KC Royals: Only 2 locks in club’s Hall of Fame field

The KC Royals have seven new candidates for their Hall of Fame. Who will get in?

The KC Royals announced the start of public voting for their newest team Hall of Fame candidates Tuesday. Seven former Royals—two star outfielders, a pair of Kansas City fan favorites, a reliever who frequently helped set up “H-D-H,” and two serviceable pitchers—are on the ballot.

But for various reasons, only two appear to be induction certainties. Two others have good chances.

Among candidates Johnny Damon, Billy Butler, Carlos Beltran, Yordano Ventura, Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies and Jeremy Guthrie, the latter two have the least chances of election. Fans, select sportswriters and broadcasters, certain team officials, prior inductees and others can vote, and with selection based, according to criteria posted on the club’s website, on “…exceptional contributions to Kansas City Royals baseball, both on and off the field.”

Davies pitched five seasons in Kansas City (2007-2011) and went 29-44 with a 5.34 ERA in 99 starts. He was 9-7 in 2008, the only time he won more games than he lost pitching for bad teams. Guthrie, on the other hand, was fortunate to pitch on much better clubs, including the 2014 and ’15 World Series teams. He won a combined 28 games in ’13 and ’14, but fell to 8-8 in ’15 and didn’t pitch in the offseason, missing a chance to contribute to the club’s World Series title.

While both pitchers, especially Guthrie, made contributions to their teams, neither will secure enough votes to secure a spot in KC’s Hall of Fame.

Who, among the five others up for consideration, will?