KC Royals: 3 moves Kansas City must not make yet

The KC Royals lost their 10th straight game Wednesday night, an achievement of no good distinction that now overshadows the near-month they held down first place in the American League Central. Even before the game ended (Detroit won 4-2), cries and demands for change permeated social media, with fed up fans calling for releases, DFAs, trades, or firings…or all of the above.

But it isn’t time to reach for the panic button, much less hit it. The season is only 35 games young and, at 16-19, Kansas City is close to .500. Three things—better starting pitching, better relief work, and better hitting—will bring the Royals out of their slump.

And there are three things the club must not do now.

First thing the KC Royals shouldn’t do: Promote top prospect Bobby Witt Jr.

Everyone knows Bobby Witt Jr. is the Royals’ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline. And by now, most know he hit his second regular season professional home run, and first as a member of the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, while the big club was losing to Detroit Wednesday. That feat alone will trigger calls for Witt’s immediate promotion to Kansas City, especially among those who believed the club flubbed when it didn’t choose him to start the season with the Royals.

Witt’s time will come. It isn’t now. Despite last night’s blast, Witt is showing why the KC Royals are so careful not to rush him to the majors after only one season in pro ball. Wednesday’s 3-for-5 effort pushed Witt’s seven-game average to a pedestrian .241, up from the poor 4-for-24 (.167) he owned before the contest started. The solo homer accounted for his first RBI, and he’s struck out 10 times in 29 official at bats.

Eventually, Witt will be great. But at this point, he’s not a solution to Kansas City’s immediate problems.