[benp28]

The Royals (99-63) missed out on a one hundred-win season after losing their last 5 games but still went 40-24 after the All-Star Break to secure the AL. Central for a 9th time and make the playoffs in back to back years for the first time since the 2014-2015 seasons. The second half of the season was most notable for the arrival of several homegrown players as RF Jimmy Goodman, 3B Jeremy Rogerson, and P Marcos Paz all made their debuts.

The standout performer, however, was club legend Bobby Witt Jr.. Predicted to have a bounce back after three injury-hit years, Witt Jr. exceeded all expectations, taking the AL Batting Champion crown with a .311 average while also joining the 20/20 Club with 23 HR and 25 SB.



Trades

Tuesday, July 30th , 2030
• Traded 32-year old minor league 3B Josh Smith and 27-year old minor league SS David Covarrubias to the Texas Rangers, getting 16-year old minor league 1B Julio Vargas and $1,000,000 in cash in return.

The Royals were quiet on the trade front between the ASB and the Trade Deadline with one Minor League transaction the only deal. Both (former Royal) Smith and Covarrubias were 2030 Minor League Free Agent Signings so were viewed as Organisational Depth by the Royals. When Texas asked about Smith, it didn’t take long to settle on a final deal also including Covarrubias for cash and 2030 International Amateur signing Vargas, who profiles as a plus contact, plus power first baseman, although it is unclear why the Rangers had promoted him straight to the DSL leagues where he looks very overmatched.

Injuries

Wednesday, August 28th, 2030
• CF Enrique Bradfield Jr. diagnosed with chronic back soreness, will miss 4 weeks.

Bradfield Jr. was the only serious injury suffered by the Royals over the closing months of the season; Trent Grisham being called back to the Major Leagues for the first time since 2028 to cover.

Playoffs

AL Divisional Series

The AL West Runners Up Seattle Mariners (81-81) were the Royals ALDS opposition, in a first post-season match up for the teams. It is the first playoff appearance since 2022 for Seattle and they started well, defeating Baltimore 2-1 in the ALWS.

Game 1 in Kansas City: Mason Barnett vs. Juan Mercedes (2017 International Amateur)

• Kansas City WINS 6-4
• Barnett: 5.0 IP, 8H, 4R
• Mercedes (L): 6.2 IP, 3H, 5R
• Yusuke Matsumura (W): 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R
• Prelander Berroa (SV): 2.0 IP, 2H, 0R
• Tim Nicosia: 2-4, 3-run HR 1st
• Jimmy Goodman: 1-3, 3-run Triple 7th
• 1-0 Kansas City

Game 2 in Kansas City: Drew Beam vs. Connor Phillips (2029 Free Agent)

• Kansas City WINS 5-4
• Beam (W): 7.0 IP, 7H, 4R
• Phillips (L): 5.2 IP, 11H, 5R
• Wen-Hui Pan (SV): 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Nick Loftin: 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 Doubles
• 2-0 Kansas City

Game 3 in Seattle: Cade Townsend vs. Randy Vasquez (2029 Trade from SD)

• Seattle WINS 7-2
• Vasquez (W): 8.1 IP, 5H, 2R
• Townsend (L): 5.0 IP, 7H, 7R
• HRs: Cole Young, Julio Rodriguez (3rd); Mike Miller (6th)
• 2-1 Kansas City

Game 4 in Seattle: Josiah Gray vs. Casey Legumina (2029 Trade with CIN)

• Seattle WINS 7-2
• Legumina (W): 6.1 IP, 5H, 2R
• Gray (L): 5.0 IP, 4H, 5R
• 2-2 Series Tied

Game 5 in Kansas City: Barnett vs. Phillips

• Kansas City WINS 6-3
• Barnett (W): 5.0 IP, 6H, 3R
• Phillips (L): 5.0 IP, 8H, 5R
• Berroa (SV): 3.0 IP, 2H, 0R
• Hunter Owen: 1-2 (HR)
• 3-2 KANSAS CITY WINS

Player of the Series: Wyatt Langford (KC): .350 OBP, 3 RBI, 2 R

AL Championships Series

The Championship Series pitted the Royals against AL Central Runners Up, division rivals, the Chicago White Sox (98-64). The White Sox had taken out their frustration at finishing second in the division by beating the Red Sox 2-1 in the ALWS, then sweeping the Astros 3-0 in the ALDS.

Game 1 in Kansas City: Beam vs. Noah Shultz (2022 1st Round)

• Chicago WINS 5-2
• Schultz: 7.0 IP, 2H, 2R
• Beam: 6.1 IP, 3H, 2R
• Andrew Saalfrank (W): 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Pan (L): 2.2 IP, 5H, 3R
• Gavin Grahovac: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI
• 1-0 Chicago

Game 2 in Kansas City: Townsend vs. Dan Nicholas (2027 1st Round)

• Kansas City WINS 3-2 (12 Innings)
• Townsend: 6.0 IP, 4H, 1R
• David Hagaman (W): 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Tim Bowman (L): 2.1 IP, 3H, 1R
• Samuel Zavala: 3-6 , 1 HR, 2 RBI
• 1-1 Series Tied

Game 3 in Chicago: Gray vs. Michael Prosecky (2029 Trade with CIN)

• Chicago WINS 2-1
• Prosecky (W): 7.0 IP, 2H, 1R
• Gray (L): 6.0 IP, 6H, 2R
• Bowman (SV): 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R
• Zavala, Juan Cardiel: HR
• 2-1 Chicago

Game 4 in Chicago: Barnett vs. Raheem Whitthorne (2027 10th Round)

