Is Drew Waters in troubled waters?


Coming out of the University of Georgia, the once number one prospect in the Atlanta Braves minor league system showed plenty of upside while a member of the Braves Double-A affiliate. The Georgia native was named to the 2021 Futures game. Many Royals fans seem to think that the Royals made a poor decision to acquire Waters along with minor league pitcher Andrew Hoffmann and infielder CJ Alexander from the Braves in 2022 for the 35th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Waters to this point has been half the player that Kansas City had hoped he would be. The 24-year old's defense has been great but not exactly a gold glove caliber. Although Waters has shown he can play the outfield everyday, that doesn't mean he can be a reliable bat in the team's lineup day in and day out. Last season with the Royals, Waters played in 98 games, with 302 at bats under his belt. In his second season with the big league club, he played in a combined 130 games with 398 at bats. The 24-year old's stats in 130 games are disappointing for a former number one prospect. Waters has a career batting average of  .231. That is 19 points below the big league average of .250. The outfielder in 98 games played last season hit for a  .228 batting average with 8 homers and 32 runs batted in. Unfortunately for Waters, Kansas City has a crowded outfield with MJ Melendez, Nelson Velázquez, Edward Olivares, Kyle Isbel and Dairon Blanco. The team might add an outfielder via free agency this off-season as well. According to Royals blogger Kevin O'Brian, Drew Waters is the favorite to roam centerfield next season: "Waters is still a wild card and needs development at the Major League level (his late start to the 2023 season certainly didn’t help). That said, I think the Royals are willing to continue to be patient with Waters for at least one more season." I would certainly like to agree with O'Brian's statement, this post- Dayton Moore era doesn't seem to have as much patience with players as Moore did. In an interview with Royals beat Anne Roger's, JJ Picollo made it very clear that the team will be very active in free agency and possibly trades: "The level of patience we’ve shown, the opportunity we’ve given guys, is adequate, but we need to start thinking more about what we need to do to enhance this roster and not be as cognizant of who’s on the roster right now,” Picollo said. “If we can get better, we’re going to get better, and that’s ultimately the goal of our front office.” Although pitching is the team's top priority this offseason, the Royals might make some moves involving the outfield including moving on from Drew Waters and Edward Olivares. The outfield market this offseason is loaded with potential players the Royals could target such as Whit Merrifield, Michael A Taylor, Mark Chanha, and possibly Jurickson Profar. It's not a guarantee Kansas City will move on from Waters, but it is definitely on the table for a team that will be looking to improve in many ways this offseason. With the team not saying exactly whether or not they will move on from Waters, the outfielder must have a strong spring training at the plate to show he can be a bat the Royals can rely on day in and day out and remain a reliable defensive player too. 


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