Let’s take a look at the Kansas City Royals’ 2024 season, the questions the team must answer this winter and the early outlook for 2025.
Read more: 2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s next for the Orioles, Astros, Phillies and more?
Result after the season
After clinching the American League’s second wild card, the Royals defeated 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 got past the Orioles and weren’t swept by the Yankees. Michael Wacha was the only starting pitcher on the team with a postseason ERA above 3.90.
The foul is the reason the Royals didn’t advance. Vinnie Pasquantino was unable to recover from a lengthy injury layoff, hitting just .130 in October. MJ Melendez had an OBP of .150. The biggest blow was that Bobby Witt Jr. in the postseason was as ineffective as any other hitter on the team, with a .192 average and .414 OPS.
Things that went well
The Royals finally turned the corner in 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 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 one of 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 trailed only Yankees superstar Aaron Judge.
Witt got good support from veteran Salvador Perez, who posted an impressive .786 OPS, homered 27 times and led all catchers with 104 RBI. Vinnie Pasquantino also made a major contribution, driving in 97 runs in 131 games before suffering a thumb injury on August 29 during the regular season. He did return in time for the playoffs, but the DH contributed just three hits in Kansas City’s six games. play-off matches.
There were also substantial contributions on the pitching side, as Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha each posted an ERA under 3.75 and threw more than 165 innings. Lugo was especially effective, as he went 16-9 and finished 10th 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 top five Royals in appearances finished with an ERA above 4.90. Acquiring closer Lucas Erceg at the trade deadline was helpful, but not enough to solve all the problems, especially when fellow July acquisition Hunter Harvey ended up on the IL after pitching just 5 2/3 innings for his new team.
The outfield was 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 his breakout in 2023, but he produced a .640 OPS in 64 games and spent half the season in the minors.
Off-season plans
The Royals have a greater number of clear strengths and clear weaknesses than the average team.
The infield is a surefire force. Perez returns behind the plate, while Pasquantino (first base), Michael Massey (second base) and Witt (shortstop) are under team control for several years. Maikel Garcia returns at third, although the team could be looking for an upgrade after posting a .614 OPS in 2024. Freddy Fermin has also emerged as a reliable catcher, giving manager Matt Quatraro the flexibility to use Perez at first base or DH at times. .
Getting better production out of the outfield should be a priority. Melendez and Isabel 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’s problems. Adding one or two outfielders 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 has been inconsistent in 2024 but is good enough to earn one of the two remaining spots in spring training. With Wacha likely to decline his player option and head to free agency, no one else on the roster 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 feels overly optimistic. Adding one reliable starter this offseason would help Royals fans sleep better.
The relief corps also needs help, but should be better with Erceg and Harvey available all 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 will have to come through player development or next summer.
Prospects on the horizon
The Royals are in a tough position for an up-and-coming team as their farm system is considered below MLB average. The organization’s two most recent draft picks, Jac Caglianone and Blake Mitchell, are the top prospects of the bunch. Unfortunately, neither player reached Double-A, so they 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 offsets a mediocre fastball with solid secondary offerings (slider, changeup). But for now, his ceiling doesn’t appear to be particularly high.
Gavin Cross has a good chance to come to Kansas City next season, especially since he would fill a need in the outfield. The 23-year-old has some power and plenty of speed, and he rebounded well after a disappointing 2023 season.
Goals for 2025
The Royals are in a strange place. On the surface, they are ready to challenge for the AL Central title. After all, they have made great strides this season and have one of the best players in baseball in Witt. But there are significant holes in 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 good a chance at winning the division as the Guardians, Tigers or Twins. But if the front office stands still and players like Witt and Lugo experience declines after standout campaigns, Kansas City could be outmatched in an increasingly competitive division.
Fantasy focus
Witt is a special fantasy asset. The 24-year-old will be picked first in many drafts, and he should be one of the top three in any league. Perez will be the next Royals position player off the board as he will be valued as a top-five catcher. Pasquantino will be a useful mid-round option, and Garcia will be attractive in the Roto leagues because of his base-stealing ability.
While Lugo was the team’s most productive pitcher in 2024, Ragans will be the first starter selected next year. He’s eight years younger than Lugo, and he tantalizes fantasy managers with his high strikeout totals. Ragans will be valued by some managers as a boundary ace, while Lugo will be viewed as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. Singer will be a mid-round option, as will Erceg, provided Quatraro commits to him as a closer during spring training.
