Royals' competitive future looks brighter following strong results in annual Baseball America poll

Whenever I ask people who I know are still watching the Kansas City Royals at this point in 2026, the answer is never about the overall team play or living and dying by every game result left on the schedule. Usually, it is about a specific player who has a tie to 2027. Can shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. rebound into the MVP conversation this season? Can outfielder Jac Caglianone keep his production at the plate rolling month over month? Which rotation pieces are legit and which are not? Where will the bullpen shuffle land before winter sets in?

Those are just a few of the big questions, not even considering the more granular player roles that can surface between now and October. I bring that up because despite Kansas City's 2026 season being statistically lost, there are still reasons to watch this team if you want them.

Baseball America's annual poll of MLB managers, coaches, and executives is a reminder of that, as several Royals players are featured as having elite tools in their respective categories.

Witt was the common selection representing Kansas City, appearing in the top three for Best Baserunner, Fastest Baserunner, Most Exciting Player, Best Defensive Shortstop, and Best Infield Arm. All of those tools stack up and are held up statistically, even with Witt missing a notable chunk of the season due to injury.

The Texas native leads all AL fielders with 24 Outs Above Average, with a highlight reel longer than 24 clips. His arm strength is the one tool open to debate, as the poll respondents listed him as having the best infield arm while he ranks 10th in maximum arm strength at shortstop alone. But when Witt can make plays like this, it is hard to deny that tool regardless of what the raw velocity readings say.

Royals' league-wide recognition goes beyond just Bobby Witt Jr. in 2026

Third baseman Maikel Garcia earned the most votes as Best Defensive Third Baseman, despite losing a large swath of the summer himself to injury. There has never been a doubt about Garcia's talent at the hot corner, as his 6 Outs Above Average rank in the 92nd percentile despite fewer games played to this point. Garcia trailed Witt in the infield arm category but still has a strong leg to stand on, ranking third in maximum arm strength at third base this season.

Should Royals fans be surprised that Caglianone came in second in the Best Outfield Arm voting? That is doubtful, as his pitching days at Florida showed just how much heat the lefty can put behind the ball. Caglianone is tied with teammate Isaac Collins for the ninth-most outfield assists in MLB this season, and Caglianone leads all players, not just outfielders, in average arm strength at 98.5 mph. That is a lot of mustard coming from right field.

If Caglianone was not the surprise, then second baseman Michael Massey ranking second in Best Defensive Second Baseman should be. The Illinois native has a minor league track record of being an elite fielder, but that had only sporadically translated to the majors, and his streakiness at the plate and injury history have overshadowed any fielding positives.

But 2026 has been different. Massey owns a career-best 7 Outs Above Average, ranking in the league's 94th percentile. Most of that comes from Massey covering ground well to his right and making the play, or simply from being Witt's double play partner across several games this season.

Overall, this is more of the individual performance lens that fans should be following at this point of the season. No matter which player or narrative they are watching for, there seems to be something worth latching onto. If the executives are watching and wanting more from these players, should fans not be doing the same?

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