KC Royals: What if the 2022 season started today?

The infield would look different if the season started now for the KC Royals.

Absent significant post-lockout moves, here’s how Kansas City’s infield could look if the 2022 campaign began today.

First base:  Carlos Santana is the probable 2022 Opening Day starter.

This isn’t the result most fans, and perhaps even the Royals, probably prefer. But it’s the one they’ll likely get.

Leading first base prospect Nick Pratto rebounded in 2021 from a miserable 2019 to regain his spot on Kansas City’s first base radar—splitting the season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, he hammered 36 homers, drove in 98 runs, and slashed .265/.385/.602. MLB Pipeline considers him the organization’s second best prospect.

Santana, meanwhile, clubbed 19 homers for the Royals, but his .214 average and .319 OBP fell woefully short of his .245 and .362 career marks. That 2022 is the final year of his contract makes him a trade candidate.

But lockout or not, an offseason deal isn’t likely, and Kansas City might prefer to see if Santana shakes the hip injury that hurt his 2021 numbers. Starting Santana at first allows them to do that and give Pratto a bit more time at Triple-A (whether he needs it or not). Pratto, though, will be at first before long.

Second base: Look for Whit Merrifield to stay where he is for the KC Royals.

Unless Kansas City finally moves him to right field, Whit Merrifield will start the 2022 season at second base. Merrifield’s .277 last season was the lowest average of his career, but he excelled at second, falling just short of his first Gold Glove, and that alone should cause KC to keep him where he’s most valuable and looks most comfortable.

Shortstop: The KC Royals should keep Nicky Lopez at his breakout position.

Nicky Lopez wasn’t stepping into entirely uncharted waters when he took over at shortstop for injured Adalberto Mondesi in 2021—he’d played 37 games there over his first two seasons—but few foresaw how well the move worked. Lopez’s was the epitome of a breakout season: he committed fewer errors than any other qualified American League shortstop, led that group in fielding percentage, and spectacular plays became his norm. He also hit .300, the first Royal to do so. Moving Lopez, even to make room for Bobby Witt Jr., should be off the table.

And why break up the Merrifield-Lopez double play combo, which may be the best in baseball, or disrupt the club’s superb middle defense?

Third base: It’s time for the Royals to promote their top prospect to KC.

He’s played only two minor league seasons, but Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City’s No.1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has nothing more to prove. Making the jump from rookie ball to Double-A and then Triple-A in 2021, Witt hit 33 homers, drove in 97 runs and slashed .290/.361/.575 in 123 games.

With those numbers and a more than adequate glove, and absent some blockbuster move that dictates he play elsewhere, Witt should be at third when the Royals open the 2022 campaign. Few will criticize his promotion, but more than a few will argue he shouldn’t be moved from shortstop, his natural position.

The latter argument ignores Witt’s superior athleticism. And George Brett, originally a minor league shortstop, did quite well when the Royals made the same move with him.

(The Royals could move Merrifield to right, Lopez back to second, Mondesi to third and leave Witt at short. But Mondesi’s propensity to injury complicates that scenario).

Two-thirds of the Kansas City outfield is clearly set for the 2022 season.

Kansas City Manager Mike Matheny can rest easy this winter knowing left field and center field are in good hands. Andrew Benintendi (left) and Michael A. Taylor (center) joined the Royals in 2021 and validated the club’s decisions to sign them by winning their first Gold Gloves.

Benintendi also hit .276 with 17 home runs and 73 RBIs, his best numbers since 2018 and accomplishments made more difficult by the fractured rib that sidelined him for three weeks. Taylor had the second-most most RBIs (54), third-most home runs (12), and third-best average (.244) of his career, but it’s his glove that makes his claim to center field so strong.

Right field: The KC Royals have a difficult decision to make for 2022.

Who to play alongside Benintendi and Taylor is the only outfield question facing Kansas City this winter. Should the Royals give Kyle Isbel, serviceable there last season, the first shot? How about Hunter Dozier, whose $25 million contract means he’ll play somewhere? Or do they try Ryan O’Hearn or Edward Olivares in right?

The last two options are either off the table or should be. The club seems reluctant to give Olivares a long look anywhere and O’Hearn, despite his 40-man roster spot, is no longer a serious candidate for an everyday job.

Dozier’s defense has never been quite up to the Royals’ liking, but full-time designated hitter isn’t an option because Salvador Perez needs more time at DH and Adalberto Mondesi will get some turns there, meaning the three will share the spot. Dozier will occasionally play right, where he worked 25 times last season.

Unless the Royals try Mondesi in right (it isn’t out of the question), Isbel should get the Opening Day nod for the second straight season. The Royals sent him down in late April, but he returned later and ended his first major league campaign with a .276 average and .337 OBP.

Don’t be surprised, though, if Kansas City lands a veteran right fielder via trade or free agency after the lockout ends.

The Royals were quiet before the MLB lockout began and, if past is prologue, will probably remain so after it ends. That may mean the 2022 club will, with an exception or two, look a lot like the 2021 team—it would if the season started today.