Royals

SportsBeat KC: Young arms will dominate Royals’ staff in 2022. Should they add a vet?

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Daniel Lynch throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Daniel Lynch throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) AP

Youth was served when it came to Royals pitching in 2021.

Two years earlier, the club got 113 starts from pitchers who were 26 and older. This season, it was 51. And the Royals became the first team in major-league history to have five players from the same draft class (2018) start big-league games for the team that drafted them.

We break down what this all means for next season with beat writer Lynn Worthy on today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. We also take a look at the future of the Royals’ bullpen, which looks promising after solid seasons by their top three arms.

Story links:

Royals hang hats on young pitching, individual improvement at end of 2021

Even in loss, Royals’ Kris Bubic finishes strong

This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 12:54 PM.

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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