3 things sure to happen with the KC Royals in 2022

1 of 3

(Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports) /

Other than the rule that whoever scores the most runs wins the game, nothing is truly certain about baseball. The variables are too many, the players human, and even the ball changes occasionally. Time and evolution force alteration, something from which teams so often trapped by tradition, like the KC Royals, can’t escape.

Some things, though, we can count on. Hitters who can’t hit and pitchers who can’t pitch don’t survive. Ninety feet will always separate the bases. And as it should be, the Cubs will find ways to never leave Wrigley, and the Red Sox will always play at Fenway.

And what of the Royals? On the surface, they seldom deviate from their own norms, rarely take chances, and wrongly or rightly remain committed to the concept Dayton Moore long ago coined “The Process.” The club tweaked its uniforms recently, but that doesn’t count as radical change.

Heading into the 2022 season, however, there are at least three things sure to happen in Kansas City.

Salvador Perez will spend more time as designated hitter for the KC Royals.

The talk of Salvador Perez eventually moving to first base has never been loud, perhaps because such a transfer, if it happens, will be born of necessity, compelled by age and the physical tolls of catching and not choice. Some may not speak of it simply because Perez playing first isn’t what they’re used to or want.

But the more likely Perez position switch is to designated hitter, a spot not at all unfamiliar to him. He’s DH’d 101 times in his 10-season career, 40 last year alone.

Expect him to DH more in 2022. The assignment provides crucial breaks from catching’s rigors, and increasing his turns there last season worked, at least from the perspectives of power and production—he slugged 15 homers and drove in 34 runs in the 40 games he DH’d.

His .218 average and .276 OBP were poor, as are his .237 and .276 career numbers. But clubs prefer home runs and RBIs, not walks and singles, from designated hitters, and Perez fits that profile with 27 homers and 65 RBIs in his 101 DH games. (Extrapolated, that’s 43.3 home runs and 104 RBIs every 162 games).

Add MJ Melendez, Perez’s presumptive catching successor, to the equation. The Royals must find a place for the slugger who led the minor leagues in homers last season; increasing Perez’s time at DH gives Melendez more catching opportunities when Manager Mike Matheny isn’t trying him at other positions.

Perez will DH more often this season.

Brady Singer will develop, refine and use a third pitch for the KC Royals in 2022.

Even casual followers of the Royals know Brady Singer has pitches he keeps well-hidden behind his slider and sinker. He has a changeup he clearly seems uncomfortable with, and a four-seam fastball he throws so rarely—1.6% of the time last season, according to Baseball Savant—that it really can’t be accurately characterized as even a fourth pitch.

For now, the same is the case with Singer’s changeup. Savant shows he went to it just 2.3% more than he did the four-seamer, a rate that simply doesn’t merit anyone calling it a true third pitch.

The lack of a reliable No. 3 stalls Singer, holding him back from realizing the remarkable potential the club detected when it grabbed him in the first round of 2018’s amateur draft. He’s 9-15 with a 4.62 ERA in two big league seasons, and his disappointing 5-10, 4.91 effort last year certainly would have been better had he possessed a good third pitch.

We’ve said all of that here before, and even suggested the club should send Singer to the minors if he won’t develop a third pitch in the majors. It bears repeating, though, because the third pitch discussion isn’t a dead horse…at least not yet.

The Royals have been patient, perhaps too patient, with Singer, and probably know it. But they write the checks and ultimately call the shots.

He’ll find a third pitch this season.

(Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports) /

If there’s one player sure to be traded by the Royals, it’s Carlos Santana.

Whenever Kansas City engages in trade discussions this year, and other than Bobby Witt Jr., who the club won’t move under any circumstance, Whit Merrifield will be the first Royal mentioned. Closer Scott Barlow, infielder Adalberto Mondesi, catcher MJ Melendez, and a few others will be in the mix. Pitcher Mike Minor might be too, but the Royals like him and, although he’ll be in his contract season, good performance might tempt the club to try keeping him another year to help counsel and stabilize their inexperienced hurlers.

One tradeable player is, however, certain to be dealt before the season ends. Count Carlos Santana gone.

Why? Santana is in his contract year and a player the Royals will move sooner than they let Minor go—because the starting rotation is so green, and may remain so for the foreseeable future, the club might consider Minor’s experience and savvy too valuable.

But Kansas City has another first base option in Nick Pratto. He appears big league-ready after clubbing 36 homers, driving in 98 runs and slashing .265/.385/.602 between Double-A and Triple-A last season. Pratto’s time at first base will come this season, necessitating a move with Santana.

And now is the time, especially if, as expected, the owners and players make the universal designated hitter part of the new collective bargaining agreement. Santana is readily available if the change takes effect this season.

4 Royal NL DH candidates. light. Related Story

Even if the universal DH isn’t adopted for 2022, this is still the time to shop Santana. The Royals need to get the return value from a trade they won’t get if they lose him to free agency after the season.

Kansas City will trade Santana before 2023.

Next. David DeJesus, a Royal bright spot. dark

Salvador Perez will DH more, Brady Singer will have a third pitch, and Carlos Santana will be traded in 2022.

Home / KC Royals News

3 things sure to happen with the KC Royals this season

Salvador Perez will spend more time as designated hitter for the KC Royals.

Brady Singer will develop, refine and use a third pitch for the KC Royals in 2022.

If there’s one player sure to be traded by the Royals, it’s Carlos Santana.

Schedule