Is Massey part of the Royals' Future?
Since the departure of Whit Merrifield, the Kansas City Royals have struggled to find a long-term replacement at second base. Although Merrifield has been gone for just two seasons, the team has faced challenges in securing a dependable option for the position. Over this period, the Royals have experimented with various players, including Nicky Lopez, Chris Owings, and Nick Loftin. Despite being part of the 2022 and 2023 rosters, Massey has not been able to firmly establish himself at the position, due to ongoing competition from other players.
In the most recent offseason, the Royals added Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson to their roster. While these additions were not intended to replace Massey, they were meant to provide depth. General Manager J.J. Picollo explained the strategy: “He’s a player we’ve had a lot of interest in over the last couple of years, and when we thought about the offseason, we were thinking about how we need to put a team together and what we need. And that’s a full roster, a deep roster. The more versatility you can get, the better off you’re going to be. … With Garrett, we’re getting somebody who can play the infield, somebody who can play the outfield, and who fits the right-handed piece for us.
“There’s a speed element to his game, and he got on base at a high percentage last year. These are all things that we were targeting through the offseason.” Frazier’s role was similarly focused on providing depth: "Having five left-handed bats was important to us,” Picollo said. “So there’s a way to make this all work. The season’s going to bring a lot of bumps in the road, and the big one that I think about is injury. You lose somebody for a month, and that month may be the difference between making the playoffs or not. We were short on left-handed bats, and having the ability to put out lineups that match up well night after night was crucial. Versatility was important in this case.”
Despite the influx of new players, Massey has managed to solidify his position at second base. The 26-year-old has demonstrated some power at the plate, hitting 15 home runs in 129 games last season and 10 so far this season. Alongside his home run production, Massey is currently batting .267 with 60 hits in 65 games, and his performance is expected to improve as the season progresses. Defensively, Massey plays solid infield, a quality the Royals value highly.
During spring training, Massey also played some at third base, which he views as an opportunity to enhance his versatility. “It gives me a little bit of experience and gives the coach different options,” Massey said. “One of the things I looked at is, ‘How can I make myself a better asset for the team?’ If you can find a way to have 26 guys who are really elite assets, you’re going to win more games. That’s what we’re trying to do here.” Massey’s defensive capabilities are promising; he has demonstrated good range and has made notable plays in the minor leagues, including earning a Gold Glove award with the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2021. While it may be tempting to compare his minor league performance to his big league play, it’s worth noting his potential to excel defensively as he gains more experience.
Looking ahead, Massey’s long-term status at second base for the Royals is not yet certain. The team has several prospects in the pipeline, such as Nick Loftin and Peyton Wilson. Although Loftin has big league experience, he has struggled at the plate, batting just .199 in 55 games this season and holding a career average of .236. Given the team's current approach and less patience with underperforming players, Loftin's future with the Royals is uncertain. Drafted in the 2020 CB-A round as the 32nd overall pick, Loftin's tenure with the Royals may be coming to an end.
As for Massey, while it is unclear how he fits into the Royals' long-term plans, he has shown the potential to become an above-average infielder. His contributions could make him a strong candidate for the Royals to consider as a long-term solution at second base.
