We asked KC Royals for their favorite superhero. Answers were all over the place
Kansas City Royals reliever Carlos Estévez paid tribute to one of his childhood superheroes after a recent save against the Cleveland Guardians.
Estévez, a known anime aficionado, shared his love for the hit classic “Dragon Ball Z” by mimicking beloved hero Goku’s finishing maneuver.
Goku popularized the “kamehameha” to defeat opponents. The move is a beam of energy that immobilizes the intended target.
And Estévez fell in love.
Estévez enjoys Goku, but he resonates more with his archrival Vegeta because of his similarities in baseball circles.
“He resembles a lot to a baseball player,” Estévez said. “A lot of training, a lot of suffering and a lot of being away from family. He overcomes all of that and he is one of the strongest.”
The Royals are beloved by many fans in Kansas City. Make one trip to Kauffman Stadium and the bond is immediately felt.
There are No. 7 jerseys scattered throughout the venue. Kids come to games dressed exactly like beloved superstar Bobby Witt Jr: jersey, hat, sunglasses and all.
Others flock to Royals captain Salvador Perez. His infectious smile has endeared him to generations of KC fans. Stories flow throughout the concourse about his 2015 World Series run and 48 home runs in 2021.
The Royals are looked at as superheroes. Fans treasure their posters, bobbleheads, t-shirts and signatures. Many cherish a chance to meet the players in person.
Sometimes, athletes are portrayed as larger-than-life characters and role models. It’s a duty that players view with honor and respect.
But every superhero was inspired by someone before them.
For the Royals, they embody some traits from their own beloved characters. The Star went around the clubhouse and found how that connection ties the Royals to their favorite superheroes growing up.
And why the bond is still going strong today.
Why Batman is a Royals favorite
There are a lot of Batman fans in the Royals clubhouse. The Caped Crusader was a popular choice in the KC Star’s survey.
“When I was a kid, I had like a Batman theme party as a toddler,” Royals utilityman Cavan Biggio said. “Even as a teenager growing up, the Christian Bale movies were always my favorite.”
Batman, of course, was a masked vigilante, but he was a regular person, too. He didn’t have superpowers but he could make an impact on those around him. In some ways, the Royals are the same way. The players inspire confidence through their on-field play.
They offer kids an example to follow with their demeanor, character and ability to play the game at the highest levels.
“I think he is the most relatable because he doesn’t have any superpowers, so to speak,” Biggio said. “He lived by rules and just wanted to do what was best for the city.”
Biggio often does what’s best for the Royals. He can play multiple positions and is a consistent bat in the lineup. The Royals acquired Biggio for a super-utility role and he has delivered when called upon.
Royals second baseman Michael Massey also enjoys the Batman lore.
Similar to Batman, Massey is the glue within the Royals offense. He often bats fifth and is the conduit between the run producers and the rest of the lineup.
Massey is not called upon to do the heavy lifting. Instead, he’s needed to calculate professional at-bats and play stellar defense. He is a man of different hats, as evident by his spring training work in left field, and someone that the Royals can’t afford to lose.
“I just like his costume and all the ‘Dark Knight’ movies,” Massey said. “He is fighting for justice.”
Spider-Man? He’s Bobby Witt Jr.’s pick
Spider-Man is another popular hero in the clubhouse. The Marvel comic book sensation is a hit choice for infield duo Witt and Maikel Garcia.
Witt shares some physical similarities to Spider-Man. He burst onto the scene as a young kid for the Royals and took a while to harness his abilities. There were a few missteps, such as his defensive errors at third base during his rookie season.
But Witt stuck to his craft.
He eventually started to develop and became an integral part of the Royals offense. Now, he is the face of the organization much like Spider-Man is to the Marvel franchise.
“I really liked Spider-Man and my nephew really likes Spider-Man,” Witt said. “He was someone cool and he was always kind of saving everyone. But no one knew who he was and he was just kind of doing his thing.”
Witt has saved the Royals a lot in recent years. He carried the team to the playoffs last season and is the only player with multiple 30-30 seasons in franchise history.
Garcia also has a few Spider-Man characteristics.
He went from relatively unknown to a driving force this season. He is more akin to Miles Morales in the Spider-Man lore. Morales was different from Peter Parker (the OG Spider-Man) but harnessed all the tools to become undeniable.
This season, Garcia is putting it all together. His skill set has him on a trajectory for his best season with the Royals.
“When I was young, I used to always watch Spider-Man,” Garcia said.
Royals players in supporting roles
Some superheroes thrive in key roles. Others are in the supporting cast.
The Royals have a few that fit those narratives in the clubhouse.
Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel loves the Flash and the Incredible Hulk. He grew up watching both play a part on their respective (superhero) teams in different ways.
“The Hulk can do anything,” Isbel said. “He can jump and he is super strong. And, the Flash has super speed and can go everywhere.”
Isbel blends Hulk-like abilities in center field. He has an elite first step that allows him to get an accurate jump on the baseball. And his strength allows him to show no fear crashing into walls or falling forward to make defensive plays.
And when he needs it, Isbel can use his speed to traverse the outfield just like the Flash. It’s a perk that’s essential for patrolling Kauffman Stadium.
Speed is also key for Royals infielder Tyler Tolbert. He loves Tony Stark and is a big Iron Man fanatic. The different suits appeal to Tolbert, which makes sense given his ability to play all over the field.
Meanwhile, Royals leadoff hitter Jonathan India was inspired by the Power Rangers. He loved the Red Ranger because of the leadership qualities he brought to the team.
“I used to dress up like all of them,” India said.
Royals pitchers Daniel Lynch IV and Michael Lorenzen are fans of Scooby-Doo. The highly-popular cartoon is not a typical “superhero” show, but it does teach kids a valuable lesson about solving problems that arise.
Both Lynch and Lorenzen hold those standards today.
As pitchers, they are required to resolve messy situations on the mound. Lynch has impressed out of the Royals bullpen. He recently had a 30 inning scoreless streak.
“He is a dog who talks,” Lorenzen said. “One Christmas, I got all Scooby-Doo gifts.”
Royals ... assemble!
The Royals all have different superheroes they loved as a kid. Each of those qualities helped define who they are as players today.
Those elements are key in developing teamwork on and off the field. Each player brings something unique to the Royals. It’s why fans enjoy coming to games and showcasing their love for the team.
The Royals offer entertainment through baseball. They inspire people and give them the courage to do what they love. That is perhaps their greatest similarity to the “superhero” world.
The Royals sport “Kansas City” on their chests each game and try to win for the fans in attendance. And along the way, they create a lasting memory that fans will cherish forever.
“Growing up,” Royals starter Seth Lugo said, ”the players were my superheroes.”
