Wednesday, November 04

Welcome back to the Royals Beat newsletter. MLB.com digital content fellow Perla Paredes wrote this edition.

Michael Massey entered this past Spring Training fighting for a spot on the Royals’ roster after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, with the possibility of splitting time between second base and left field. 

But even with his role uncertain, Massey had made one goal clear: He wanted to be a Gold Glove-caliber defender.  

Eight months later, the 28-year-old is coming off one of his strongest Major League seasons to date. His turnaround, which included improved offensive numbers and an American League Gold Glove finalist selection, has given the Royals a different outlook at second base heading into 2027.

That wasn't the case a year ago.

Last offseason, second base was among the Royals' biggest question marks. The club's second basemen had combined for 0.0 fWAR in 2025 per FanGraphs, third worst in the Majors, while posting a .236/.301/.339 slash line.

Massey had also endured a particularly challenging season himself, finishing with -0.4 fWAR. An ankle sprain, wrist fracture and recurring back issues limited him to just 77 games, in which he batted .244/.268/.313 with three home runs, 20 RBIs and a .581 OPS.

During the offseason, Massey worked on making adjustments to his swing and some of those efforts took him outside the baseball world.

He spent the winter studying the physics behind his swing, focusing on getting his bat on plane with pitches and maintaining a more consistent path through the strike zone.

Although a left calf strain forced Massey to begin the 2026 season on the injured list, he returned on April 6 and went on to appear in a career-high 131 games.

Massey finished the year batting .274/.305/.430 with 13 home runs, 25 doubles, 50 RBIs and a .735 OPS. His OPS increased by 154 points from 2025 and nearly matched the career-best .743 he posted in '24.

His role also changed as injuries affected Kansas City's infield.

Jonathan India entered 2026 as the Royals' primary second baseman, but his season ended after he underwent left shoulder surgery in April.

With India sidelined, Massey received more playing time at his natural position.

The Illinois native appeared at four defensive positions this season, spending most of the year at second base (126 games). He had a 2.3 WAR and recorded +11 outs above average at the position, second highest among American League second basemen behind the Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. (+15).

That performance earned Massey his first Major League Gold Glove Award nomination, five years after he received the honor in the Minors in 2021 -- though he ultimately fell short to Seattle's Cole Young, who won his first Gold Glove Award at second base.

With India now a free agent, Massey enters the offseason as Kansas City's leading option at the position.

Nick Loftin also provides additional flexibility after spending time at second base, third base and right field this season. The Royals relied on him heavily at third while Maikel Garcia dealt with injuries, and Loftin earned his own Gold Glove finalist selection for his work at the hot corner.

Kansas City could still explore ways to add offensive production this winter, particularly with the team also looking for another bat to complement its established core. The club's biggest priorities, however, remain rebuilding its bullpen and adding starting pitching. 

That doesn't necessarily rule out an addition at second base if the right opportunity arises.

But after entering last offseason with questions surrounding the position, the Royals have more reason for confidence in Massey heading into 2027.

And for Massey, a season that began with questions about his health and production ended with him one step closer to adding gold to his glove. 

Royals No. 17 prospect Carson Roccaforte added another defensive honor to his résumé Monday when he was named one of nine 2026 Minor League Gold Glove Award winners.

The 24-year-old outfielder committed no errors across 1,105 innings in center field between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, the most innings at a single position in an errorless Minor League season since at least 2005. He also recorded a career-high 13 outfield assists, tied for the third most among full-season Minor Leaguers.

The recognition comes after Roccaforte earned the Royals' Frank White Defensive Player of the Year Award for the third consecutive season.

And defense was only part of his impressive year.

Roccaforte also became the first Royals Minor Leaguer to record a 30-homer, 30-steal season, finishing with 35 home runs and 32 stolen bases across 138 games.

The Royals announced Monday that fan voting for the 2027 Royals Hall of Fame class is underway, with 12 former players appearing on this year's ballot.

Four players are eligible for the first time: right-handers Zack Greinke and Ian Kennedy, first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas.

They join eight returning candidates: Carlos Beltrán, Billy Butler, Lorenzo Cain, Wade Davis, Alcides Escobar, Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland and Joakim Soria.

The ballot features several members of Kansas City's 2015 World Series championship team, including Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain, Davis, Escobar, Herrera and Holland.

Candidates must receive at least 75% of the vote to earn induction. Fans will participate alongside Royals Hall of Famers, members of the team's ownership group, select media members and other designated voters.

Fans can cast their votes here through Monday, Nov. 16, at 11:59 p.m. CT. Any elected candidates will be inducted during the 2027 season.

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