Kansas City Royals: 5 Hopes for the Royals 2019 Season

Hope 5: The Kansas City Royals call up young players throughout the season

In order to really know what the Royals have when it comes to their future, they will need to start moving players to the big league level. As of right now, Nicky Lopez and Richard Lovelady are two prospects that we hope to see by July. In order for those two to make the jump before roster expansion in September, the Royals will need Billy Hamilton and Brad Boxberger to produce to a level that allows the Royals to trade them.

However, Lopez and Lovelady shouldn’t be the only prospects the Royals look at this year.

Depending on how Kyle Zimmer does during Spring Training, if he doesn’t start the year with the team then by July he should be with the team. His velocity has begun to return after spending the last year with Driveline Baseball. 2019 has to be the year where the Royals finally see what he can do at the big league level.

And speaking of 2019 being the year where you have to see what a player can do. The mythical creature known as Bubba Starling has re-signed with the Royals after being outrighted in 2018. The Royals might be thinking of Starling similarly as they do Zimmer. “We would rather him fail with us than succeed with someone else” which might indicate that this year might be the year. If the Royals go another year without seeing Starling in the big leagues then it might be time to officially move one.

Lastly, this player is ones that I want to see get a chance. Frank Schwindel has done everything right throughout his career with the Royals and then some. Since 2016 he has never hit below .270 and has had 20 doubles and 20 homeruns every year since. In fact, he’s had 101 doubles and 67 homeruns during that stretch. Also, he has never struck out 100 times in a season or gone over 90 strikeouts in a season. If not a first baseman for the Royals, at least trying him out as a designated hitter.

The Kansas City Royals have plenty of other minor league options that could be called up throughout the year due to injuries or necessity, but these are a few that I believe should be at the front of the line.