Kansas City Royals: Top Moments of 2017 Season

5.) Mike Moustakas Breaks Home-Run Record

Early in the season, it became apparent Moustakas had a good chance to break Steve Balboni‘s franchise record for home runs in a single season. Moose got off to a blistering hot start and caught fire again just before the All-Star break.

Entering the second half of the season, he had 25 home runs. It seemed like a matter of when—not if—he would break the record of 36. Then came the slump.

After clocking No. 35 on Aug. 15, it took Moustakas until the first of September just to tie the record. He achieved that in a huge win at Minnesota, but then he slipped back into his funk.

It seemed like a matter of when—not if—he would break the record of 36. Then came the slump.

With 12 games left in the season, the Kansas City Royals faced the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals jumped out to a huge lead with Moustakas barely missing a home run in the early innings. Later on, Moustakas cranked a solo homer to right field that gave the Royals a 13-0 lead.

More importantly, it got the monkey off his back with home run No. 37. Fans would have preferred to see the record-setting home run at Kauffman Stadium, but—at that point—it seemed just as likely that he would finish in a tie with Balboni.

Moustakas would add one more home run in a makeup game at Yankee Stadium to finish the season at 38.