YOUTH INFILTRATION YOUTH INFILTRATION A NEW

By Logan Jones, Manager-Media Relations, Kansas City Royals

Zack Greinke, a 19-year veteran and six-time All-Star who recently inked a one-year deal to return to the Royals for 2023, spoke about his experience playing alongside this group of young talent during his press conference in February.

“That was probably the most fun I’ve had in a while,” Greinke said.

“The players were fun to be around, the young guys. They’re just happy to be playing, trying their hardest, trying really hard to get better. When we did go on a couple of win streaks, you could tell how much fun it’s going to be if the team ends up doing good this year.

In doing so, he became the first player in the Modern Era (since 1900) to have his first career hit be a go-ahead extra-base knock in the 8th inning or later on Opening Day.

His Opening Day heroics were only compounded by the fact that he became the youngest player in Royals history to make his Major League debut on Opening Day, as he was just 21 years, 297 days “old.”

“It was a dream come true,” Witt Jr. said postgame. “Truly. This is the day I’ve been waiting for my whole life. Now it’s here. I just want to keep doing it.”

From Game 1 to Game 162, there was no slowing down for Witt Jr.

He went on to become just the fifth player in Royals history to put together a 20-homer/20-steal season, joining elite company in Jeff Francoeur, Carlos Beltrán, Bo Jackson and Amos Otis.

He didn’t exactly stop after 20 steals, however. The speedy infielder swiped 30 bases by season’s end and led the Majors with a 30.4 ft.-per-second average sprint speed, according to Statcast.

It’s going to be even better, because there are good personalities on the team.”

Among those personalities is rising star Bobby Witt

After reaching that elusive 20/20 milestone on Sept. 3, rookie teammate Kyle Isbel said, “it's incredible; I'm so proud of him…he's a really good player and an even better person.”

Despite an unforgettable rookie campaign, Witt Jr. still sees opportunities for growth heading into 2023.

“I think I personally could’ve done better,” Witt Jr. said in an offseason interview.

“I always think there’s room for improvement each and every year.”

While Witt Jr. was etching his name into the record books, teammates MJ Melendez and Vinnie Pasquantino were making their own waves following midseason debuts.

Melendez appeared in 129 games for the Royals in 2022 and hit 18 home runs, which ranked 6th among all rookies. With that, Witt Jr. and Melendez became the first set of first-year teammates in Major League history to each hit at least 18 home runs.

Pasquantino recorded 10 home runs in 72 games and was named American League Player of the Week for Aug. 8-14, a stretch in which he amassed an AL-best 4 home runs and 6 RBI.

The first shot of Pasquantino’s budding career came

“The energy level, the excitement, the positivity that I've heard from everybody has been off the charts, which has been really refreshing to me and kind of energized me about getting going,” Q said at the MLB Winter Meetings in December.

Players, coaches and fans alike are all eagerly awaiting a rejuvenated season of Royals baseball.

“It’s going to be different,” Pasquantino said during the Royals Rally in February.

“I’m not exactly sure how yet, but it’s going to be a