Royals may've fleeced Marlins in post-deadline trade as secret weapon quickly emerges in Triple-A

The Kansas City Royals may've had a questionable trade deadline, but that didn't stop them from looking to improve between the margins after the deadline passed. With trades for minor leaguers still on the table, the Royals went out and swung a trade with the Miami Marlins for former sixth overall pick Jacob Berry.

The Royals needed more options when it came to their all around positional depth, both in the infield and the outfield and Berry fit that need as a utility option. And while he may not have been living up to the Top 10 hype with the Marlins, he wasn't a lost cause at the dish in Miami's upper minor ranks this season. In Triple-A Jacksonville, Berry was sporting a mildly above average 103 wRC+. His .251 AVG and .734 OPS weren't anything spectacular, but they are serviceable at the end of the day. And what he did do well is stay disciplined at the dish, with 15.2% walk rate to 14.2% K-rate.

However, while it may only be three games in Triple-A Omaha, Berry is showing a glimpse of the hitter Miami hoped they were getting out of LSU in 2022 and potentially a real secret weapon for the Royals to call upon down the stretch or next season if it continues.

In those aforementioned three games, Berry has slashed .444/.583/1.000 with equal 16.7% K-rates and walk rates and a 282 wRC+.

It's a small sample size, but first impressions matter and with the Royals season going the way it is right now, there's certainly reason to believe they should be trying names out for the future down the stretch.

Jacob Berry could easily be part of Royals plans in 2027 and beyond

Is it fair to say that Berry could be a future staple in either the Royals infield or outfield? No. However, on a team that has traditionally valued versatility, Berry could easily take the role that someone like Nick Loftin has taken this year or Adam Frazier last year.

And compared to those two names, neither of them carried the prospect pedigree Berry carried as a high first-round pick. He could easily fill the role of a Matt Shaw-type utility name, whom some insiders linked to the Royals as a trade target before the deadline. Berry could play regularly as a name that is positionless, providing not only lineup versatility but also the means to get numerous names off their feet for a night.

And sticking with utility names like the aforementioned Loftin or Tyler Tolbert, both are having respectable years this season at the dish and can of course play all over, but neither has solidified their place in the Royals 2027 plans by any means. Loftin may be 100 wRC+ hitter this seaon, but is only a year removed a 73 wRC+ season. Tolbert has broken out to a 130 wRC+ in his limited game time this season, but has traditionally been a speed threat first more than anything offensively.

If this positive change of scenery remains rolling for Berry down the stretch, there's no reason to not believe that he could be a part of their plans to get through the stretch and when their competitive window hopefully opens back up again next season.

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