KC Royals News: Checking in on 3 players who needed a good September

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The KC Royals won Friday night, beating the Yankees 12-5. This evening, Kansas City, the club guaranteed to finish last in the American League Central for the third time in the last five full, 162-game seasons, will play its last game of September.

Ending the month will be bittersweet. September's conclusion brings the loss-weary Royals, now 55-105, one day closer to Sunday's season finale and winter at home, but shutting the door means the best month of the Royals' otherwise deeply disappointing campaign will be over — win or lose, the team will finish September with its only winning month of the season.

Tonight's contest against the Yankees will also put a wrap on a a vital period for three KC players —James McArthur, Michael Massey, and Jackson Kowar — we've projected need superb Septembers if they want be on the big league roster when Kansas City opens the 2024 season in late March.

So, with one September game left, how are those three doing?

That reliever James McArthur is a lock for the 2024 KC Royals bears repeating

Regular Kings of Kauffman readers know how well Jacob Milham covers the club. And the story he wrote recently about Logan Porter, Nick Loftin, and James McArthur starting next season in Kansas City was no exception.

As Milham pointed out, McArthur had to overcome a rough start. He was ghastly in his first Royals appearance, a late-June debacle when Cleveland thrashed him for seven runs and six hits in only an inning. He didn't pitch for the Royals again until August; in none of the five games he pitched that month did opponents treat him as badly as the Guardians had in June, but he still surrendered five runs over a half-dozen innings.

But as Milham's story confirms, McArthur's September has been nothing like his August. And after shutting out New York for an inning Friday night, he hasn't been charged with any runs in 10 September appearances.

Kings of Kauffman's Milham was right. McArthur should be with the Royals when they open the season March 28 against Minnesota.

Michael Massey has strengthened his case to stay at second for the KC Royals

Perusing baseball-oriented social media for a few moments. Let a search engine or two churn out results for "Michael Massey" and you'll find significant numbers of writers, commentators, and fans who believe Massey, a fixture at second base part of last season and all of this one, might not be a lock for the job in 2024. Most seem more than content with him in the field, but not at the plate.

Massey began September with a fairly pedestrian 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a disturbing .220/.265/.351 line. But this month has been kind to him — he's clubbed five more homers, driven in 12 more runs, and is slashing a much more palatable .268/.307/.535 for the month headed into tonight's game.

Will those numbers be enough to make him the Royals' presumptive second baseman when spring camp opens in February? They certainly won't damage his case; nor will his consistently good defense and the fact the Royals probably won't want to break up the effective keystone combination he and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. have forged. (And although impressive rookie Nick Loftin can play second, the club would be well-advised to utilize him in a super-utility, Whit Merrifield-like role).

Jackson Kowar's chances to begin 2024 with the KC Royals don't look good

Unlke Michael Massey and James McArthur, whose Septembers seem to be securing their 2024 Opening Day roster spots, Jackson Kowar hasn't done enough this month to land a ticket back to Kansas City.

Kowar, who early last year appeared to be a rising star in the Kansas City organization but then didn't pitch like one when he reached the majors, began this month with an unsightly 6.38 ERA and little to show for 14 appearances. Five times he gave up three or more runs while pitching two or fewer innings.

Unfortunately for him and his prospects for returning to the Royals next season, Kowar's September hasn't gone especially well. Yes, the Royals gave him his first two big league wins by coming from behind to win during a pair of his relief appearances, but in nine games opponents are slashing .317/.404/.512 with a .917 OPS against him, and he's handed them seven runs and 13 hits in 9.2 innings. His 6.52 September ERA is simply too high.

Those numbers won't help Kowar. They won't convince the Royals to reserve a spot for him in their 2024 bullpen. And they may not be good enough for the club to retain him in the system.

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