3 big assumptions KC Royals fans shouldn't make

The KC Royals have lost 146 more games than they've won since capping a two-season run of magic with a World Series title in 2015. Only the intervention of a pandemic, which shortened the 2020 campaign to 60 games, kept the club from losing even more.

Somehow, the Royals managed to avoid 100 losses last season (had they not, they would have reached the century mark for the third time in five years), but that they lost 97 times and didn't overhaul themselves means several assumptions about this season's team are safe to make.

For examples, Kansas City won't win the World Series, the American League pennant, or the AL Central. Nor will the club finish with its first winning record since 2015. No Royal will be named Most Valuable Player or win the Cy Young award. Offseason additions Aroldis Chapman and Jackie Bradley Jr. won't be Royals when the season ends Oct. 1 against the Yankees.

Other assumptions about this club, though, aren't so safe. Avoid them. Here are three.

Shaky KC Royals Assumption No. 1: Drew Waters will take over center field

That Waters would start the season in center field was a popular notion when spring training started. He wasn't great for the Royals after coming to them last July in exchange for a draft pick, but the promise he showed when the club called him up in late August was enough to convince many he was the man for center when KC traded Michael A. Taylor to Minnesota in January.

Unfortunately, the oblique injury Waters suffered before the Royals opened Cactus League play derailed any plans for him to be the Opening Day center fielder. He's not expected back until sometime in May.

Considering how long oblique strains can take to conquer, the Royals will be careful with Waters—expect at least a moderately long minor league rehab assignment to precede his return to Kansas City. Even then, the club won't rush him, and the demanding territory that is Kauffman Stadium's center field may have to wait awhile.

What else shouldn't fans assume?

Shaky KC Royals Assumption No. 3: Bobby Witt Jr. will stay at shortstop

By all accounts, shortstop is where Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals want him to play. The mutual preference is understandable considering short is his "natural" position and he's spent most of his time there since beginning his professional career in 2019—through Sunday, he's played shortstop 229 times and third base 83.

In the grand scheme of things, though, what Witt and his employer want may not be what's best for the Royals. That's because Hunter Dozier is back at third base, one of the many spots the club has never been totally comfortable with him playing; if he doesn't improve offensively and defensively, the Royal brass may be forced to find another third baseman.

The logical person to replace Dozier, should the need arise, is Witt. He's certainly athletic enough to learn the position, and moving him to third would make room for Maikel Garcia, the fine Triple-A shortstop MLB Pipeline ranks as KC's third-best prospect and who'll be in the majors as soon as the Royals find a place to squeeze him in. (He's off to a hot 6-for-14 start at Omaha with eight RBIs in three games).

So, given Dozier's disappointing bat (.226 over the last three seasons), his less-than-optimal defense, and the ominous presence of Witt and Garcia, don't be shocked to see the Royals move Witt to third and bring up Garcia to play short.