Are the Kansas City Royals showing actual improvement in push toward competitive 2024?
There is a euphoria associated with winning.
We have all experienced it in different facets of our lives. It’s quite difficult to explain the actual feeling, so most people settle for some convenient adjective as a descriptor.
For the Kansas City Royals, the terms “good” and “great” don’t apply. The Royals, who are currently on a six-game winning streak, know this feeling is fleeting.
It’s been a difficult season filled with disappointment and more than 100 losses.
The Royals have also realized something beautiful in their struggle. They’re finding that success really can be bred from growth and development.
“We’ve had a lot of close games that haven’t gone our way,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Early on, we were using that as kind of, ‘Well, maybe they are learning to be in close games.’
“Maybe this is kind of the byproduct of that. We were in a lot of close ones that didn’t go our way. Now, some of them are.”
Look no further than Sunday’s victory over the Astros. Earlier this season, the Royals would’ve found a way to squander a four-run lead. The loss would’ve been demoralizing and crippled any momentum.
Things are different now.
The Royals stayed together and turned in a team effort. Rookie Alec Marsh protected a one-run lead before handing the ball to the bullpen. From there, Tucker Davidson, Carlos Hernandez and James McArthur didn’t allow a run.
McArthur added the final exclamation point by striking out Astros superstar Yordan Alvarez and giving the Royals a series sweep.
“Baseball is a funny game once you get past that tipping point,” veteran infielder Matt Duffy said. “All of a sudden, it feels like we are ahead in every game in the seventh inning. I think that going forward, this is now the expectation for guys individually and as a group.”
The Royals look somewhat different from opening day. There are several new faces in Davidson, McArthur, Cole Ragans and Nelson Velázquez. Each player was acquired through midseason trades and has made an immediate impact.
McArthur has proven he can handle high-leverage situations. Ragans is emerging into a potential ace and Velázquez has shown much-needed power from the right side.
Additionally, the Royals have seen their core players develop. Infielders Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr. and Michael Massey have taken key steps. Garcia and Massey have flourished defensively and Witt is one homer and two steals shy of a 30-50 season.
All of these factors have clicked at the right time. As a result, the Royals have won 10 of their last 11 games. It’s their most wins in a 11-game stretch since July 19-30 in 2017.
“It’s amazing because that says a lot of things about the young guys that we have,” Royals captain Salvador Perez said. “I think they grabbed every situation like that. It’s pretty good.”
The Royals are 54-102 this season. They are three wins shy of avoiding the worst record in franchise history. They have six games left, against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, and a lot to play for.
“I don’t think this stuff happens overnight,” Marsh said. “I think it takes a while. You’ve got a lot of people who are here for the first time feeling things out. We are one of the youngest teams in baseball.”
On Tuesday, the Royals begin a three-game series against the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit. They will look to keep winning behind veteran starting pitcher Zack Greinke.
This story was originally published September 25, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
