The Kansas City Royals had a good 2013 season that almost led to a postseason appearance. After ending the 2012 season with a 71-87 record, the Royals finished 2013 with an 86-76 record, which put them in third place of the AL Central, and only five and a half games out of the Wild Card. The Royals took a big step in 2013 and will look to continue their strides in 2014.
The Royals finished the season strong, despite missing out on the postseason, and that last series was huge for a young team. Knowing they were eliminated from the playoff picture, they still went out and took three from Chicago. The Royals had 86 wins this season, their highest win total since 1989, and this could only be the beginning for the young club.
KC had quite a few young players who made an impact on their roster. After a poor 2012 season, Eric Hosmer bounced back and had a nice 2013, batting .302 with 17 homeruns and 79 RBI. After 2011 there were high hopes and expectations for him that he just didn’t live up to in 2012, this season, his numbers reflected what everyone expected and hoped for.
Hosmer was able to rebound from an off season, which is exactly what Royals fans will be hoping Mike Moustakas will be able to do. The third baseman had a great 2012, despite batting only .242, he had 20 homeruns and 73 RBI. His 2013 numbers took a hit as he batted .233 with 12 homeruns and 42 RBI. Moustakas plays a solid hot corner and has the ability to be a threat at the plate, but the Royals need to see more production from him at the plate and need him to return to 2012 form as they move forward.
Another impact player the Royals will be expecting a big 2014 from is Salvador Perez. In his first full season in the bigs, Perez hit .292 with 13 homeruns and 79 RBI. He had a rough first half, but was able to make adjustments, settle down, and finish the 2013 season strong. Not only are his plate appearances important, but also his defense. There are many high hopes for the catcher as his career continues and the Royals will need him to perform well at the plate, but also provide stellar defense and run a good starting rotation.
The Royals had some very good starting pitching in 2013 as they added James Shields to their rotation. Shields finished the season with a 13-9 record and 3.15 ERA. He will be back next year, and you can expect another strong season from the ace. Some pitchers however, may be lost due to free agency.
Ervin Santana declined his qualifying offer from the Royals and will test the free agent market. Santana was 9-10 with a 3.34 ERA this season. Bruce Chen pitched out of the rotation around midseason for the Royals and finished with a 9-4 record and 3.27 ERA. Without Chen, the Royals may not have been as close to a playoff berth. The Royals need a strong rotation and starters who can pitch deep in games and provide quality innings; these two did just that in 2013. If the Royals aren’t able to sign one or both of them, they’ll need to sign another starting pitcher. It’s unlikely that both will sign, and Santana seems to be the one who is most likely to go, therefore KC will have to add another arm in order to make a stronger playoff push in 2014.
The Royals are also reportedly looking for a right fielder, which would be a good move for them this offseason. Right field is an area the team can definitely improve on. David Lough and Justin Maxwell handled right field for them this season, but they could use a veteran guy who is a threat at the plate to take them to the next step in 2014.
The Royals took a big step forward in 2013 finishing the season with a winning record. They have some talent already and their future looks bright with the youth they have on their roster right now, but there are just a few missing pieces. If they bring in a new right fielder, and add some pitching while getting production from their young guys they will be a force to reckon with in the AL Central in 2014.