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3 early KC Royals candidates poised for the All-Star Game

These three Kansas City are playing at an elite level to begin the 2024 campaign.

By Jacob Milham |
/ Adam Hunger/GettyImages
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The baseball season still feels very young, but the MLB campaign always passes quickly. You can blink and before you know it, the MLB All-Star voting ballots will start popping up. The KC Royals did not roster any inspiring All-Star options at this point last season, and Salvador Perez being last year's Royals representative did not age very well.

Fortunately, the Royals have several better options at this point in 2024. Kansas City is hitting a slump from the mound and the plate, but the overall series results still have some of baseball's best players playing for Kansas City. The team's fortunes can still change, but these Royals are clearly better than their 2023 iteration.

The 2024 MLB All-Star Game is not until July 16, taking place in Arlington, Texas this year. Which Kansas City players could represent the Royals in Globe Life Field later this summer?

3 KC Royals All-Star candidates - 3. LHP Cole Ragans

One number why: 2.02 FIP (T-1st among AL starters)
One reason why: Pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium

While Cole Ragans hasn't been perfect through five starts, he remains one of the AL's very best at what he does. The lefty continues cementing himself as an AL Cy Young contender, thanks to his league-leading 2.02 FIP. His 4.32 ERA looks ugly, but he continues suffering from terrible luck on balls in play.

The scary thing is, his four-seam fastball is even better than it was last year. It is his workhorse pitch and should help bring his changeup along as the season progresses. The fact is MLB loves strikeout-heavy fireballers for their entertainment value. If Ragans' performance in the box score matches his expected numbers, he should buy a plane ticket to DFW now.

2. C Salvador Perez

One number why: 184 wRC+ (Leads all AL catchers)
One reason why: Name recognition

Perez had a rough 2023 campaign, arguably the worst in his career. Kansas City's captain needed a big bounceback in 2024, to both raise the team's ceiling and justify his remaining contract. Thankfully he is doing both emphatically so far in 2024.

As of April 23, Perez's .998 OPS and .598 slugging rank 4th among all AL batters, while his .341 batting average ranks 5th. He is keeping the line moving unusually: walking. He has drawn multiple walks twice since April 16, which doesn't sound like much. But considering he only has 10 career multi-walk games in his previous 1,411 games, this recent stretch is even more impressive. Perez currently sports a 7.8% walk rate, by far his career high, and is second-best among AL catchers.

Salvy's primary value will always lie in his power and that is not disappointing either. El Capitán's six home runs are the third-most among AL batters, only trailing future Hall of Famer Mike Trout and resurgent outfielder Tyler O'Neil so far in 2024. Whether it be extra-base hits or the long ball, it all contributes to Perez's 22 RBI so far, leading the Royals by a wide margin and tied for the most in the AL.

I have been critical of Perez's framing skills in the past, but he is one of MLB's best at it so far this season. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 92nd percentile for framing, a major improvement from his 10th percentile mark in 2023. Perez behind the plate has done nothing but help Kansas City's pitching staff this year.

All that together has Salvy looking like the AL's best catcher this season. It will be interesting to see how long the Venezuelan can continue this pace. If it holds through June, he is an All-Star lock. If it holds through August though, Peez will once again garner MVP consideration.

1. SS Bobby Witt Jr.

One number why: 1.4 fWAR (T-1st among AL shortstops)
One reason why: Baseball's newest rich talent

Perez's All-Star status in 2023 did not age well, primarily because of how strong Bobby Witt Jr. closed out the year. Witt's 2023 campaign was nothing short of phenomenal, leading all Royals position players with a 5.7 fWAR season. His 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases highlight his dual-threat capability. Such a standout season has not only put him on the radar for the All-Star Game but also as a dark-horse MVP candidate.

That was all preseason talk though. So far, Witt has backed up that potential with production in 2024. He leads all AL players with 15 extra-base hits and a .944 OPS in 105 plate appearances, while improving his wRC+ to 157. He is on an MVP trajectory right now, all before his 24th birthday. If you pull up Witt's Baseball Savant page, the amount of red hurts your eyes. In a good way of course.

He also has proven his defensive improvements were no fluke either. His 4 Outs Above Average rank in the 99th percentile, and he is just one of Kansas City's elite defensive infielders. His range remains incredible, but his process and always looking under control in the field means his rookie fielding performance will be the outlier.

The former 2nd overall pick is just continuing the road he set last year. He has continued to improve in every facet as season after season. Reaching his first career All-Star Game would be just another example of Witt's tremendous growth in Kansas City.

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