even with out a lot offensive affect, Lopez has proven some worth in a bottom-of-the-lineup position. He’s a top quality baserunner, an attribute that may very well be a bit extra impactful than in years previous because of the rule modifications incentivizing extra aggressive working. Extra importantly, he’s a powerful gloveman at each center infield spots. The division rival White Sox checked in on Lopez as a part of their seek for second base assist in January, although Okay.C. was reportedly not desirous to deal him for what’d have presumably been a reasonably meager return. He’d probably be the primary particular person up on the keystone if Massey doesn’t seize the chance early within the 12 months.
Nate Eaton
The 26-year-old Eaton earned his massive league debut final summer time after hitting .295/.376/.510 in Omaha. He performed usually at third base down the stretch, moving into 44 video games. Over his first 122 MLB plate appearances, Eaton hit a league common .264/.331/.387 and swiped 11 bases in 12 makes an attempt. It was a powerful displaying from the previous Twenty first-round decide that ought to earn him a roster spot out of camp.
Whether or not Eaton will get an on a regular basis have a look at anybody place stays to be seen. He’s performed an honest quantity of nook outfield within the minor leagues along with his time at third base. If Kansas Metropolis brass prefers him as an outfielder, they need to have loads of at-bats to afford him on the grass. He may additionally rotate by way of a handful of positions as a bat-first utility possibility from the appropriate facet of the plate.
Maikel García
García, 23, has simply 9 massive league video games below his belt. Apart from that cup of espresso, the Venezuela native break up the 2022 season between the highest two minor league ranges. García hit .285/.359/.427 in 555 mixed plate appearances, displaying strong plate self-discipline and phone expertise whereas stealing 39 bases.
Baseball America ranked him the #6 prospect within the group this offseason. García solely has 40 video games of Triple-A expertise and appears prone to begin the 12 months in Omaha however he may think about at both second or third base in Kansas Metropolis earlier than lengthy. He’s performed virtually solely shortstop within the minors and can presumably begin to department out to different infield positions quickly with Witt established at shortstop in Kansas Metropolis.
Samad Taylor
The Royals acquired the 24-year-old Taylor from the Blue Jays final summer time as a part of a two-player return for Whit Merrifield. Kansas Metropolis chosen his contract this offseason to maintain him out of the Rule 5 draft. That places him on the radar for his first massive league name sooner or later, although he may definitely begin the 12 months in Omaha. The previous Tenth-round choice had hit .258/.337/.426 with 9 homers and 23 steals in 70 video games for the Jays’ high affiliate earlier than the deal. He didn’t seem in a sport with Omaha after the commerce due to harm however is now wholesome and taking part in Spring Coaching. BA slotted him because the group’s #24 prospect, suggesting he’s prone to serve a utility position.
Matt Duffy/Johan Camargo/Matt Beaty
This trio of veterans is in camp on minor league offers. They’re all jockeying for a doable utility position in Spring Coaching, with Beaty and Duffy off to robust begins in exhibition play. Duffy is a high-contact hitter who most likely has the best offensive ground of the group. Camargo affords essentially the most defensive flexibility with the flexibility to play shortstop. Beaty has proven an intriguing mixture of energy and phone expertise at his finest however isn’t a terrific defender wherever and is trying to rebound from a Murphy’s legislation 2022 marketing campaign.
——————————–
Massey and Dozier seem like the likeliest second and third base duo to begin the season. Neither appears a lock to carry the job all 12 months, although, elevating the likelihood for the membership to go in a couple of completely different instructions. Lopez affords a glove-first various off the bench, whereas youthful gamers like García, Eaton and Taylor may play their approach into alternatives if gamers above them on the depth chart battle. García, particularly, looks as if a possible long-term common based mostly on his protection and strike zone consciousness.
