2020 Kansas City Royals season

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2020 Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals Insignia.svg
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record26–34 (.433)
Divisional place4th
Other information
Owner(s)John Sherman
General manager(s)Dayton Moore
Manager(s)Mike Matheny
Local televisionFox Sports Kansas City
(Ryan Lefebvre, Jeff Montgomery, Rex Hudler, Steve Physioc)
Local radioKCSP 610 AM
(Denny Matthews, Steve Stewart, Rex Hudler, Ryan Lefebvre, Steve Physioc, Jeff Montgomery)
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The 2020 Kansas City Royals season was the 52nd season for the franchise, and their 48th at Kauffman Stadium. The 2020 season was the first under new owner John Sherman, whose purchase of the team was approved by the MLB on November 21, 2019.[1] It was also the first season under manager Mike Matheny, replacing Ned Yost after having a nine-season tenure.[2] The team finished with a 26–34 win-loss record, landing them fourth place in the American League Central.

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[3] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[4] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.[5]

Offseason[]

  • November 2, 2019: Alex Gordon (OF) elected free agency.[6]
  • November 5, 2019: Trevor Oaks (P) claimed off waivers by San Francisco.[7]
  • November 6, 2019: Jacob Barnes (P) released.[8]
  • November 20, 2019: Jorge Bonifacio (OF) (released 11/25), Nick Dini (C), Conner Greene (P), and (P) designated for assignment.[9][10]
  • November 20, 2019: Foster Griffin (P), Carlos Hernandez (P), Nick Heath (OF), and Jeison Guzmán (SS) added to 40-man roster.[11]
  • December 2, 2019: Cheslor Cuthbert (1B/3B), Humberto Arteaga (INF), Jesse Hahn (P), and Erick Mejia (INF) elected free agency.[12][13]
  • December 12, 2019: Selected Stephen Woods from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 draft.[14]
  • December 13, 2019: Signed free agent Jesse Hahn (P) to a major league contract.[15]
  • December 23, 2019: Traded Cristian Perez (INF) to the New York Yankees for Chance Adams (P).[16]
  • December 27, 2019: Finalized signing of free agent Maikel Franco.[17]
  • January 22, 2020: Signed free agent Alex Gordon (OF) and designated Heath Fillmyer (P) for assignment.[18]
  • March 25, 2020: Selected the contract of Trevor Rosenthal (P) and designated Eric Skoglund (P) for assignment.[19]

Season standings[]

American League Central[]

  • v
  • t
AL Central 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Minnesota Twins 36 24 0.600 — 24–7 12–17
Cleveland Indians 35 25 0.583 1 18–12 17–13
Chicago White Sox 35 25 0.583 1 18–12 17–13
Kansas City Royals 26 34 0.433 10 15–15 11–19
Detroit Tigers 23 35 0.397 12 12–15 11–20


American League Wild Card[]

  • v
  • t
Division Leaders 		W L Pct.
Tampa Bay Rays 40 20 0.667
Oakland Athletics 36 24 0.600
Minnesota Twins 36 24 0.600


  • v
  • t
Division 2nd Place 		W L Pct.
Cleveland Indians 35 25 0.583
New York Yankees 33 27 0.550
Houston Astros 29 31 0.483


  • v
  • t
Wild Card teams
(Top two qualify for postseason) 		W L Pct. GB
Chicago White Sox 35 25 0.583 +3
Toronto Blue Jays 32 28 0.533 —
Seattle Mariners 27 33 0.450 5
Los Angeles Angels 26 34 0.433 6
Kansas City Royals 26 34 0.433 6
Baltimore Orioles 25 35 0.417 7
Boston Red Sox 24 36 0.400 8
Detroit Tigers 23 35 0.397 8
Texas Rangers 22 38 0.367 10


Record against opponents[]

2020 American League Records
  • v
  • t

Source: AL Standings Head-to-head

Team CWS CLE DET KC MIN NL
Chicago — 2–8 9–1 9–1 5–5 10–10
Cleveland 8–2 — 7–3 5–5 3–7 12–8
Detroit 1–9 3–7 — 4–6 4–6 11–7
Kansas City 1–9 5–5 6–4 — 5–5 9–11
Minnesota 5–5 7–3 6–4 5–5 — 13–7

