Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas Expectations for 2017
Expectations for Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas are high in 2017 as he looks to rebound from an injury-plagued 2016 campaign.
After a terrific 2015 season, Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas saw his 2016 campaign cut short due to a knee injury. The All-Star played in only 27 games for the Royals. He spent most of the year watching from the bench. He now enters the final year of his current contract while coming off an injury. Now healthy, Moustakas' expectations for the Royals are high, but not as elevated as they are for him as an individual.
It took Moustakas far too long to find his big league stroke. Entering 2016, he was a career .236/.290/.379 hitter. Only in his 2011 half-year rookie campaign would he even finish with a batting average above .250 or an OBP higher than .300.
Moustakas did, however, contribute decent power over the years. In his first full season back in 2012, he hit 20 home runs and drove in 73. This remained his career-best until 2015 when he suddenly became a well-rounded hitter. In 2016, he was well on his way toward breaking the high as he hit seven home runs in his first 113 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the knee injury ruined this opportunity.
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This season, the expectation is that Moustakas hits better than he did from 2011-2014 but not as well as he did in 2015. It's a reasonable request. After all, he is only entering his age 28 season, when many players reach their prime.
The great news for Moustakas is that the Royals' roster is mostly intact with its core members still in place. He should fit right in with the rest of the team, especially since there is plenty of motivation for the Royals' hitters.
Moustakas is not the only member of the Royals' lineup hoping to have a big year before reaching free agency. Teammates Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and others are also in the final year of their current deals. While some players falter during contract years, many will play with a little more enthusiasm.
In 2017, Moustakas has three big reasons to play his best. He will fight for a new contract and prove he's healthy. This season might also be the last opportunity for the Royals to win a championship together before breaking up the core.
We can anticipate Moustakas to produce solid offensive numbers, but lower than he did two seasons ago. Power will remain his biggest donation to the Royals' season. With any luck, he will hit above .250 and draw enough walks to end the year with a .300+ OBP. For now, expect him to finish within a few points of both totals while smacking about 20-25 home runs.
