The New York Yankees are set to kick off their postseason journey this weekend. New York will take on the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series. Their pitching staff should pay particularly close attention to a few heavy hitters the Royals possess in their lineup.
The Royals tied with three other teams for eighth in MLB in team batting average this year, at .248. Theyare also ranked 12th in slugging percentage at .403 and their .710 OPS is tied for 13th.
The Royals went 86-76 this season, clinching the second wild card spot. They swept the Baltimore Orioles in two games in their AL Wild Card Series. With the ALDS coming up, here are the three top bats for the Yankees staff to be familiar with.
Three Royals Hitters for Yankees Pitching to Worry About
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
One of the main reasons why the Royals are in the postseason is the bat of Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals shortstop sits near the top of the order, usually in the two-spot.
His ability to put the ball in play, create activity on the bases, and generate runs is a huge contribution to the lineup.
Witt finished the regular season with an AL-leading .332 batting average, a .389 on-base percentage, and a .588 slugging percentage. The infielder had 109 RBI on 211 hits, and 32 home runs. He’s come around to score 125 times.
When watching Witt, one thing that jumps out is his heavy pull-side tendencies power-wise. Spray charts will confirm a mass majority of his home runs being to left field, left center, and straight away center field. He actually is 32.3% pull-side, 28.1% opposite field, and 39.6% straight-away.
Witt has extreme power and a proven ability to hit the ball out of the park. He’s maxed at a 116.9 mph exit velocity this season. The righty is also a contact guy who can get the bat out for singles.
Being on base often is a big edge for Witt and the Royals. His speed and baserunning IQ frequently get him into scoring position, with 31 stolen bases on the year.
C Salvador Perez
Salvador Perez is a veteran and one of the best offensive catchers in the game. His consistency at and behind the plate is a huge contributing factor to the success of the Royals. Not to mention, Perez has postseason and World Series experience with the club.
Perez is a reliable and experienced clean-up hitter for the Royals. This year, he slashed .271/.330/.456. He recorded 160 hits, 27 home runs, and 104 RBI. the 6’3” 255-pounder rakes from the right side with pull-side power.
Perez is 46.7% on the pull side, higher than opposite and straight away. The catcher is a primary fastball hitter, and takes advantage of zone-hanging breaking balls. He makes hard contact and finds a way to score runners.
1B/DH Vinnie Pasquantino
Vinnie Pasquantino hits from the left side and platoons at first base and designated hitter. The lefty usually sits in the three-hole spot. He’s one of many sizeable players on this Royals team. Standing 6’4” and 245 lbs, the first baseman fills the batter’s box and protects the zone at all costs.
Pasquantino is very aggressive and is a pitch spoiler. He can extend out to go up the middle or keep his hands in well to drive to the opposite field. The lefty has 130 hits on the year with 19 home runs and 97 RBI.
The first baseman launches to right field often while spraying singles across the field map. His left-handed bat is fairly dependable and compliments the top portion of the lineup well. He often looks for the fastball but takes full advantage of off-speed and breaking pitches.
These three hitters are the meat and potatoes of a hefty Royals lineup. Yankees pitchers need to know the nature of these bats and the common trends surrounding their game to make it past Kansas City to the ALCS.
Photo Credit: © Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
