Michael Massey’s breakout year keeps rolling, and the timing couldn’t be better for a Royals team that hasn’t had the season it expected.
The Kansas City second baseman has put together the most productive campaign of his major league career, giving the Royals one of their steadiest bats while also flashing the kind of defense that makes him hard to take out of the lineup. At 28, Massey has turned a year that began on the injured list into a true step forward.
He opened the season sidelined by a calf strain that lingered from the end of spring training, then worked his way back in early April. From there, he settled in and stayed healthy for most of the year, even after a scare in late August sent him to the seven-day concussion injured list. That injury came after he hit his head in an awkward fall while finishing an impressive defensive play against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Since coming back from that concussion stint, Massey has stayed hot. He’s hitting .296/.321/.444 with two home runs in 54 at-bats since returning.
For the full season, his line sits at .279/.312/.444, and the numbers tell the story of a player who has finally put together a real body of work. Massey has already set career highs in doubles with 24, hits with 110, and at-bats with 394.
That last number matters too - this isn’t just a nice stretch in a small sample. It’s the biggest workload of his career, and he’s handled it well.
He added to that production in Friday’s 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, going deep against Paul Skenes in the top of the fourth inning for a solo shot that stretched Kansas City’s lead to three runs at the time.
And it’s not just the bat that has pushed Massey into the Royals’ plans for next season. His work at second base has been just as valuable.
He owns 12 outs above average there, giving Kansas City a reliable glove to pair with his improved offense. For a team looking for answers, Massey has made a strong case that he can offer plenty at the bottom of the lineup.
In Other News...
Royals Ugly 2026 May Not Be The Dead End Fans Fear
A disappointing 2026 season has left the Royals staring at a finish near the bottom of the American League, and the numbers around it are grim enough: fewer than 70 wins and a 10th playoff miss in 11 seasons would normally feel like the kind of year that closes a window rather than opens one. But this roster is not starting from zero, because Bobby Witt Jr. is still the centerpiece and the young support around him, from Jac Caglianone to Carter Jensen, gives Kansas City a base that looks more encouraging than the standings do.
The bigger reason for optimism is the setting around them. The AL Central has not looked especially imposing, and if the Royals can add the right reinforcements, the gap between ugly now and competitive soon may not be as wide as frustrated fans fear. In other words, the 2026 stumble could end up looking less like a dead end and more like the last messy step before a club that is ready to push for the division in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Camerons Turnaround Just Changed The Royals Rotation Conversation
Noah Camerons second big league season has turned into one of the more encouraging developments in the Royals rotation picture. After a rough opening stretch, the left-hander found a different rhythm once he started calling his own pitches, and the change has paid off in a major way. His August run was strong enough to earn American League Pitcher of the Month honors, and it gave Kansas City a fresher, clearer view of what he can be when everything clicks.
For a staff still sorting out who can help carry the workload moving forward, Cameron has moved himself into the conversation as a real option rather than just an intriguing arm. He has already set career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts, and the bigger question now is how the Royals choose to build around that progress. The turnaround has changed the tone around him, and it may have changed the rotation discussion along with it. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone Returns With Royals Fans Watching One Lingering Concern
Jac Caglianone was back in the lineup against the Pirates after sitting out the previous game because of a cut on his hand, the result of punching a dugout wall. The Royals have plenty invested in his development, and the episode added an avoidable detour to what has otherwise been a strong overall season, even if his recent work at the plate has been uneven.
Caglianone called the incident selfish and immature, saying he wants to learn from it, which is the right instinct for a player trying to settle in and keep his focus on the bigger picture. For Kansas City, the larger concern now is less about the one-game absence than whether the lessons from it carry over into the daily grind, especially with his bat still searching for the consistency the Royals need. [Read more 🡒]