The Atlanta Braves (96-66) defeated the Cleveland Guardians (84-78) to win their 5th World Series, and 2nd this decade.
The Royals finished with a
76-86 record, which cost manager Matt Quatraro his job. The final record saw them finish 3rd in the AL Central, and miss out on a
Wild Card by a substantial 12 games. After entering the All-Star break ½ a game out of the lead in the
AL Central, this second collapse in three years was a huge disappointment as the Royals went 27-38 after the break.
To rub salt into the wound, the Royals had been tied with the Guardians at the All Star break, so this was a season of what might have been – a situation which surely influenced John Sherman’s decision.
Bobby Witt Jr. once again led the bats for the Royals, although with several niggling injuries during the season he was unable to match his production of 2024 and 2025, ending up with a 3.7 WAR with a 130 OPS+. The breakout star of the season was 2B
Nick Loftin, who was given the everyday chance at 2B in 2026 and responded with an All-Star year, offering 100 OPS+ but adding 3.4 WAR thanks to his elite defence.
On the pitching side,
Scott Effross (8th – 41) stepped into
Brooks Raley’s closer role to notch a top-10 all time Royals season for saves. Starters
Carlos Hernandez (4th – 9.6 K/9) and
Freddy Peralta (3rd – 9.9) continued to make the Royals a strikeout ballclub.
In fun stats of a season not filled with fun, only 4 Royals (David DeJesus, Alex Gordon, Angel Berroa, and Mike Macfarlane) have been hit by more pitches in a season than
Josh Smith (16) managed in 2026.
Job Opportunities
Continuity was the name of the game in 2026 with the only vacancy arising being with the Kansas City Royals.
Major Injuries
The Royals had a third consecutive season with few major injuries (although Witt Jr.’s niggling time on IL was a major factor in the struggles of the team).
They lost RP
Yonny Chirinos to a season-ending partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, in Spring Training. Chirinos will be back before Spring Training in 2027.miss 9-10 months.
SP
Mason Barnett missed 4 months with a torn meniscus, limiting him to 16 starts one year after his 34 start, 5.6 WAR breakthrough season.
Other notable injuries around the league:
PITCHERS
- Lance McCullers Jr. TEX diagnosed with a damaged elbow ligament, will miss 11 months.
- Kevin Gausman TB diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 10 months.
- Gerrit Cole NYY diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 9 months
- Jacob deGrom TEX diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 10 months.
- Josh Stephan WAS diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 10 months.
- Spencer Strider ATL diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 13 months.
- Richard Fitts BOS diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, will miss 6-7 months.
- Trevor Rosenthal ARI diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 9-10 months.
- Zack Wheeler PHI diagnosed with a ruptured finger tendon, will miss 4 months.
- Jake Cousins DET diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, will miss 9 months.
- Andrew Bellatti SEA diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 12 months.
- Antonio Senzatela COL diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, it's a career-ending injury.
- Nathan Eovaldi TEX diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 8 months.
- Ian Seymour TB diagnosed with a bone spur in his elbow, will miss 4-5 months.
- Luis Patiño SD diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 4-5 months.
- Collin Wiles TEX diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 5 months.
HITTERS
- Jose Caballero OAK diagnosed with a partially torn labrum, will miss 4 months.
- JJ Bleday OAK diagnosed with a ruptured medial collateral ligament, will miss 9 months.
- Everson Pereira NYY diagnosed with a ruptured medial collateral ligament, will miss 6 months.
- James Outman LAD diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 5 months.
- Jacob Hurtubise CIN diagnosed with a broken bone in the elbow, will miss 8 months.
- Amed Rosario TOR diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, will miss 7 months.
- Justin Turner SD has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury. He has elected to retire rather than continue his rehabilitation.
- Jonatan Clase SD diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 7 months.
Trades
The Royals were back to being active in the run up to the trade deadline, with 4 deals in the last two weeks of July.
- The New York Yankees traded 31-year old RHP Jose Urquidy and 23-year old minor league RHP Brandon Neely to the Kansas City Royals, getting 28-year old 1B Vinnie Pasquantino in return
- The Kansas City Royals traded 30-year old LHP Nick Vespi and 20-year old minor league 2B Caleb Bonemer to the San Diego Padres, getting 26-year old 1B Robert Perez Jr. in return.
- The Kansas City Royals traded 22-year old minor league LHP Cade Fisher and 24-year old minor league RF Jeremy De La Rosa to the Washington Nationals, getting 28-year old minor league C Drew Millas in return.
- The Toronto Blue Jays traded 32-year old RHP Zach Eflin and 17-year old minor league CF Jesus Trochez to the Kansas City Royals, getting 17-year old minor league RF Juan Orozco in return.
They had an additional couple of trades during the early part of the season.
- The Kansas City Royals traded 19-year old minor league LF Juan Medina and 20-year old minor league RHP Alejandro Bravo to the Minnesota Twins, getting 34-year old minor league LF Ben Gamel in return.
- The Philadelphia Phillies traded 24-year old minor league RHP Alex McFarlane to the Kansas City Royals, getting 32-year old minor league C Brian O'Keefe in return.
Draft
The 2024 draft saw the Royals with the 18th pick in the draft. They combined their approach of the last two years by picking a college infielder, SS
Justin Lebron out of Alabama. Unlikely to stick at SS at the Major League level, Lebron has average tools and speed. OSA note that with enough injuries, Lebron might force his way into the lineup. Not an inspiring pick by the Royals in a draft dominated by high-risk high school players.
The top five picks of the first round were:
Round 1, Pick 1 - Toronto Blue Jays: SP
Kevin Gahagan, age 19 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 2 - Miami Marlins: 3B
Derward Rosas, age 17 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 3 - Colorado Rockies: SS
Grady Emerson, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 4 - Oakland Athletics: 2B
Chris Bruning, age 18 out of high school
Round 1, Pick 5 - Chicago White Sox: CF
Brady Harris, age 18 out of high school
Kansas City used their 2025 Compensatory Pick on college pitcher
Isaac Morton. With only three pitches and behind schedule for his age, Morton’s best route to the Major League would appear to be in relief.
The Royals failed to sign 4th round draft pick
Spencer Browning but will not receive compensatory picks in 2027.
Next, we will meet the Team that Stewart took over...