Fantasy Baseball Year in Review – Kansas City Royals

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  • By Chris Houston

    Despite being a middle-of-the-pack club, with an 82-80 record, the Kansas City Royals offered a surprising number of quality fantasy options this year. The emerging pitching staff must stay healthy, of course. The starters missed a lot of action. But considering they boasts one of MLB’s brightest young stars, in addition to a solid mix of veterans and young guys, this roster is poised to continue its fantasy relevancy for years to come.

    Catcher

    Salvador Perez has still got it. Power, that is. The veteran backstop finished 2025 as the seventh ranked catcher on Fangraphs’ Fantasy Player Rater, to the tune of 30 home runs over 641 plate appearances, albeit with a .236 batting average and a .284 on-base percentage. Perez held a solid .446 slugging percentage, however, and his expected numbers–a .279 xBA, .365 xwOBA and .543 xSLG–were a lot more impressive than were his surface numbers. Additionally, Salvy posted a 46.7% hard-hit rate, and an outstanding 14.8% barrel rate.

    Yes, the 35-year-old’s time in Kansas City may be coming to an end soon, but the Royals have a club option for next year, and, back on September 30, Jaylon Thompson of The Kansas City Star reported that the club expects to retain the veteran for 2026. Unless there is a huge drop-off next season, expect Salvy to be a top-10 fantasy catcher again next year.

    First base

    In 2025, Vinnie Pasquantino saw at least 600 plate appearances for the first time in his 4-year career, and naturally the production followed. Pasquantino delivered an impressive .264/.323/.475 slash line this year, with 32 long-balls and 113 RBI over 682 PAs, making him the 10th ranked first baseman for fantasy.

    We saw his barrel rate improve to 10.8% to go with a second year of solid exit velocities as he was able to fully tap into his power.He also continues to have an elite hit tool with a 15.7% K% and 7.2% BB%.

    Health continues to be the primary concern for the lefty slugger, but if Pasquatch can manage to stay relatively healthy again next year, there’s no reason why he should not provide another top-10 performance at first base in 2026.

    Second base

    Jonathan India had a disappointing 2025, hitting .233 with only nine home runs and a .669 OPS in 567 plate appearances, thus finishing the season as just the 44th-ranked fantasy second baseman. The Royals acquired the former Red, prior to the season, in a trade involving right-handed pitcher, Brady Singer. The club initially envisioned India as the solution to their lead-off woes, but, as a result of his struggles, that honor began going to Maikel Garcia as the year progressed, and to a player that the club would not acquire until later on in the season, Mike Yastrzemski.

    Defensively, India proved to be versatile, playing some left field and third base, but he saw the majority of his time (76 games) at second base. That was the most games-played by anyone at that position, with the light-hitting, fantasy-irrelevant Michael Massey logging the second most games, with 60. That being said, given India’s struggles, I cannot foresee the Royals sticking with the 28-year-old next season, as his current contract expires after this year.

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    November 4, 2025, 8:00 am