Could Renfroe be the 'huge boost' KC lineup needs?

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.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- While the Royals haven¡¯t stopped looking for offensive help even late into Spring Training, they¡¯ve been unable thus far to land the impact bat they envisioned bringing in this past offseason.

That means strong offensive seasons from corner outfielders MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe would help alleviate the concern that led the Royals to look for outside help in the first place, deepening the lineup beyond the top four hitters in the order.

A better season from Renfroe especially, given his history as a power threat, would certainly go a long way. The Royals signed him ahead of the 2024 season believing he could provide them reliable production in the middle of the order, similar to what he did in Boston in 2021 (31 homers) and Milwaukee in 2022 (29 homers), posting an .812 OPS between those two seasons.

But Renfroe only hit .229 last season with 15 homers and a .689 OPS, a career low outside the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. After picking up the player option he held with Kansas City, he¡¯s trying to show he¡¯s still the hitter he was just a few years ago.

"That would be a huge boost to us,¡± manager Matt Quatraro said. ¡°We know that he¡¯s capable of it.¡±

Renfroe dealt with injuries last season, beginning in Spring Training with back tightness that slowed his normal spring buildup. Then he had two injured list stints throughout the regular season with a left toe fracture and a right hamstring strain, but injuries lingered even when he was on the field.

Health was the first priority this winter.

"It was a big issue,¡± Renfroe said. ¡°Toward the middle part of the season, some things popped up. And that led to lower back, hamstring. It¡¯s all connected. But it feels good now. I was hoping that when I started up this offseason that I wouldn¡¯t feel it, and I didn¡¯t, which was great.

¡°And I feel great this spring. It¡¯s a big plus."

Renfroe came into camp this year leaner, thanks to offseason training that included going to a physical therapist and focusing on his diet and hydration. He cut out sweets, oils and saturated fats as much as he could, and now wherever Renfroe goes, a 64-ounce insulated water bottle goes with him.

"I¡¯ve lost a little bit of weight. I wasn¡¯t necessarily trying to, but it was just a byproduct of the offseason training and trying to eat as clean as possible and drink as much water as I can,¡± Renfroe said. ¡°Making sure I¡¯m doing everything I possibly can to make my career be as long as possible, make sure I¡¯m healthy as possible coming into this year."

The differences in the 33-year-old¡¯s physical and mental shape have been noticeable for the Royals as they look for more out of him in 2025.

"His routines have changed a little bit trying to close some of the holes from last year,¡± Quatraro said. ¡°Because I think he knows deep down that he¡¯s a better player than what he showed last year offensively. And he also wants to continue playing, but he knows he¡¯s going to have to produce and play at a high level.¡±

Whether Renfroe¡¯s lack of production last year was because of the injuries or simply an age regression remains to be seen. But the Royals still believe he has more left in him -- and so does he.

"Right when I got hurt last year, I was going good,¡± Renfroe said, referencing his .333 average and 1.079 OPS in 15 games in June. ¡°The average was climbing up, the homers were coming. I was playing good defense. And the body shut down on me a little bit. That¡¯s why, coming into this year, I want to make sure I¡¯m as healthy as possible and doing all the right things I possibly need to do to prepare my body for the season.

"There were great things that came from last year. But there were a lot of things I could build on.¡±