The Kansas City Royals made waves last offseason with a trade that seemed fair at the time, sending pitcher Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for second baseman Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer. While Wiemer didn't leave a lasting impression with the Royals, his recent exploits have turned heads.
After a lackluster stint in Omaha and being designated for assignment, Wiemer found new life with the Miami Marlins' Triple-A team and eventually made his way back to the majors with the Washington Nationals. He's started the season with a bang, joining Carlos Delgado as the only players in the live-ball era to reach base 10 consecutive times to start a season.
Wiemer's early-season stats are nothing short of electrifying. In his first four games, he's slashing .615/.706/1.231 with two homers, four RBIs, a remarkable 23.5% walk rate, an 11.8% strikeout rate, a league-leading 407 wRC+, and 0.7 fWAR. Simply put, he's the hottest hitter in baseball right now.
On the flip side, the Royals haven't seen much return on their investment in Jonathan India. After a career-worst season in 2025, India has struggled out of the gate in 2026, posting a .100/.182/.100 slash line with a 9.1% walk rate, a 27.3% strikeout rate, and a -15 wRC+ through his first 11 plate appearances. It's a far cry from his NL Rookie of the Year days in 2021, and with Michael Massey potentially returning, India's role as the Royals' starting second baseman could be in jeopardy.
The Royals' outfield inconsistencies make Wiemer's red-hot bat even more tantalizing. While it's unlikely Wiemer will maintain this historic pace, his early success highlights the Royals' current struggles with India and what might have been had they held onto him.
As the season progresses, Royals fans will be watching closely to see if India can turn things around and justify the trade that brought him to Kansas City.