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

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.

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.