8 blazing bats fire hot KC Royals spring start

Two KC Royals who may end up battling over third base are hitting well

In what's by now old news, the Royals made it clear before camp opened that Hunter Dozier was their choice for third base this season. It's a decision not without controversy, but Dozier is showing no signs of disappointing the Kansas City brass.

That's because he's 4-for-9 (.444) so far. Count a home run, double and a pair of RBIs among his early numbers. And he's yet to strike out, which is encouraging considering he fanned 25% of the time last season.

Take Dozier's performance with a grain of salt, however—he hit .405 with seven RBIs over last spring's truncated Cactus League slate before batting only .236 in the regular campaign. It was Dozier's third straight poor year after his breakout 26-homer, .279 2019 season.

Close behind Dozier at the plate, and perhaps at third base, is Maikel García, the organization's third-best prospect per MLB Pipeline and a shortstop who's played the hot corner once this spring. Garcia begins today 6-for-10 (.600) with a home run and four RBIs in five games. If Dozier's bat goes cold (and maybe even if it doesn't), and the Royals remain steadfast in their desire to have Bobby Witt Jr. play short, Garcia ought to be a candidate for the third base job.

Two regulars and two players seeking jobs with the KC Royals have hot bats

A pair of 2022 rookies the Royals are counting on to play key everyday roles this year are clicking at the plate.

Vinnie Pasquantino, who played a lot of first base after the club traded Carlos Santana to Seattle last June and who'll play there if Nick Pratto doesn't make the club, or serve as KC's primary designated hitter if he does, is 4-for-9 (.444) with a home run and four RBIs in four games. Like Glendinning, he's headed for the WBC (he'll play on Italy's team with Nicky Lopez). Pasquantino's rookie campaign was excellent: he slashed .295/.383/.450 and hit 10 home runs.

And MJ Melendez, the presumptive starting left fielder, has two doubles and four RBIs and is hitting .364 (4-for-11) with a .417 OBP. He, too, will take temporary leave from spring camp to play for Puerto Rico's WBC squad.

Two other Royals are performing well at the plate as they compete for spots on the Opening Day roster. Versatile Samad Taylor, prevented by injury from playing after the Royals acquired him from Toronto in last summer's Whit Merrifield trade, is 5-for-11 (.455) with a triple, double and three RBIs. But he's a long shot to make the club and will likely head to Triple-A Omaha to start the season. And big league veteran Matt Duffy, also versatile, is 4-for-9 (.444) with a double and two RBIs.

None of these eight hot hitters will finish the spring with the kinds of numbers they have now. But that they're hitting so well so early is encouraging.