With Spring Training comes some surprising performances from the fringes of any roster fighting for their spots. The Royals roster is no different in that aspect of Spring Training as there are a couple of interesting players making noise, starting with a long shot for the MLB roster. Of note, sample sizes aren’t large so take these with a grain of salt. Here’s a look at some of the spring standouts thus far.
Nate Eaton
You might be surprised to see Eaton on this list after last season, but he has come out swinging to start Spring. His slash line in 12 at-bats is .250/.250/.917 for an OPS of 1.167. While his average and on-base numbers are nothing special, Eaton has hit for power so far. He may have three hits, but they all are for extra bases with two home runs and a triple. Eaton might not be on the MLB roster come Opening Day, but he is making a good impression as a call-up option later this season. The next Spring surge candidate is fighting for a bench spot.
Nick Pratto
In a season where Pratto needed to show he could hang around in the majors, he has gotten off to a quick start in Spring. He is slashing .429/.467/.643 with an OPS of 1.110. Pratto leads the team in hits with six, is tied for the team lead in RBIs with four, and even has a stolen base. He is known for his advanced approach of not swinging at many pitches, but in Spring he only has two strikeouts and no walks. This means he is swinging more often and hitting for some pop.
Next up we have a player looking to build off of last season.
MJ Melendez
Here is a player with bigger expectations than the previous players in this list. Melendez is slated to be the starting left fielder and looks to build off of a second half that saw him have an OPS above .800. In Spring, he has an OPS well above .800 slashing .357/.438/.643 so far. It was noted that Melendez focused his offseason work in the outfield. He also looked to switch his stance again to have “quiet hands” (hands having less movement). Heading into the season, Melendez expects to take another step and solidify his spot on the team for the future. Next up we have another player vying for a bench spot.
Nick Loftin
With the signing of Garrett Hampson, Loftin saw himself get some competition for a utility spot. Early on in Spring, Loftin has made a point with his bat slashing .333/.467/.667 with an OPS of 1.134. He has hit for power with a double and a home run, but he also has more walks than strikeouts (3:1 BB:K ratio). Loftin started hot in Spring and if he continues that tear the Royals may have to eat $2 million by cutting Hampson (more on him later). Next up we have our last major highlighted player.
Kyle Isbel
A player who has polarized many in the Royals fanbase due to his bat. Isbel has dispelled those beliefs early on in Spring. He is slashing .308/.357/.615 for an OPS of .972. While Isbel isn’t known for hitting for power he has a homerun and a double early on. This would be a fun development for Isbel if he can hit more consistently, and for more pop, as he is already one of the better defensive center fielders in the league. Will this happen? Probably not, but if Isbel has a wRC+ around 90 come the regular season then no one should be mad about that. This last standout is not just one but grouped as they have shut down everyone.
Will Klein, Sam Long, Evan Sisk, and Walter Pennington
Talk about a mix of potential and fringe players. Quick question about this group: what is one thing these four share in common? In 13.2 combined innings, they haven’t given up an earned run. To add to that, Klein, Long, and Pennington have struck out six or more hitters and have walked three combined. None of these relievers were set to be in the bullpen on Opening Day, but there is a shot that any of them could make it. Either way, Royals fans will see these four at one point in the season.
All of these players were either on the outside looking in or coming into the year with expectations for improving to solidify their spot. These players stand out due to their circumstances and expectations coming into the year, but players like Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, and C.J. Alexander have also put together strong Springs. Keep an eye on who stands out this Spring, because you might see some of them in the majors come Opening Day or later this season.
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