The Kansas City Royals are off to a rocky start this season, dropping their opening series to the Atlanta Braves in a way that left fans frustrated. Their offense struggled, managing only six runs across three games, placing them just above the San Francisco Giants in early season scoring.
For Royals fans, this isn't entirely unexpected. The need for lineup upgrades was clear entering the offseason. While some improvements were made, they were more incremental than transformative.
Many were hoping for a major acquisition, with several names floated as potential targets, including Brendan Donovan, now with the Seattle Mariners. Watching Donovan shine in his debut series for Seattle only adds to the Royals' "what if" scenarios.
Donovan, who was high on the Royals' wish list, has seamlessly integrated into the Mariners' lineup. In his first four games, he’s hitting an impressive .429/.556/.929, with two homers and four RBIs, boasting a 304 wRC+. His 0.5 fWAR is just behind Mike Trout's league-leading 0.6 fWAR.
Donovan was seen as a potential game-changer for Kansas City, capable of addressing offensive needs at both second base and in the outfield with his All-Star caliber play. With only Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone posting above-average wRC+ totals for the Royals, Donovan’s impact could have been significant.
Adding to the Royals' woes, several players who could have been replaced by Donovan underperformed in the series:
- J. India: .000 AVG, .125 OPS, -53 wRC+
- I. Collins: .000 AVG, .143 OPS, -44 wRC+
- L. Thomas: .125 AVG, .347 OPS, 7 wRC+
Compounding the issue, second baseman Michael Massey remains on the injured list, with no clear return date.
While it's too early to hit the panic button-it's just one series and the Royals haven’t played at home yet-Donovan's standout performance is a reminder of what Kansas City might be missing. As the season unfolds, the Royals will need to find ways to spark their offense and keep pace in the league.