The Kansas City Royals didn’t even go to the playoffs last year, so what makes me think they could win their division in 2026?
I’ll say it plainly, “This team has arrived.”
Well, okay, maybe not the team as a whole, but several of the players who make up this team have broken out, realizing their potential in the World Baseball Classic on an international stage earlier this month.
No team was better represented in that competition than the Royals.
Ultimately, Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia was named the Classic’s most valuable player after he and Royals teammate Salvador Perez led Venezuela to the championship.
Those two were victorious over teammates Bobby Witt, Jr. (who many believe to be among the top three players in baseball), Michael Wacha, and Matt Strahm of the United States team.
Two more Royals who will be counted on as key members this season, Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, were impressive for team Italy. Starting pitcher Seth Lugo threw for Puerto Rico, and closer Carlos Estévez pitched for the Dominican Republic.
If you turned on the highlights any morning during the Classic, you likely saw heroics from at least one of Kansas City’s players from games the night before.
Witt, a Platinum Glover in 2025, turned in some of the greatest defensive plays you’ll ever see during the Classic, and Pasquantino belted three home runs in one game, while emerging as the clear motivational leader of the Italian team.
But, Garcia obviously rose above them all, batting .385, OPSing .970, and driving in seven runs.
Is this the best Royals team ever? Like my friend and fellow Royals fan Jerry Lutz would say, “Not just no, but hell no.”
The team from 1977, led by George Brett and Dennis Leonard, is widely regarded as the best in franchise history, winning 102 games, but ultimately losing to the Yankees in the ALCS.
Other names you’ll recognize from that team include Frank White, Larry Gura, Paul Splittorff, Darrell Porter, John Mayberry, Freddy Patek, Hal McRae, Al Cowens, Amos Otis, and Willie Wilson, among others.
Managed by Whitey Herzog, I believe that team set the high water mark, for sure.
That team is one of the reasons I fell in love with baseball.
Because of some key reasons, including left field, center field, and the back end of the bullpen, this team is probably not as good as the 2014-2015 squad that made back-to-back World Series appearances either.
But I can tell you with confidence that this year’s edition of the Kansas City Royals, with the right acquisitions at the right time, and significant contributions from the young guys on the roster, can can’t cement itself as one the best Royals teams we’ve seen.
Happy Opening Day, everyone.