Kansas City Royals: The First 2018 Projected Lineup

The Good:

The Royals do still have some good spots. Having players like Perez and Merrifield are good things for the team.

Merrifield seemingly has shown he can be an everyday second baseman after two years of solid performances. When he was called up in 2016, Merrifield slashed .283/.323/.392 over 81 games. His consistency at the plate only increased in 2017 when he slashed an impressive .288/.324/.460 over 145 games. Combining his 226 games, he has a .286/.324/.437 slash.

More exciting than his consistency is his jump in power. During the offseason, Merrifield spent a lot of time bulking up. In fact, he would eat about nine eggs a day to pack his diet full of protein. In 2016 he hit just two home runs. That number jumped significantly in 2017 when he hit 19 home runs. He also accounted for 32 doubles and six triples. Whether that becomes a number he can replicate is debatable, but the jump is a positive. His ability to steal bases is also a perk. Last year, Merrifield lead the American League with 34 stolen bases.

Perez’s contributions should go without question. His career .272/.301/.442 and 114 home runs are some of the perks of Perez. He has also been named to the All-Star Game five consecutive years and has won the Gold Glove for catchers four times.

He is a player that provides a heartbeat to the team, as well as decent offensive numbers while being elite defensively. The amount of games he plays is worrisome, but when the Royals are clicking on all cylinders Perez is on the front lines pushing the team forward.