Game log[]

2020 game log: 26–34 (Home: 15–15; Away: 11–19)
July: 3–5 (Home: 0–1; Away: 3–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record Streak
1 July 24 @ Indians 0–2 Bieber (1–0) Duffy (0–1) Hand (1) 0–1 L1
2 July 25 @ Indians 3–2 (10) Barlow (1–0) Karinchak (0–1) Holland (1) 1–1 W1
3 July 26 @ Indians 2–9 Carrasco (1–0) Bolaños (0–1) — 1–2 L1
4 July 27 @ Tigers 14–6 Griffin (1–0) Funkhouser (0–1) — 2–2 W1
5 July 28 @ Tigers 3–4 Alexander (1–0) Zuber (0–1) Jiménez (3) 2–3 L1
6 July 29 @ Tigers 4–5 Garcia (1–0) Kennedy (0–1) Jiménez (4) 2–4 L2
7 July 30 @ Tigers 5–3 Holland (1–0) Cisnero (1–1) Rosenthal (1) 3–4 W1
8 July 31 White Sox 2–3 Keuchel (2–0) Bubic (0–1) Colomé (1) 3–5 L1
August: 11–16 (Home: 7–6; Away: 4–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record Streak
9 August 1 White Sox 5–11 Foster (1–0) Bolaños (0–2) Heuer (1) 3–6 L2
10 August 2 White Sox 2–9 Cease (1–1) Barlow (1–1) — 3–7 L3
11 August 3 @ Cubs 0–2 Mills (2–0) Duffy (0–2) Wick (2) 3–8 L4
12 August 4 @ Cubs 4–5 Hendricks (2–1) Singer (0–1) Ryan (1) 3–9 L5
13 August 5 Cubs 1–6 Darvish (2–1) Bubic (0–2) — 3–10 L6
14 August 6 Cubs 13–2 Keller (1–0) Chatwood (2–1) — 4–10 W1
15 August 7 Twins 3–2 Holland (2–0) Wisler (0–1) Rosenthal (2) 5–10 W2
16 August 8 Twins 9–6 Zuber (1–1) Thorpe (0–1) Rosenthal (3) 6–10 W3
17 August 9 Twins 4–2 Singer (1–1) Berríos (1–2) Barlow (1) 7–10 W4
18 August 11 @ Reds 5–6 (10) Sims (1–0) Staumont (0–1) — 7–11 L1
19 August 12 @ Reds 5–4 Keller (2–0) Miley (0–2) Rosenthal (4) 8–11 W1
— August 14 @ Twins Postponed (inclement weather). Rescheduled to August 15.
20 August 15 (1) @ Twins 2–4 (7) Duffey (1–0) Speier (0–1) Rogers (5) 8–12 L1
21 August 15 (2) @ Twins 4–2 (7) Duffy (1–2) Berríos (1–3) Rosenthal (5) 9–12 W1
22 August 16 @ Twins 2–4 Dobnak (4–1) Singer (1–2) Romo (3) 9–13 L1
23 August 17 @ Twins 1–4 Smeltzer (2–0) Bubic (0–3) — 9–14 L2
— August 18 Reds Postponed (COVID-19). Rescheduled to August 19.
24 August 19 (1) Reds 4–0 (7) Keller (3–0) Castillo (0–3) Rosenthal (6) 10–14 W1
25 August 19 (2) Reds 0–5 (7) Bauer (3–0) Harvey (0–1) — 10–15 L1
26 August 21 Twins 7–2 Duffy (2–2) Odorizzi (0–1) — 11–15 W1
27 August 22 Twins 2–7 Dobnak (5–1) Singer (1–3) — 11–16 L1
28 August 23 Twins 4–5 Clippard (1–0 Bubic (0–4) Rogers (6) 11–17 L2
29 August 24 @ Cardinals 3–9 Flaherty (2–0) Keller (3–1) — 11–18 L3
30 August 25 @ Cardinals 5–4 Staumont (1–1) Gant (0–1) Rosenthal (7) 12–18 W1
31 August 26 @ Cardinals 5–6 Reyes (1–0) Rosario (0–1) — 12–19 L1
32 August 28 @ White Sox 5–6 Colomé (1–0) Kennedy (0–2) — 12–20 L2
33 August 29 @ White Sox 9–6 Newberry (1–0) Burdi (0–1) Hahn (1) 13–20 W1
34 August 30 @ White Sox 2–5 (10) Foster (3–0) Zuber (1–2) — 13–21 L1
35 August 31 Indians 2–1 Barlow (2–1) Karinchak (0–2) Holland (2) 14–21 W1
