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Let’s take a look at the Kansas City Royals’ 2024 season, the questions the team needs to address this winter, and early outlooks for 2025.
Read more: 2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s next for the Orioles, Astros, Phillies and more?
Postseason result
After clinching the American League’s second wild card, the Royals swept the Orioles in the wild card round and then lost to the Yankees in four games in the ALDS.
Kansas City’s pitching is the main reason they beat the Orioles and didn’t get swept by the Yankees. Michael Wacha was the team’s only starting pitcher with a postseason ERA higher than 3.90.
The offense is the reason the Royals didn’t go further. Vinnie Pasquantino was unable to recover from a long injury layoff and hit just .130 in October. MJ Melendez had an OBP of .150. The biggest blow was that Bobby Witt Jr. was as ineffective in the postseason as any other hitter on the team, with a .192 average and a .414 OPS.
Things that went well
The Royals finally turned the corner on a long rebuild, posting their first winning record and making their first postseason appearance since winning the World Series in 2015. Remarkably, Kansas City won 30 more games this season than they did in 2023.
Bobby Witt Jr. was by far the biggest catalyst for improvement. The 24-year-old made major improvements for the second year in a row and is now among baseball’s superstars. Witt led the majors in batting average and finished fourth in OPS. He was one of three 30-30 players, and his 10.4 WAR ranked him behind only Yankees superstar Aaron Judge.
Witt was supported by veteran Salvador Pérez, who posted an impressive .786 OPS, hit 27 home runs and led all catchers with 104 RBI. Vinnie Pasquantino also made important contributions, driving in 97 runs in 131 games before suffering a thumb injury that ended the regular season on August 29. He returned in time for the playoffs, but the designated hitter contributed just three hits to Kansas City’s six. playoff games.
There were also substantial contributions on the pitching side, as Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha each posted an ERA below 3.75 and pitched over 165 innings. Lugo was especially effective, as he went 16-9 and finished tenth in baseball in ERA.
Things that went wrong
The bullpen was the most disappointing area for this team, as it ranked 20th in baseball in ERA. Three of the Royals’ top five in appearances finished with an ERA above 4.90. The trade deadline acquisition of closer Lucas Erceg was helpful, but not enough to solve all the problems, especially when fellow July acquisition Hunter Harvey landed on the disabled list after pitching just 5 2/3 innings. for your new team.
The gardens were also a constant headache. Hunter Renfroe, MJ Melendez and Kyle Isbel led the team in outfield appearances, and all three players finished with an OPS under .700. Nelson Velázquez was expected to be a big part of the outfield picture after breaking out in 2023, but he produced a .640 OPS in 64 games and spent half the season in the minors.
Low season plans
The Royals have a greater number of obvious strengths and weaknesses than the average team.
The infield is an infallible strength. Perez returns behind the plate, while Pasquantino (first base), Michael Massey (second base) and Witt (shortstop) are under team control for several years. Maikel García will return at third, although the team could look for an upgrade after he posted a .614 OPS in 2024. Freddy Fermín has also emerged as a reliable catcher, giving manager Matt Quatraro flexibility to sometimes use Pérez at first base or as a designated hitter. .
Getting better production from the outfield should be a priority. Melendez and Isbel remain under contract, while Renfroe is headed to free agency. Speedster Dairon Blanco is a weapon off the bench, but he doesn’t hit well enough to solve the outfield problems. Adding an outfielder or two via trades or free agency would be an obvious winter move for general manager JJ Picollo.
Three-fifths of the rotation is set, with Lugo, Ragans and Singer. Alec Marsh was inconsistent in 2024, but he is good enough to earn one of the two remaining spring training spots. With Wacha likely to decline his player option and head to free agency, there is no one else on the roster who has made four starts this year. Kyle Wright could fill a spot after missing this season while recovering from shoulder surgery in 2023, but counting on him seems overly optimistic. Adding a reliable starter in the offseason would help Royals fans sleep better.
The relief corps also needs help, but should improve by having Erceg and Harvey throughout the season. All of the team’s key relievers for 2024 remain under contract, and with pressing needs in the outfield and rotation, management could conclude that bullpen upgrades must be made through player development or next summer.
Perspectives on the horizon
The Royals are in a difficult situation for a team on the rise, as their farm system is considered below MLB average. The organization’s two most recent first-round picks, Jac Caglianone and Blake Mitchell, are the best prospects of the group. Unfortunately, neither player has reached Double-A and therefore will likely spend all of 2025 in the minors.
Right-hander Ben Kudma could find his way into the team’s rotation next summer. The 21-year-old has reached Double-A and makes up for a mediocre fastball with solid secondary offerings (slider, changeup). For now, however, his ceiling doesn’t appear to be particularly high.
Gavin Cross has a good chance of making it to Kansas City next season, mainly because he would fill a need in the outfield. The 23-year-old has some power and plenty of speed, and has bounced back well after a disappointing 2023 campaign.
Goals for 2025
The Royals find themselves in a strange situation. At first glance, they are ready to fight for the American League Central Division title. After all, they made great strides this season and have one of the best players in baseball in Witt. But there are significant holes on the roster and a general lack of depth, with little immediate help from the minors on the horizon.
By adding two or three free agents at positions of need, Kansas City could have as much of a chance to win the division as the Guardians, Tigers or Twins. But if the front office stays put and players like Witt and Lugo regress after notable seasons, Kansas City could be overtaken in an increasingly competitive division.
fantasy approach
Witt is a special fantasy asset. The 24-year-old will go first in many drafts and should be in the top three in every league. Perez will be the next Royals position player off the board, as he will be rated as a top-five catcher. Pasquantino will be a useful mid-round option and Garcia will have appeal in broken leagues due to his ability to steal bases.
While Lugo was the team’s most productive pitcher in 2024, Ragans will be the first starter selected next year. He is eight years younger than Lugo and wows fantasy managers with his high strikeout totals. Some coaches will rate Ragans as a near ace, while Lugo will be viewed as the second or third starter. Singer will be a middle option, as will Erceg, as long as Quatraro commits to him as a closer during spring training.
