Kansas City Royals Omar Infante On Track for Spring Training

Omar Infante played last season with bone chips in his elbow, helping to explain his miserable 2015 season with the Kansas City Royals. The hope is that he will be back to form for 2016.

During Spring Training last season, it was discovered that Omar Infante had bone chips in his elbow. While they were not enough to keep him from playing, the bone chips would require offseason surgery. At the time, it was wondered why Infante would put off the surgery, but if he could play through the pain, then it was worth the risk.

However, Infante struggled throughout the season. Despite having moments like his seven RBI game on September 7th, and having hit seven triples, Infante managed to produce a mere .220/.234/.318 batting line. His OPS+ of 45 ranked him as the worst every day second baseman in baseball last year, as it was apparent that his injury issues were taking their toll on his production.

However, there is hope that 2016 will be different. Infante underwent that needed elbow surgery in November, and according to Jon Morosi, is on track to be fully healthy by the start of Spring Training. Provided that his elbow and shoulder are both ready, and pain free, Infante is slated to once again start at second for the Royals at the beginning of the 2016 season.

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Should Omar Infante be healthy, and his elbow and shoulder back to full strength, there is reason to hope for a much better 2016 season. Even with his two dismal years in Kansas City, Infante has a career .272/.309/.389 batting line. Despite having just turned 34 years old, there is the chance that Infante can reach his previous marks.

The Kansas City Royals are certainly hoping so. While Christian Colon has displayed promise, the Royals just do not have much else in their system. Ramon Torres may be their top second base prospect, and he is likely a couple of years away from being able to make an impact. Infante, almost by default, has the job for himself provided he is healthy, and the Royals need him to produce.

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Omar Infante should be healthy by the start of Spring Training. For the Kansas City Royals, that may be the best news they have had at second base in quite a long time.