Royals earn AL wild card, first playoff appearance since 2015

ATLANTA – The Kansas City Royals completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Major League history on Friday night, clinching an American League wild card despite losing 3-0 to the Atlanta Braves.

A year ago, the Royals tied a franchise record with 106 losses. Now they’re heading to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series.

“We’re so proud of everyone,” said shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., the face of the revived franchise. “This is just the beginning of something special.”

The celebration was postponed by a masterful performance by Atlanta pitcher Max Fried. But the Royals finally popped the champagne corks in the visitors clubhouse at Truist Park as the Minnesota Twins were eliminated with a 7-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

“This is not how we ideally wanted it,” Witt said. “But we’re here. We did it. We are so proud of each other. We can’t let one game define our season.”

Under second-year manager Matt Quatraro, Kansas City has become the first team in baseball history to make the playoffs after posting such a dismal record last season.

Since the expansion era began in 1961, the Royals have become just the third team to advance to the postseason, after losing at least 100 games the year before.

The Twins earned a wild card in 2017 after going 59-103 a year earlier, and the 2020 Florida Marlins qualified for a wild card during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, which came after a 57-105 debacle .

The Royals quickly fell on hard times after winning back-to-back AL pennants in 2014 and 2015 and their first World Series title in 30 years. They hadn’t posted a winning season since their championship run, lost at least 100 games in three of the past six, and were a laughing stock just a year ago.

That all changed this season with a team led by Witt, who became the first shortstop in Major League history with multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs and 30 steals.

“You can’t help but be proud,” said general manager JJ Picollo. “It was a struggle all year long. We overcame a lot of adversity.”

The Royals have struggled, enduring a pair of seven-game losing streaks.

It didn’t stop them in the end.

“We had some adversity here in the last month of the season,” Picollo said. “But this is a tough, resilient group and we got through it and here we are celebrating this moment.”

Witt tops the majors with 210 hits and a .332 batting average, along with 32 home runs, 109 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.

Veteran catcher Salvador Perez is also having a huge offensive season with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. The Royals made the playoffs even after losing first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who had 97 RBIs before breaking his right thumb and undergoing surgery.

There’s a chance Pasquantino could return during the playoffs if the Royals make an extended run.

Amazingly, Picollo didn’t have to break the bank to build a small-market winner.

The players who led Kansas City to heights not seen in nearly a decade were either on the team last year and simply needed a little more time to grow, or were free agent acquisitions and trade acquisitions that highlighted Picollo’s baseball savvy.

Just look at the rotation.

Seth Lugo, who is 16-9 with a 3.03 ERA, signed a modest three-year, $45 million free agent deal. Michael Wacha signed a similar two-year, $32 million deal and is 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA.

Cole Ragans has contributed 11 wins with 223 strikeouts after being acquired in a trade from the Texas Rangers last season. Brady Singer bounced back from a disappointing 2023 and Michael Lorenzen is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in six starts since arriving just before the trade deadline.

The bullpen has also been completely rebuilt, with Lucas Erceg earning 11 saves since the Royals acquired him in a trade with Milwaukee.

Owner John Sherman said he was happy that Kansas City fans have another winning team to cheer for.

“I remember we talked about this a lot, maybe in spring training, that we just want to play meaningful baseball in August and September and have a chance to play in October,” Sherman said. “Here we are.”

No one seems to be having more fun than Witt, who is putting together a historic season after signing an 11-year, $288.7 million deal to serve as the cornerstone of the franchise.

“I remember we talked about this a lot, maybe in spring training, that all we want to do is play meaningful baseball in August and September and get a chance to play in October. Here we are.”

Royals owner John Sherman

The son of longtime big league pitcher Bobby Witt is the first player in Major League history with multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the Majors. According to advanced statistics, he is not only one of the best defensemen in baseball, but also one of the fastest players.

“He’s the best player in baseball,” Ragans said recently. “A special talent, a special person.”

While fans in Kansas City have watched Witt’s stardom blossom for several seasons, his coming out party might have taken place this summer during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, not far from where he grew up in Colleyville, Texas.

Witt reached the finals before losing 14-13 to the Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez in a dramatic showdown that came down to the final swings.

Now Witt can look forward to an even bigger stage.

The postseason.