Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India rubbed his knee as he sat at his clubhouse locker. Later, he flexed his left wrist — the same one that landed him on the 10-day injured list earlier this season.
After a few moments, India leaned back in his chair. He grabbed his baseball glove, ball cap and his batting practice gear before heading to the field.
By all accounts, it has been a rough season. India felt disappointed with how far his production dropped. The numbers weren’t there and he hadn’t looked comfortable since joining the Royals in the offseason.
Yet, India found a reason to smile.
The Royals are eliminated from playoff contention, but India is treating the team’s final road series against the Athletics as a fresh start. In his mind, it’s a chance to make amends for a forgettable season while building toward the future.
“It’s been tough,” he said. “You know, it is the worst year of my career. I was reflecting on it the other day. I was like, ‘Hey I’ve got to take it on the chin and move forward.’”
The Royals acquired India from the Cincinnati Reds last November. There were big plans in KC as the Royals expected him to assume the leadoff spot in their lineup. After all, they had parted ways with longtime starting pitcher Brady Singer in order to make the deal. And that wasn’t easy.
Singer was coming off a terrific season. He posted a 3.71 ERA 32 starts and has continued that success in his first year with the Reds.
At the time, some baseball evaluators called the trade a win-win for both sides. The Reds needed a starter and the Royals had finally addressed their vacant leadoff spot. Or so it seemed.
India didn’t pan out as expected in his first year with the club. The Royals tried playing him in left field in conjunction with fellow second baseman Michael Massey, figuring the two could split their time at both positions.
There were occasional hiccups. India had to learn the outfield in a short timeframe. He held his own, but the Royals eventually moved him back full-time to second base.
And second base was where he felt most comfortable. India’s defense gradually improved, but his struggles at the plate persisted.
He hit .195 in August and his peripheral stats tailed off from where they’d been earlier in the season. As a result, the Royals dropped India down in the batting order. Once the club acquired Adam Frazier at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, India was relegated to more of a limited role.
India wasn’t drawing regular starts as both Frazier and Massey got time at second. The trio occupied the position, while India sometimes found himself playing designated hitter or sitting on the bench.
“Mentally, it’s just a grind to get through a struggle like this,” India said. “But it happened for a reason, so I’m excited to build off that feeling I had all year, of just trying to dig out of a hole.”
India tried to settle in as the season progressed. It was a lot to handle as he adjusted to a new stadium, new city and different teammates. The Royals still loved his desire to win and willingness to battle through adverse situations.
Early in the season, India took a fastball off his face in a game against the Cleveland Guardians. It was a scary moment, but he was back in the lineup the next night. India also played through minor aches — such injuries to his left wrist and shoulder.
He was lauded for his toughness and warrior spirit. But he admitted there were times when he felt the need to try to be something other than himself. And, he said earnestly, it affected how he played.
“I felt like I was trying to please people and try to be something more than who I am,” India said. “All I need to do is be myself and not try to be something that I’m not. So that’s my whole goal next year. Come in and show that passion and fire that I play with.”
India still believes his best years are in front of him. It wasn’t long ago that he was named the National League Rookie of the Year. That was in 2021. He will enter his age-29 campaign in 2026 and is still in his prime.
At the height of his career to date, India was known for his ability to get on base and accumulate steals. He owns a career .742 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in five seasons. He also stole 10 or more bases in three of his five years in the majors.
This season, India has fallen short of his career numbers. He doesn’t have a stolen base and he has just nine home runs, 45 RBIs and a .671 OPS.
“A lot of things did not go my way,” he said. “I’ve got to learn from it and I’m not going to carry this over (to 2026).
“I know the player I am and the type of person that I am. I will work my behind off this offseason.”
India has one year of team control remaining, per Spotrac. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season.
And the Royals believe he can return to form.
“We know he is going to perform better as a hitter,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “He is settled in at a position where he knows where he is playing in the field.
“So there is a lot of reason to think Jonathan will bounce back. You know, that second year a guy is with a club is sometimes the better year.”
Picollo added that India’s debut season in Kansas City was not uncommon. He felt multiple factors contributed to his performance and is the reason why a rebound campaign will benefit both parties.
“I think what Jonathan went through this year, we see a lot of players go through those type of things,” Picollo said. “And you know, new environment, new team, and for him it was a new position.
“So we may have been asking him to do something that was a little bit too much. To Jonathan’s credit, he is a tough kid and he plays less than 100 percent a lot. So fighting through some of the nagging things that he was fighting through, give him a lot of credit for doing it. We respect that and that’s part of why we acquired him.”
On Friday, India powered the Royals’ offense in a 4-3 loss to the Athletics. In the fourth inning of the series opener at Sutter Health Park, he hit a three-run homer — the curling line drive down the left-field line was his first since Aug. 17.
“Overall, I still feel a little off-time at the plate,” India said. “But it was a good swing for sure in that at-bat.”
India will look to finish the 2025 season on a good note over the weekend. He has persevered through a difficult stretch and emerged on the other side.
As he searched for the words to describe his year, he landed on “wake-up call.” And in a way, it might have been just what he needed to embrace the next challenges in front of him.
That’s what made Friday night important. India’s dedication to his craft was rewarded, and he showed himself — and the Royals fans watching back home — that he is capable of returning to his optimal level next season.
“(Next year), it’s going to be different,” he said. “It’s going to be more fire, more passion and more energy. I didn’t have any of that. And I watched games back this year, I didn’t have that this year. It was just kind of hiding, I guess. I don’t know how to explain it.
“I’m sorry for not showing that passion. That’s coming out next year.”