This Royals player makes the lineup dangerous. But can he keep it up?
The Kansas City Royals have always believed in Maikel Garcia’s potential. It was the reason he continued to draw starts last season despite scuffling at the plate.
There were flashes of brilliance.
Entering 2024, Garcia shined in winter ball and carried it over into spring training. Garcia hit .305 while posting 36 hits and 15 RBIs in 27 games last May.
But there were also some rough stretches.
Last September, Garcia posted a .161 batting average with 16 strikeouts in 62 at-bats. As a result, the Royals moved him in and out of the lineup as his play waned down the stretch.
Garcia understood he needed to play better. This offseason, he made a concerted effort to improve his timing at the plate. He added a toe-tap to his batting stance and he focused on remaining balanced throughout his swing.
The Royals hitting coaches noticed Garcia was “crashing” through the strike zone. Essentially, he was allowing his entire body to propel through his swing. It made him late for certain pitches with no way to make a timely adjustment.
Garcia worked hard to reverse course. He added strength and rediscovered better contact balance to aid his swing.
Now, Garcia is reaping the benefits of his hard work. And he has become the hottest, and perhaps, the most dangerous, hitter in the Royals lineup early on.
“He’s always been able to do that and he’s making the most of it,” Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. said. “It’s great to see the work he puts in and everything he is doing. That’s just how he is. He is a five-tool player all around.”
Garcia is batting .381 (8-for-21) through seven games this season. He has two home runs and leads the Royals with six RBIs. Additionally, Garcia ranks sixth in the majors with a 1.245 OPS (on-base plus slugging).
In Friday’s 8-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Garcia was the spark plug for the Royals offense. He hit a two-run single in the fourth inning off Orioles starter Dean Kramer. Garcia added a valuable insurance run in the eighth.
“I think this was a great way to start the series,” Garcia said. “I think we made a good adjustment in this game today and we were taking good pitches and trying to get ahead in the count and do damage.”
Garcia is providing the Royals with consistent offense. He has been able to flip the lineup over from the bottom of the lineup. Much has been made of the Royals’ lack of a middle-of-the-order bat this offseason.
“It was huge,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Garcia’s at-bat in the fourth inning. “The wild pitch gets the guy from second to third and we cash it in right away. I mean, that’s a back-breaker.”
Garcia is showcasing an ability to drive in runs at an impressive rate. He makes solid contact and has good plate discipline. The Royals believe all the elements are coming together to fuel his strong start this year.
“Yeah, that’s not a surprise to me,” Witt said. “I don’t think it surprised anyone in this clubhouse with what he is doing. We know what he is capable of and I know he is going to keep doing it.”
