The 2024 Royals roster has the potential to be the best one in some time. Granted, that isn’t a high bar to clear. In our latest offseason series, we will analyze the depth of each position. What does the position look like in the big leagues? Does the team have any depth on the way in the minor leagues?
First up, let’s start with a position that doesn’t have a lot of change. First base might be one of the more top-heavy positions for the Royals. The team has a strong MLB option followed by players who haven’t seen their full potential quite yet. With that, we will start with the Major League first basemen, then highlight a couple of minor league guys.
The Major League Options
Starter: Vinnie pasquantino
The starting first baseman on the Royals is Vinnie’s job to lose at this point. He has one of the most complete bats on the whole roster and is leagues above the other first baseman on the team. He is projected to play in 136 games posting a slash of .276/.362/.483 with an OPS of .845. This would lead to a wRC+ of 128 — the best on the team ahead of Bobby Witt Jr’s. 120.
Health matters with Pasquantino as in the two seasons he has played in he has missed time due to injuries. His draft stock suffered some due to injury concerns as well. If he is healthy for a full season, the Royals may see a lot of “Pasquatch” this season. The offense could certainly use a boost in production and Pasquantino can provide that.
bench: Nick Pratto, nick Loftin
The backup role for first base is an interesting one as both backups will mostly be used elsewhere in the field. Pratto will be the main backup given he is a natural first baseman. The outfield is also jam-packed, meaning he will garner more time at first than we’ve seen recently. Pratto is in a weird spot as he showed flashes last season of being a good player. Then, that fizzled as the season went on. Pratto has an advanced approach at the plate that leads to more walks. Unfortunately, it also leads him to be more passive and take way too many strikes.
Pratto is projected to have a slash line of .213/.309/.380 for an OPS of .689. Once again, he is projected to have both a high walk rate (10.9 BB%) and a high K-rate (33.6 K%). He might only cap out as a backup, but if that is the case he would be a solid one to have as a stopgap.
Nick Loftin also factors in as a backup, mainly because he is a utility man by nature. Loftin showed in his cup of coffee last season that he could be a Major League bat, putting up a wRC+ of 118 in 68 plate appearances. Given he is a utility guy, he will only play first when Pratto is in the outfield and Vinnie is the Designated Hitter, which won’t happen often.
With the Major League first basemen covered let’s highlight some minor league guys.
Potential call-ups for 2024
CJ Alexander
A part of the trade that saw Drew Waters come to the Royals, Alexander was thought of as a throw-in given his age at the time of the trade. At the age of 27, Alexander is probably on the verge of getting his first at-bats in the Majors after a solid 2023 season in AAA. Alexander is mainly a power bat with little on-base ability, but last season’s ISO of .203 is intriguing. Alexander also has some positional flexibility playing third base but looks to pan out primarily as a first baseman.
Devin Mann
A part of the Ryan Yarbrough trade, Mann is another utility guy but has significant time at first base. The Royals may not need him to play first if he is called up, but he is a good option to play the position. He put up a good 2023 season in AAA with a final slash line of .253/.378/.473 and an OPS of .851.
These two players could see their first Major League at-bats this season if any of the Major League first basemen get injured. To round out this position here is the one player to keep an eye on in the future.
A Look into the Future
Brett Squires
He is an older prospect (23 years old) with only one season of pro ball under his belt. Last season for the Low-A Columbia Fireflies, Squires posted a wRC+ of 133 with a slash line of .263/.381/.430 — good for an OPS of .810. That isn’t bad for your first pro ball season, and Preston Farr has him as the 65th-ranked prospect in the system and the only first baseman to make the list.
That does it for the first base depth within the Royals. Overall, it is a top-heavy position. Vinnie Pasquantino could potentially be a top player at the position league-wide. The rest of the position is rounded out by a lot of unfulfilled potential. With that limited top-tier talent and a farm system lacking a top-50 organizational prospect at the position, it leads to an average group held up by one player.
Position Grade: B-