It’s crazy how many life lessons you can learn from toddlers and how you equate those to things your favorite baseball team does. When JJ Picollo asked if the Royals were striking out enough, I got goosebumps. I’m not exaggerating here. I’m a nerd, so it’s fine if you didn’t, but when he openly wondered that, I felt vindicated in my belief in this front office. For as long as I can remember, the Royals were built on the premise that the more contact, the better. Striking out is part of the game, but something the Royals vowed to do less than anyone. They didn’t always accomplish that, but they often did. Here is their strikeout rate in each of the last five seasons, with first being the lowest strikeout rate and 30th the highest:
2025: 2
2024: 3
2023: 18
2022: 8
2021: 3
The only year they didn’t finish in the top eight was the only year in that group of five that saw them lose 100 games. Asked and answered, I guess, right? Well, here’s where they ranked in runs scored:
2021: 24
2025: 26
2024: 13
2023: 23
2022: 24