Kansas City Royals 2023 Season Preview
Flags fly forever. That’s what I’d keep telling myself if I was a Kansas City Royals fan. Since winning the 2015 World Series, the Royals have not had a single winning season. They’ve had two seasons with over 100 losses and came close last season with a record of 65-97. For an organization with two playoff appearances since 1985, losing is nothing new, but it sure looks to be a long, slow climb to respectability, let alone prominence this time around.
Homegrown talent is the focus at this point. Of the 13 position players projected by RosterResource to be on the Opening Day roster, eight were drafted by the Royals and another was an international free agent signing. On the pitching side, only three players are Royals draftees and one is Zack Greinke, whose circuitous career brought him back home for the twilight of his career.
Wins and losses are irrelevant for the Royals this season. The 2023 campaign will be defined by Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Nick Pratto, Michael Massey, MJ Melendez, Maikel Garcia and the development of the young pitchers at the Major and minor league levels.