Late season luck turns bad for 4 former KC Royals

Former KC Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer could be done for the year.

Like Mike Moustakas, but to a lesser statistical and less painful extent, Eric Hosmer hasn’t quite measured up to a lucrative free agent contract. San Diego certainly expected more from the popular All-Star first baseman who won three Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger with Kansas City, but he hit only 69 homers and batted .265 in 4.5 Padre seasons before the club shipped him to Boston at this summer’s trade deadline.

The Red Sox were still arguably in the Wild Card hunt when they made the deal with hopes he’d bolster their postseason chances. They’ll probably watch the playoffs from home, but the Sox have won more games than they’ve lost with Hosmer in the lineup.

Therein, though, lies the rub. Hosmer joined the Sox Aug. 4 but a back issue has limited him to 12 games. He’s hasn’t played since Aug. 20.

And like Moustakas, he’s on the Injury List; unlike Moose, he has a chance to play again before the season ends Oct. 5.

How great a chance? Perhaps not much. The latest injury update posted to the club’s website doesn’t seem optimistic.

Hosmer, slashing a combined .267/.333/.381 with eight homers between the Padres and Red Sox (he hasn’t homered and is hitting .225 for Boston) can opt out of his $144 million mega-deal when the season ends.