A look at how Royals’ offense has struggled since Hawaiian Bros giveaway change
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals scored six or more runs eight times in a 17-game stretch ending May 4, 2026.
- Hawaiian Bros changed the promotion to buy one, get one free after May 4.
- The Royals have averaged 3.6 runs per game in the 12 games since the promotion change.
When the Royals defeated the Guardians 6-2 on May 4, fans at Kauffman Stadium not only received a Jac Caglianone bobblehead — they got a free meal from Hawaiian Bros.
The “Plates for Plates” promotion promised fans a Free Classic Plate Lunch if the Royals scored six runs in a home game during the 2026 season. In the 17-game stretch that ended on May 4, the Royals had scored six or more runs eight times. That included five instances at home.
However, Hawaiian Bros changed the terms of the giveaway to buy one, get one free after that May 4 game. Since then, the Royals’ offense has been stuck in neutral.
They’re averaging 3.6 runs in the 12 games since the promotion ended, and they have yet to score six runs in a game. In the 12 games before the change, the Royals were averaging 5.8 runs per game.
And the Royals’ record is 4-8 since the promotion was changed.
The good news for Hawaiian Bros is the company hasn’t had to honor their new BOGO deal. The bad news is the Royals’ offense hasn’t looked nearly as good.
Naturally, it’s foolhardy to blame the Royals’ slump on the change of a promotion that was so popular with fans. But it’s an interesting coincidence, wouldn’t you say?
This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 10:39 AM.
