Sure, it’s spring training, but Royals hitters are hotter than Arizona in summer
Back when he was still pitching, new Royals broadcaster Jeremy Guthrie spun a tale for a reporter about the perks of a team finishing with the best winning percentage in spring training.
Guthrie mentioned how every player would receive a big-screen television if the team won the Cactus League.
It was all a joke, of course. There are no prizes for being the best team in spring training. To borrow a phrase from a city a few hours north of Phoenix, what happens in spring training stays in spring training.
Stats don’t carry over to the regular season. When the Royals open the 2023 season against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium on March 30, each player’s stat line will be the same: all zeroes.
Still, no player wants to carry spring-training struggles over to the regular season, and at this point that’s not a concern for the Royals. They’ve enjoyed great success at the plate.
This spring, the Royals are first in runs scored with 85 (Texas is second, 74), and they lead MLB in batting average (.323), on-base percentage (.388) and slugging percentage (.548).
The Royals are also first in doubles (30) and are tied for the lead with six triples. They are sixth this spring with 16 home runs.
A number of Royals players have or soon will be leaving to join their national teams for their World Baseball Classic. That includes first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who is with Team Italy in Japan.
In his four games with the Royals this spring, Pasquantino batted .444 with a 1.323 OPS. Nick Pratto has taken over at first and he’s hitting .417 with a pair of doubles.
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is locked in this spring. He has a .438 batting average (7 for 16), scored six runs and struck out just once. Center fielder Kyle Isbel is hitting .429 (6 for 14) with four walks and four strikeouts.
Third baseman Hunter Dozier is batting .417 in four games with a home run, double and 1.167 OPS. Catcher/outfielder MJ Melendez has a .375 average (6 for 16) with five extra-base hits (three doubles, triple and home run). He’s knocked in six runs.
Catcher Salvador Perez has a .313 average (5 for 16) with a home run and three RBIs.
Again, it’s spring training, but the Royals hitters have compiled impressive numbers, and it’s helped them to a 9-2 record, which is best in the Cactus League.
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 9:53 AM.
