Jonathan India Michael Massey Willing To Play Left Field For Royal

Jonathan India Michael Massey Willing To Play Left Field For Royal

spent the vast majority of his tenure with the Reds playing second base. has also been a primary second baseman throughout his first three seasons with the Royals. Now that India and Ma sey both play for Kansas City, Royals manager Matt Quatraro will have to be creative to get them both in the lineup. That could involve some platooning (Ma sey bats left-handed and India bats righty) and each spending some time at DH, but suggest a third po sibility: the outfield. According to Rosenthal and Sammon, India and Ma sey are both willing to try their hands at left field next season. India has never played a defensive position other than second base in his career. He prepared for a multi-positional role with the Reds in 2024 when it looked like the team would have a logjam in the infield, but Cincinnatis infield depth quickly diminished, and India ended up playing more second base than he had in any season since his rookie campaign. Ma sey has a couple of additional positions on his defensive resume, but thats little more than a technicality. He played one game at third base in his rookie season and one inning in center field earlier this year. Although second base is the position they both know best, neither has ever graded out as a particularly valuable defender at the keystone. However, both were above-average hitters in 2024. India showed off excellent plate discipline (12.6% walk rate, 108 wRC+), while Ma sey made tons of contact and hit for above-average power (.190 ISO, 102 wRC+). So, one can Juan Hernangomez Jersey see why the Royals would like to get their bats in the lineup, even if its not at their natural position. Rotating between India and Ma sey in the DH spot is one way to accomplish that, but its not the ideal solution. For one thing, the Royals presumably want to keep the DH spot open for on days when is catching. Furthermore, general manager J.J. Picollo would surely like to maintain as much flexibility as po sible as he continues to look for upgrades to the lineup. Having some DH reps to work with could help him land a more impactful bat. reported earlier today that the Royals are looking for another hitter who can play the infield and the outfield. Yet, if India or Ma sey (or both) could be that guy, perhaps Picollo can focus on landing the best po sible bat rather than prioritizing defensive flexibility. This team could certainly use the offensive boost. While the Royals pitching staff led the team to the playoffs in 2024, their hitters ranked 13th in runs scored, 14th in OPS, and 20th in wRC+. Their only notable addition to the lineup so far has been India. When it comes to further additions, Rosenthal and Sammon suggest the Royals would prefer a left-handed bat. They mention and as two po sibilities on the free agent market. However, neither Rojas nor Frazier has been an above-average hitter over the last two years. Perhaps, then, the Royals are more likely to turn to the trade block for an upgrade. Previous have suggested theyre looking for a middle-of-the-order bat on the trade market, although its not clear to whom that might refer. Once again, the more flexibility this team can get from guys like India and Ma sey, the more potential targets they can pursue in a trade. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Jersey
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