Time is now for Moustakas to lock up Royals' 3B spot once and for all
For Mike Moustakas, the time is now.
It's time for the 26-year-old to live up to the first-round hype. It's time for him to replicate the power surge from last October. And with another first-round third baseman moving up through the Royals' system, it's time for Moustakas to cement his place as the third baseman of the future.
Moustakas labored through a rough 2014 season, when he hit .212 and was demoted to Triple-A Omaha to work through his struggles. But his playoff performance -- a franchise-record five home runs -- reminded the team what he was capable of and what he could still become.
But this season will mark eight years since Kansas City selected Moustakas with the No. 2 overall pick, and Moustakas' fourth time as the Opening Day starter at the hot corner. Meanwhile, 2013 first-round pick Hunter Dozier has two years of professional ball under his belt and figures to pressure Moustakas down the road.
Here's a look at the third-base position.
THE STARTER: Mike Moustakas
Moustakas' production has declined each season he's been in the majors, his batting average and on-base percentage each dipping to career lows in the last three seasons. Last season, he slashed .212/.271/.361 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs. He hit just .220 on balls in play -- well below the major league average of .299 -- due, in part, to the significant shifts the left-handed-hitting Moustakas faced.
Moustakas told reporters this spring that he'll try to go the opposite way more this season, even dropping down bunts to keep opposing defenses honest. But the easiest way for Moustakas to beat the shift might be to hit over it. His above-average power makes him a home-run threat, and he's hit 47 home runs in the last three seasons. The only Royals to hit more were Billy Butler and Alex Gordon, both with 53 over that span.
Coming off a five-homer postseason, it's up to Moustakas to prove that his superb month wasn't an aberration, but a sign of things to come.
THE BACKUP: Christian Colon
Yep, here's Colon again, who is also the backup at second base and shortstop. Of the three positions, he has the least experience at the hot corner, where he has only eight career minor league appearances at the position, all of them coming last season. He did play third base for the Royals four times last season after his call-up.
But it's been less than a year since Colon's first professional appearance at third base. He debuted at the position with Triple-A Omaha on May 1.
Colon, a first-round draft pick in 2010, is a shortstop by trade but will be used as a utility infielder this season. Colon made his major league debut last July and appeared in 21 games for the Royals. He batted .333/.375/.489 in limited playing time (49 plate appearances).
Colon will primarily offer insurance for Omar Infante at second base but also could be a serviceable backup at both shortstop and third base.
WHO'S NEXT? Hunter Dozier, Cheslor Cuthbert
Kansas City selected Dozier with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft and watched him tear the cover off the ball for his first year and a half in the minors. He hovered around a .300 batting average in his first three stops: .303 at Idaho Falls (Rookie), .327 at Lexington (Class A) and .295 with Wilmington (high A).
Dozier struggled after his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, slashing .209/.303/.312 in 64 games. Unlike Cuthbert, Dozier is a pure third baseman and hasn't played another position in his two seasons in the minors. A non-roster invitee to spring training this year, Dozier has played six games, all at third base, going 1 for 10.
Cuthbert, a 22-year-old Nicaraguan, spent most of last season with Northwest Arkansas but finished the year at Omaha. Cuthbert can play first and second base in addition to third, and is listed as Kansas City's No. 8 prospect by MLB.com. Cuthbert, who is on the 40-man roster, has seven RBIs in 10 Cactus League games.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
