Kansas City Royals Rewind: The Fans are Right

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

3. Alex Rios

When Alex Rios was set to return to the Kansas City Royals, it was expected that he would help jumpstart an offense that had essentially been dormant. After all, with Paulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson manning right, the Royals had among the worst production in baseball at the position.

Instead, as Rios has returned, the Royals have continued to struggle getting the production they need from the position. Last week, Rios was 1-19, striking out five times. He neither scored nor drove in a run, and just has not looked like the same player that he had been prior to landing on the disabled list.

It could be that his hand is still bothering him. Rios is not driving the ball with the same authority he had been during Spring Training and over the first week of the regular season prior to being hit by that pitch. Maybe it will just take a bit more time, and then the Royals will get back the Alex Rios they had to begin the season.

The Kansas City Royals certainly need Rios to turn things around and break out of his slump. If that can happen, the Royals hot and cold offense could get that boost they desperately need.

Next: Time to pull the plug