With 17 victories in 27 games, the Kansas City Royals have taken over the American League Central division and are now in second place. The team’s young core is being driven by three players—Salvador Perez, MJ Melendez, and Bobby Witt Jr.—who are racking up the most hits, RBIs, and home runs. Their defence, bullpen, and pitching have all been solid, but the Royals’ youthful core is what sets them apart from previous squads.
As a team, the Royals rank fifth in the American League in runs scored and tied for fifth in MLB with 29 home homers. They have 27 thefts, which puts them second in the league, and they are tied for eighth in batting average (8th place at.237). A youthful core, highlighted by breakout contender Vinnie Pasquantino and resurgent leader Salvador Perez, will be the most noticeable change from previous Royals teams in 2024.
With 12 quality starts apiece, the Royals’ starting rotation is tied for seventh in Major League Baseball with a collective ERA of 3.01. Drafted with the 18th overall pick in 2018, Brady Singer has 29.1 innings of experience, a 2-1 record, a 2.76 ERA, and 28 strikeouts. Starting pitchers Michael Wacha and John Schreiber have both performed admirably.
The upcoming two weeks will be pivotal for the Royals’ season narrative as they take on the Texas Rangers and the Milwaukee Brewers, two formidable offences.