4 former KC Royals who’ve disappointed this season

This infielder was good with the KC Royals but is slumping in Los Angeles.

Despite serving two seasons as Baltimore’s primary second baseman, Hanser Alberto came to Kansas City in 2021 as a utility infielder, a fair-hitting, decent-fielding proven player more than capable of filling in when regulars like Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi and Nicky Lopez needed time off.

But his role quickly expanded when Mondesi suffered the first of three injuries that sidelined him most of the season. Pressed into more action than the Royals probably anticipated when they signed him to the minor league deal he turned into a major league job, Alberto played in 103 games (probably fewer than he would have had Lopez not enjoyed such a good season) and hit .270 filling in at third, short and second. He was by all accounts popular with teammates and fans.

All that, and the uncertainty surrounding Mondesi’s health, seemed to make Alberto a logical choice to return in 2022. But the Royals had other ideas and released him in late October.

He caught on with the Dodgers in March and has played 34 times. He’s hitting only .242—32 points below his career average—with a .254 OBP, numbers that might not be sufficient to secure a spot on the postseason roster the National League West Division-leading Dodgers will undoubtedly need to assemble.

Four former Royals aren’t having good seasons.