Grading every Royals infielder reveals who stood out in 2026

With a 69-93 record in 2026, the Kansas City Royals were one of the most disappointing teams in baseball this season. While they weren’t close to being considered the favorites to win the World Series heading into the year, the Royals were expected to contend in a wide-open AL Central division. But thanks to an injury-riddled starting rotation and an underwhelming bullpen, the season was essentially dead on arrival.   

You can’t really blame the performance of the Royals’ infield for the unsavory outcome in 2026 though. From superstar Bobby Witt Jr. turning in yet another impressive campaign to rookie catcher Carter Jensen breaking out in a big way, there was a lot to like from the entire Royals’ infield this season. And it all starts on defense. 

The Royals' infield set the gold standard in 2026  

It would be difficult to describe just how good the Royals’ infield was in 2026 without discussing their recent Gold Glove fever. The team boasted four players who were nominated for their work in their field this season. Witt Jr., Nick Loftin, Michael Massey, and Vinnie Pasquantino were all recognized for their impressive defensive skills. 

Just having a single player nominated for the award is an achievement by itself. But to have four players in the same infield up for the award is truly remarkable for the Royals. It’s the biggest reason why the Royals’ infield scored an A on their final report card, by far the top mark out of the entire roster. Although there were a couple of players who out-shined the rest, the entire group is deserving of praise. 

In order for a Royals infielder to receive a grade, they had to finish the year on the roster and have at least 300 at-bats on the season.  

Bobby Witt Jr.: A

Was 2026 the best season that Witt has ever had? Not by a long shot. But to be fair, Witt experienced a heaping helping of bad luck throughout the season. With an xSLG more than 60 points higher than his actual slugging percentage, you just know that the star shortstop couldn’t catch a break in 2026. That didn’t stop Witt from posting an .800 OPS in 558 at-bats for the Royals. 

Even with a regression of offensive stats across the board, Witt put up a 7.0 fWAR season, the second-highest mark in all of baseball. That trailed only Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 10.6 fWAR in 2026. A big reason for Witt's elite season was his out-of-this-world defense that may very likely result in him winning his third-consecutive Gold Glove. Witt was good for +24 Outs Above Average this year, tying his previous career-high. Not bad at all for a player who was mired in a “slump” at the plate all season.      

Carter Jensen: A- 

Carter Jensen won’t win AL Rookie of the Year in 2026, and that’s perfectly okay. Would the award have looked nice in his trophy case at home? Sure. But him not winning doesn't take away just how good of a season he had for the Royals. In 527 at-bats this season, Jensen put up a .790 OPS, good for third-highest mark on the team. But that's not all. His 27 home runs and 81 RBI actually led the club. Jensen put together such a strong offensive season that he should have the Royals feeling very optimistic about his future. 

At just 23 years old, Jensen still has a lot to learn. Although he can hit the ball extremely hard, his approach at the plate does leave him susceptible to the strikeout. With 170 K’s in 2026, Jensen had the 17th most in all of baseball. But with the ability to draw his fair share of walks, he should be able to improve in that department moving forward. Jensen is also very shaky at blocking pitches. Although he ranks as an above-average catcher throughout the rest of his game behind the plate, he could sharpen up his ability to prevent passed balls and wild pitches. There's plenty of time for that though.

Michael Massey: B+

Michael Massey is the shining example of a player who won’t wow you with individual stats or jaw-dropping performances, but he just knows how to play the game well. With one of his best offensive seasons in his five-year big league career, Massey sported a .272/.303/.428 slash line in 2026. You might look at that performance and think, “So what”? But Massey finished with a higher OPS than notable second basemen such as Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Nico Hoerner.

Despite his above-average season at the plate, that’s not even where Massey earns most of his paycheck. With +11 OAA on the season, the 28-year-old ranked as the 6th best among all MLB second basemen. His +5 Defensive Runs Saved was also the seventh-best mark at the position. Put all of that together and it makes for once heck of a season for a player who looked to bounce back from a frustrating year in 2025. 

Maikel Garcia: B

Speaking of a frustrating season, a couple of injuries soured what could have been a very special year for Maikel Garcia in 2026. After signing a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension in the offseason, Garcia was looking to prove to the Royals that it was money well spent. But a lingering left hand strain shut down the 26-year-old infielder for nearly two months during the middle of the season. When he returned from the IL in August, a hamstring strain sent him right back and ended his year prematurely.

When Garcia was healthy enough to play, he wasn’t quite the same player on offense, putting up a .268/.334./.381 slash line in 310 at-bats this season. Although that level of offensive production was a bit of a disappointment, Garcia’s defense was not. His +10 DRS ranked as the fourth-best among all third baseman in baseball. He was well on his way to potentially securing back-to-back Gold Gloves. 

Nick Loftin: B

Fortunately for the Royals, Loftin filled in at third in Garcia’s absence and didn’t miss a beat. With a bit more range than his fellow third baseman, Loftin played lights-out defense in the second half of the season. For a player with just 235 innings played at third base in his three-year MLB career coming into the season, you really could not ask more from Loftin in the field.   

Loftin also stepped up at the plate for the Royals this season. By no means is he a great hitter, but he used his excellent approach at the plate to his advantage. A 95 wRC+ in 371 at-bats this season was never going to light the world on fire. However, for a utility player thrust into a starting role on the team, Loftin’s eight home runs and 45 RBI earned him some well-deserved praise. He won’t return to the starting lineup in 2027, but Loftin has carved out a long-term spot in Kansas City.  

Vinnie Pasquantino: B-

Vinnie Pasquantino started the 2026 on a very rough note. He hit just six home runs and could only muster a .345 slugging percentage through 229 first-half at-bats this season. After he fractured his hamate bone in his right hand in June, Pasquantino was shelved on the IL for about a month. However, he still felt the lingering effects of that fracture in July, requiring another short stint on the IL. At the time, it appeared that 2026 could become a complete disaster for the first baseman. 

That was not the case though. Following his return from the IL in August, Pasquantino absolutely raked to close out the season. He belted 11 home runs and drove in 30 runs over his last 33 games. Not to be outdone, he also elevated his defense to a Gold Glove-level in 2026. He won’t ever be considered a glove-first player, but Pasquantino put in the work to add a whole other element to his game. That is well worth a solid boost to his final grade. But is it enough to keep him on the roster heading into next season? 

Salvador Perez: D 

In just under 600 innings in the field, Salvador Perez struggled mightily to contribute to the team. He was always gifted at calling games for his pitching staffs and getting the most from them. But his best days behind the plate are long behind him. His best days at the plate are long gone as well. With a shockingly-low 77 wRC+ in 580 at-bats this season, Perez is no longer the middle-of-the-order threat that he once was. He can run into an occasional home run, but his bat speed is on a concerning downward trend.  

Does Perez have enough gas left in the tank to go out swinging in 2027? That is a very important question for the Royals. As a role player, Perez could excel on offense. The team will have a legitimate shot at a rebound season next year and launch themselves back into contention in the AL Central. The beloved franchise staple could play a major role in that comeback. But giving Perez close to 600 at-bats again could bog down an offense that may surprise people in 2027. 

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