KC Royals: 3 early reasons to be concerned about 2022

It’s only mid-October. Pennant winners aren’t yet crowned. The World Series is nine days away. Free agency doesn’t begin until the day after the Fall Classic ends, so major offseason personnel moves are more in the mind than on the table. But in the case of the KC Royals, it’s not too early to be concerned about the 2022 campaign.

Real issues, some certain to slow the club’s journey back to contention if left inadequately addressed this winter, confront new General Manager J.J. Picollo.

Here are three.

The KC Royals suffered through too many injuries during the 2021 season.

Perusing mlb.com’s individual “Players” and “Injury Report” pages, or the “Transactions” section on Kansas City’s official website reveals one reason to be concerned about the 2022 Royals.

Injuries. And lots of them. Health issues impacted no less than 15 players this season, most of them pitchers.

Two left forearm flexor strains derailed starter Danny Duffy just when he was headed for one of his best seasons ever; the Royals lost him to the Dodgers in a trade deadline deal, but he couldn’t pitch for his new team and his future is in doubt.

Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi missed most of the season with two oblique injuries and a hamstring issue.

Shoulder impingement syndrome struck pitchers Mike Minor, Greg Holland, Jesse Hahn and Jakob Junis, and catcher Cam Gallagher, who also had knee inflammation.

A UCL sprain cut Richard Lovelady’s season short and led to Tommy John surgery.

Brady Singer suffered right shoulder fatigue and right arm discomfort, a right shoulder strain and right shoulder inflammation hit Wade Davis, a right forearm strain nagged Ronald Bolanos, Brad Keller suffered a right lat strain, Kyle Zimmer had neck and trap issues, Andrew Benintendi fractured a rib, and Hunter Dozier suffered a thumb injury he tried with poor results to play through.

Reasonable to assume is that the KC Royals, whose 74-88 record was their best since 2017, would have finished closer to .500 without so many injuries. The number of arm and shoulder problems, and whether they’ll revisit the same players next season, should give the franchise pause.

Is there any reason to believe the KC Royals will settle on a right fielder?

Entry to right field in Kauffman Stadium has been via revolving door for too long. Over the past eight seasons alone, the Royals have shuffled (among others) Nori Aoki, Alex Rios, Paulo Orlando, Jorge Bonifacio, Jorge Soler and, most recently Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier, through the position.

And an end to the quest for right field stability doesn’t seem near. Merrifield appeared destined to take over in 2021, but Adalberto Mondesi’s injuries forced him back to second base. Dozier played right more than anyone this season, an outcome probably occasioned more by a lack of clearly better alternatives and the need to play him and his new $25 million contract somewhere, than his qualifications for the position.

But Dozier serving the most time in right field this season doesn’t mean the job is his. His glove isn’t as questionable there as it is at third base, but it’s hard to tell whether the Royals can commit to his defense anywhere, and he struggled at the plate most of the season,

So, how will the KC Royals avoid the kind of frustrating search for Eric Hosmer’s replacement that seemed to end with Carlos Santana, but may be on again after his miserable second-half slump?

That’s the main outfield concern. The Royals don’t appear any more comfortable with Dozier’s defense in right than they did with it at third. Merrifield would be fine, but the club has to solve its crowded infield puzzle (Santana, Mondesi, Nicky Lopez, Bobby Witt Jr., Merrifield himself, and perhaps Nick Pratto) before it can assign him to the outfield full time.

Kyle Isbel, who played 14 errorless games in right during two trials with the Royals this season, is a possibility. Maybe a trade or free agent signing is in order.

But until it’s resolved, hopefully during the offseason, the right field question is a concern.

The KC Royals have issues they need to address this winter. If they don’t do so satisfactorily, contending—or even improving—will be difficult in 2022.