7 predictions for the Royals¡¯ season ahead
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This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers' Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
KANSAS CITY -- Happy baseball season!
The Royals kick off their season this afternoon against the Twins, and we¡¯ll get a first look at if all that work they did to revamp the roster will lead to a better performance on the field.
It¡¯s silly to predict anything that will happen during a 162-game season where so much happens, but here I am, doing it. So here are seven predictions for the Royals¡¯ 2024 season. No one is allowed to reference this list later this season unless it all turns out to be correct. I mean it!
Enjoy this season, everyone!
1. Witt will make the All-Star team
We¡¯re starting off with something that¡¯s not crazy at all. If there was an All-Star team for the second half of last season, Bobby Witt Jr. would have been in the running for the starting shortstop job. Here¡¯s thinking he¡¯ll build on his historic season from last year and be one of the Royals¡¯ reps at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
And what a fun first All-Star Game it¡¯ll be for him, returning to his home state and playing mere miles from his hometown of Colleyville, Texas.
2. The future closer is not on the team right now
I wrote earlier this week that one of the great unknowns about this team (among other things) is power in the bullpen. They have a lot of strike-throwers in the ¡¯pen, which is always a good thing. But they¡¯re missing a triple-digit dominator.
If it comes internally, I¡¯m predicting the one who will emerge is Will Klein, the Royals¡¯ No. 19 prospect. He¡¯ll have to command the zone better than he has in his pro career, but he¡¯s got the stuff to throw in the ninth inning.
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3. Pasquantino will hit 30 home runs
Vinnie Pasquantino hit nine homers in 61 games last year with his right shoulder bothering him. His season ended in June due to shoulder surgery, but he¡¯s excited to be back in a normal routine and the middle of the Royals¡¯ order. Pasquantino is known for his patience, but he can crush baseball, too. Witt and Pasquantino back-to-back could be a lot of fun.
4. Ragans will receive AL Cy Young votes
One of the things I¡¯m most eager to see this year is Cole Ragans over a full season. He dominated over 12 starts last year, but can he do it over 25-30 starts? The 26-year-old lefty certainly has top-of-the-rotation stuff, so we¡¯ll see if he can harness it to be in the conversation for best pitcher in the league.
5. A hard trade is coming
The Royals haven¡¯t been afraid to discuss hard trades in the past year, whether involving Pasquantino or Salvador Perez, but they haven¡¯t had to make it happen yet. Whether Kansas City is in the hunt or out of it by the Trade Deadline, it wouldn¡¯t surprise me to see the club trade one of its young players -- Brady Singer, MJ Melendez or Maikel Garcia, among others -- to help the organization either short-term or long-term.
6. The prospect fans will be clamoring for in the second half ¡
There¡¯s always one. Or two. My social media mentions are always flooded with the name(s) and anger when the Royals don¡¯t call that person up at a moment's notice.
This year, I¡¯m predicting it to be No. 16 prospect Javier Vaz.
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The second baseman/outfielder made it to Double-A by the end of 2023, and I would not be surprised to see him in Triple-A before long. He has elite contact rates, he can run and he can play great defense. Vaz fits the Royals¡¯ mold, and fans will love him, if they don¡¯t already. Other names I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll hear by the second half: Klein, pitchers Mason Barnett (the club¡¯s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline) Chandler Champlain (No. 12) and outfielder Tyler Gentry (No. 10). And a dark-horse candidate: reliever Eric Cerantola (No. 27).
7. The Royals will play meaningful baseball in September
My bold prediction from earlier this week is that the Royals will win the division, and I¡¯ll reiterate that it¡¯s a very bold prediction. If the Royals are simply fighting for a playoff spot in the second half of the year, this season should be considered a success and something to build on in 2025.