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3 KC Royals players who could be first-time All-Stars in 2024

By Jacob Milham |
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Growing up, I severely overestimated the All-Star Game's power. How could it not? Here I was at seven years old seeing KC Royals first baseman Ken Harvey playing with Ichiro Suzuki and Alex Rodriguez, that meant he had to be great right? Wrong.

It was years later that I learned that all 30 MLB clubs will have at least one All-Star selection, ensuring each team is represented. It makes sense to try to keep each fanbase interested in the Midsummer Classic by having a player in the dugout. But, not every player is deserving. Sorry Ken Harvey.

The KC Royals had multiple All-Stars each season, many years ago.

Lacking star power and wins, the All-Star Game hasn't been kind to Royals recently. They only have three different All-Star representatives since 2021's iteration. That doesn't sound too bad, as each team traditionally has at least one. But, Royals fans will remember the glory days when Kansas City took over the All-Star Game.

The Royals had seven different players in the 2015 All-Star Game after dominating the voting process. Who can forget when Omar Infante was trailing Jose Altuve for the starting second base spot? Or when Alex Rios was still in the running for an outfield spot? Oh, how time and a few 100-loss seasons change things.

Before any dreams are dashed, people inside and outside the Royals organization are bullish on this squad's potential. Whether it be a natural progression from returning players or a steadying veteran signed in free agency, there are several traits to like about the 2024 Royals ahead of Opening Day. Fans would much rather have pennants and rings in the Royals' future, but All-Star selections are a good prize for individual achievements. Here are my picks for three potential first-time All-Stars in the Royals clubhouse.

1B Vinnie Pasquantino

KC Royals fans could see the emotion on first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino's face when he spoke after his spring training return in Surprise, Arizona. The Virginia native is known for an infectious smile and positive energy but nervously swayed back and forth while being interviewed. After all, it was his first game since June 9, 2023, then he had to watch the remaining games from the dugout.

“A lot of emotions, really,” Pasquantino said. “One of those things where I wasn’t really worried about anything else, just having fun. I was on the phone with my dad this morning about [how] you don’t often feel the way that I did this morning.”

MLB.com's Anne Rogers wrote "Pasquantino’s return might be the most impactful" offseason acquisition and it is hard to disagree with that. Pasquantino hit the ground running after making his MLB debut in 2022. Royals fans had clamored for it all summer, then he posted a stellar .832 OPS and 10 home runs across 72 games.

Losing out on most of 2023 may lead to a slow 2024 start, but Pasquatch is still working the nerves out in Arizona. Once Opening Day rolls around, Pasquantino will receive a rousing ovation when he trots to his spot in the field. That is because this fanbase believes in Pasquantino, and believes that he could be the next great Royals slugger at first base.

Pasquantino's FanGraphs projections are somewhere between his hot 2022 season and lukewarm 2023. Still, the Depth Charts projection system has his 2.3 fWAR ranking fourth among AL first basemen and highest in the AL Central. Yandy Díaz , Vladimir Guerrero Jr. , and Triston Casas all rank higher than Pasquantino in the system. But, with those four men relying so much on their bats, it is not crazy to think Pasquantino could have a hot first half, and become the AL's top first baseman for the All-Star nod.

SS Bobby Witt Jr.

History will forget how poorly the Royals All-Star representative in 2023 aged. Catcher Salvador Perez went to Seattle as Kansas City's lone All-Star, thanks to a historic May and his likeability around the league. Yet, in hindsight, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. should have been the Royals' All-Star. Now, after a massive extension and seventh-place finish in AL MVP voting, Witt has a chance for that first All-Star trip.

Perez may be Kansas City's captain, but Witt is the national face of the franchise after his 11-year contract extension worth $288.7 million. That eclipsed every other Royals contract, free agency or not because Witt has that superstar potential. He touched that potential in 2023, as his 5.7 fWAR finished fifth among all AL players.

The enticing part of Witt's 2023 was that he excelled in the field and at the plate. His defensive woes were the asterisk on his 2022 debut season, clouding his solid offensive production as a rookie. Now, entering his third season, Witt has the experience and the talent to take yet another step forward.

"You just have to get better each and every day," Witt said after being named MLB Network's 20th-best MLB player. "But then also just take things day by day. Not really worried about what's going on tomorrow, just focus on today. I really trust my process..."

That process paid off in 2023, but will it go further in 2024? I believe so. His Depth Charts projections have him as the AL's third most valuable shortstop, trailing Gunnar Henderson and Corey Seager. Both those players are great at what they do but do not have the raw tools Witt does. Look for a Kansas City shortstop starting the 2024 All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas.

LHP Cole Ragans

After five strikeouts in two innings of spring training work, the Cole Ragans hype train is hitting breakneck speed. He was a Royals revelation after coming from the Texas Rangers and Ragans is still in the running for the Opening Day start. No matter if he makes that start or not, Ragans has the exciting pitch arsenal that fits in the All-Star Game.

If there was an All-Star team for the season's second half, Ragans would have been a probable selection. He made his Royals debut on July 15 and proceeded to rattle off 12 starts with a 2.64 ERA and 11.2 K/9. Ragans even earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors in August, a rare occurrence for any Royals pitcher. His 2.4 fWAR since his first Royals start tied for the third-best mark in MLB, and caught the eye of MLB fans everywhere.

Kansas City made plenty of additions this offseason, but Ragans looks to be the rotation's future. The 26-year-old lefty sounded confident and cool, speaking on how far Kansas City's 2024 squad can go.

"I think we have every chance to make the playoffs," Ragans said after his spring training start. "You see the moves we made all offseason with the arms, the bats, stuff like that. Nobody's taking it lightly. We are ready to win."

Whether Kansas City racks up wins or not, Ragans projects to be one of the AL's better starters. Depth Charts projections give him 2.5 fWAR in 2024, tied for the 17th-most in the AL. While that is a great mark, his 2023 starts prove Ragans can exceed those expectations. He will have a big hill to climb for an All-Star nod, but it is not impossible.

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