• Chicago WINS 2-1
• Whitthorne: 6.0 IP, 2H, 1R
• Barnett: 6.0 IP, 2H, 0R
• Saalfrank (W): 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R
• Angel Perdomo (L)(BS): 1.1 IP, 3H, 2R
• Grahovac: HR (8th)
• 3-1 Chicago

Game 5 in Chicago: Beam vs. Shultz

• Chicago WINS 7-2
• Schultz (W): 7.0 IP, 2H, 0R
• Beam (L): 3.1 IP, 6H, 4R
• Berroa (SV): 3.0 IP, 2H, 0R
• Kyle Tucker: 3-3, 3RBI, 2-run HR
• 4-1 CHICAGO WINS

Series MVP: Kyle Tucker (CHC): .600 OBP, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2R

The Royals win their first Post Season Series since 2015 but couldn’t match that team, falling in the American League Championship Series. Finishing one game below 100 wins, with a playoff series victory show clear progress. All this came with the development of several homegrown prospects, which bodes well for the future in Kansas City.

Owner Goals Review

Goal Deadline Progress
Reach the Playoffs 2030 Achieved – Lost in ALCS
Increase Attendance to 35,000 2030 Achieved – 35,615
Build Your Farm to Top 6 2030 Failed – 7th
Acquire an MVP Winner 2031 No Progress
Improve Fan Interest 2031 No progress – 73 from 74
Improve Intl. Amateur finds 2032 No progress
Reach the World Series 2035 Reached ALCS

Reaching the Playoffs met owner Sherman’s performance goal while also raising excitement and fans in the stands, leading to the attendance increase goal also being achieved. The farm peaked at a respectable 7th but that was short of the Top 6 farm desired by Sherman. The progress of players in that farm, however, give cause for optimism.

Looking ahead, 2031’s goals of an MVP and increased fan interest feel a long way away and won’t be a direct priority for Stewart, while none of Stewart’s International Amateurs have made it out of the DSL yet so feel a long way from helping the Big League team. Falling one series short gives the management team confidence of reaching the World Series before 2035, although it is highly possible Sherman will feel the same when new goals are released.

Minor Leagues



Post Season

All seven Royal Minor League franchises reached their post season final, with four teams taking home the pennant, including back-to-back titles for the Columbia Fireflies and a third title in four years for the Stewart DSL team, defeating their fellow Royal DSL franchise Glass team in the final.

While not the purpose of the Minor League systems, the combination of experience and prospects throughout the farm is making baseball fun across the Royals system.

Omaha Storm Chasers [AAA] lost in the Championship Final.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals [AA] won the Championship.
Quad Cities River Bandits [A+] won the Championship.
Columbia Fireflies [A] won the Championship (back-to-back).
Kansas City (ACL) Royals [R] lost in the Championship Final.
Kansas City (DSL) Royals Stewart [R] won the Championship.
Kansas City (DSL) Royals Glass [R] lost in the Championship Final.

Around the League

Results

Having knocked out the Royals, the White Sox would face the Colorado Rockies (90-72) in the 2030 World Series. The Rockies, having won the NL West first had to knock out Division rivals the Diamondbacks in the Wild Card Series (2-0), before dispatching the Red (3-1) and the Nationals (4-1) with minimal trouble. This would be their first World Series since losing to the Red Sox in 2007 while Chicago were in the final for the first time since their 2005 victory. The Sox got the better of Colorado for the second time, Chicago clinching their 4th World Title with a Game 7 victory.

There can be no complaints as the White Sox took out the Regular Season winningest (101 win Houston Astros) and second winningest (99 win team Kansas Royals) teams after finishing with the third best record in baseball ahead of the post season.



Major Injuries

Pitchers

• Kolby Allard ARI diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment, will miss 5 months.
• Kohl Franklin CHC diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, will miss 8 months.
• Jonathan Santucci CWS diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4 months.
• Brayan Bello HOU diagnosed with a ruptured finger tendon, will miss 3-4 months.
• Lance McCullers Jr. NYM diagnosed with a torn meniscus, will miss 3-4 months.
• Blake Walston OAK diagnosed with a torn meniscus, will miss 3 months.
• Andrew Painter PHI diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 6 months.
• Grant Taylor SEA diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow, will miss 4-5 months.
• JT Brubaker STL diagnosed with a ruptured finger tendon, will miss 5 months.
• Yoniel Curet TB diagnosed with a ruptured tricep tendon, will miss 6 months.

• Walker Buehler BAL diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 4 months.
• Max Kranick COL diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, will miss 13 months.
• T.J. Brock HOU diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 10 months.
• Hunter Greene LAD diagnosed with a forearm strain, will miss 3 months.
• Josh Walker LAD diagnosed with a fractured elbow, will miss 6 months.
• Seranthony Dominguez MIA has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 9 months.
• Graham Ashcraft MIN diagnosed with a damaged elbow ligament, will miss 9-10 months.
• David Leal PIT diagnosed with a torn labrum, will miss 5 months.
• Cionel Perez SF diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, will miss 8 months.
• R.J. Dabovich WAS diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment, will miss 3-4 months.
• Thomas Szapucki WAS has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 3 months.

Hitters

• 2B Zack Gelof LAA diagnosed with a broken kneecap, will miss 9 months.
• CF Dominic Fletcher LAA has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4 months.
• LF Esteury Ruiz LAA diagnosed with a broken kneecap, will miss 5-6 months.
• 2B Andres Gimenez PHI diagnosed with a torn meniscus, will miss 4 months.
• CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. SD diagnosed with a ruptured medial collateral ligament, will miss 10 months.

Extensions

• Houston Astros: 1B Curtis Mead 7 years $187,600,000.
• Houston Astros: 2B Joendry Vargas 5 years $92,100,000.