The Kansas City Royals, coming off a playoff berth in 2024, had high hopes for the 2025 season. Unfortunately for them, they fell short of consecutive playoff berths, but that doesn’t mean that the season was a complete wash. Some players had the best seasons of their careers. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and closer Carlos Estevez had great seasons, but first-time All-Star Maikel Garcia shined the brightest.
Garcia has been a pleasant surprise for the Royals. A team that not long ago was in a nine-year playoff drought now has an upside, even while missing the playoffs this year. The 25-year-old has made quite the impact for the Royals this season. The first-time All-Star had a WAR of 5.8, which puts him on par with some of Major League Baseball’s brightest stars, including Francisco Lindor, José Ramírez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and more.
In his second full season in the Majors, Garcia saw a significant jump in his batting average too, going from .231 last season to .286 this season. Along with that, he made a big jump in his on-base percentage, which went from .281 last season to an impressive .351 this season.
Garcia also had an .800 OPS, while only striking out 84 times, putting him in the 93rd percentile for K%, which is impressive for a player these days. Though he has not seen as good of a season on the base paths, stealing 37 bases last year to only stealing 23 this year, the Royals love the production with his bat.
On a solid Royals roster with players like Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez and Pasquantino, Garcia finds himself almost leading the team in multiple major statistics. He is second in hits with 170, second in doubles with 39, second in stolen bases with 23, the most walks at 61 and second-least strikeouts with 84.
Additionally, Garcia is valuable because of his versatility, especially defensively. He has played five different positions this season, including second base, shortstop, third base, right field and center field. Garcia primarily played third base and has been great at it, as he currently leads all American League third basemen in fielding percentage, putouts and second in assists for the season. Garcia is also in the 99th percentile for range amongst all fielders and in the 97th percentile for fielding run value.
Consistency is going to be key for Garcia, though. Players can have great “one hit wonder” seasons all the time, and next year he will be on a lot more scouting reports. Teams are going to pitch him differently and they’re not going to want him on the bases.
Don’t get it twisted though, as the Royals have found themselves a great player in Garcia. With him, Witt Jr. and Pasquantino all being in their 20s, the future is certainly bright.
