KANSAS CITY -- Happy New Year! The Royals have been focused on 2026 for far longer than just this week, as they’ve spent the offseason trying to improve their roster for the ’26 season that will be here before we know it. Here are six Royals storylines I’m watching during the 2026 campaign: 1. The stadium saga It’s been over three years since the Royals signaled their intent to move downtown. Since then, a public vote for a downtown ballpark failed, locations changed, bidding wars ensued and the Kansas City Chiefs announced their move across the state line to Kansas. The Royals have not made public where they intend to move when their lease is up at the Truman Sports Complex in 2031. Stadiums take time to build, and if the Royals intend to open the ’31 season at a new home, time is rapidly running out to get construction rolling. The indication is that the Royals will finalize plans soon, but that is still vague. Both Missouri and Kansas government officials have made their perspectives clear, but the Royals have been quiet, outside of an X post when the Chiefs announced their move. Will 2026 finally be the year in which the stadium saga concludes (or at least moves on to the next phase)? 2. Salvy’s push for 317 |
It seems like every season, Royals catcher Salvador Perez is marking another milestone in what should be an eventual Hall of Fame career. In 2025, Perez hit his 300th career home run and 1,000th career RBI before ending his 14th Major League season with 303 home runs and 1,016 RBIs. Next up: George Brett. Brett hit 317 home runs across his 21-year career, the most long balls in club history. Perez is just 14 away from matching that mark. It’s extremely likely that Perez ties and overtakes the record in ’26; the last season in which Perez hit fewer than 14 home runs was the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when he hit 11. Since then, it’s been five consecutive seasons of 20-plus homers, including tying the franchise record for most in a single-season (48) in ’21 and 30 last season. After signing a two-year contract this offseason, Perez is adding onto a remarkable career, and ’26 will be no different. 3. Offensive changes Following a frustrating offensive season, the Royals kept senior hitting director/hitting coach Alec Zumwalt in his position but shook up the rest of the staff. They hired Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames as hitting coaches, bringing in a new-age analytical mind and an experienced voice, respectively. It will be interesting to see how those two pair with Zumwalt and impact the hitters. |
Roster-wise, the Royals brought in outfielders Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins to help lengthen their lineup. They’re counting on the core four hitters -- Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and Perez -- to carry the load of production again. They’re also counting on several hitters playing better than in 2025. The Royals aren’t done looking for another bat to add this offseason, but it’s unclear whether they will actually land one. How much -- or how little -- the Royals did to shake up their offense will be a storyline all season based on their performance. 4. A healthy year for Ragans and the rotation |
A major reason why the 2024 Royals were successful is because they had one of the best rotations in baseball. Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha anchored a unit that was remarkably healthy and extremely effective the entire season. Not so much in 2025. Ragans made just 13 starts as he dealt with a groin strain and left rotator cuff injury for most of the year. Lugo made 26 starts but was not effective in the final two months and posted a 4.15 ERA. Wacha, at least, remained a steady presence with a 3.86 ERA across a career-high 31 starts. Kris Bubic made a triumphant return to the rotation and was an All-Star but was then sidelined in the second half with a left rotator cuff strain. The Royals are built around pitching and defense, and they need a strong rotation. That starts with Ragans at the top, and they need him to be healthy to get to where they want to go. Also worth monitoring will be Noah Cameron, who was great in his rookie year, posting a 2.99 ERA and finishing fourth on the AL Rookie of the Year ballot. How hitters adjust to him, and how he adjusts back, will be fun to watch in ’26. |
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5. Extended looks for Cags and Jensen |
Part of the offensive strategy is figuring out the impact outfielder Jac Caglianone and catcher Carter Jensen can make in their second season. Caglianone struggled after his callup in June, and how he bounces back from a .157/.237/.295 slash line in his rookie year is important. Jensen had a better, albeit smaller, sample, hitting .300 with a .941 OPS across 20 games in September. His plate discipline was consistent, he didn’t look overwhelmed in the box, and he impressed the staff as he got more catching opportunities. Both will get a chance to earn a roster spot, and their performance will dictate their playing time. But one thing is clear: This team looks a lot different if Caglianone and Jensen are reaching their potential. 6. A playoff return? |
October baseball is the goal again. The 2024 season, which ended in the American League Division Series, was exciting and, the club hoped, just a taste of what was to come. But a frustrating ’25 season saw them five games out of a playoff spot by the time it ended, although the 82-80 record was a nice way to finish. Since then, they’ve made plenty of moves this offseason, which general manager J.J. Picollo believes “raised the floor of our team.” But the question that looms over the entire list is whether it’s enough. There could be another move made this month. But as we enter 2026, what will matter is whether those moves -- along with improvements from within, impact from the young players, and a healthy pitching staff -- get the Royals back to the postseason. |
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