September: 12–13 (Home: 8–8; Away: 4–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record Streak
36 September 1 Indians 1–10 Plesac (2–1) Harvey (0–2) — 14–22 L1
37 September 2 Indians 0–5 McKenzie (2–0) Junis (0–1) — 14–23 L2
38 September 3 White Sox 6–11 Cease (5–2) Duffy (2–3) — 14–24 L3
39 September 4 White Sox 4–7 Heuer (2–0) Singer (1–4) Colomé (8) 14–25 L4
40 September 5 White Sox 3–5 Giolito (4–2) Bubic (0–5) Colomé (9) 14–26 L5
41 September 6 White Sox 2–8 Keuchel (6–2) Harvey (0–3) — 14–27 L6
42 September 7 @ Indians 2–5 Plesac (3–1) Keller (3–2) Hand (12) 14–28 L7
43 September 8 @ Indians 8–5 Holland (3–0) Cimber (0–1) Barlow (2) 15–28 W1
44 September 9 @ Indians 3–0 Duffy (3–3) Carrasco (2–4) Holland (3) 16–28 W2
45 September 10 @ Indians 11–1 Singer (2–4) Civale (3–5) — 17–28 W3
46 September 11 Pirates 4–3 Bubic (1–5) Brault (0–3) Holland (4) 18–28 W4
47 September 12 Pirates 7–4 Zimmer (1–0) Williams (1–7) Holland (5) 19–28 W5
48 September 13 Pirates 11–0 Keller (4–2) Kuhl (1–2) — 20–28 W6
49 September 15 @ Tigers 0–6 Boyd (2–6) Junis (0–2) — 20–29 L1
50 September 16 @ Tigers 4–0 Singer (3–4) Skubal (1–3) — 21–29 W1
51 September 18 @ Brewers 5–9 Rasmussen (1–0) Duffy (3–4) — 21–30 L1
52 September 19 @ Brewers 0–5 Burnes (4–0) Bubic (1–6) — 21–31 L2
53 September 20 @ Brewers 3–5 Lindblom (2–3) Keller (4–3) Hader (10) 21–32 L3
54 September 21 Cardinals 4–1 Staumont (2–1) Wainwright (5–2) Holland (6) 22–32 W1
55 September 22 Cardinals 0–5 Gomber (1–1) Singer (3–5) — 22–33 L1
56 September 23 Cardinals 12–3 Duffy (4–4) Martínez (0–3) — 23–33 W1
57 September 24 Tigers 8–7 Hahn (1–0) Alexander (2–3) Newberry (1) 24–33 W2
58 September 25 Tigers 3–2 Keller (5–3) Turnbull (4–4) Hahn (2) 25–33 W3
59 September 26 Tigers 3–4 Boyd (3–7) Hernández (0–1) Garcia (4) 25–34 L1
60 September 27 Tigers 3–1 Singer (4–5) Skubal (1–4) Hahn (3) 26–34 W1
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Royals team member

Roster[]

2020 Kansas City Royals
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager
  • 22 Mike Matheny

Coaches

Farm system[]

See also: Minor League Baseball

On June 30, 2020, Minor League Baseball announced that the 2020 season would not be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

Level Team League Manager
AAA Omaha Storm Chasers Pacific Coast League
AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals Texas League
A-Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks Carolina League
A Lexington Legends South Atlantic League
Rookie Burlington Royals Appalachian League
Rookie Idaho Falls Chukars Pioneer League
Rookie AZL Royals Arizona League
Rookie DSL Royals Dominican Summer League

References[]

  1. ^ "John Sherman Approved as New Royals Owner". espn.com. ESPN. November 21, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ^ Flanagan, Jeffrey (October 31, 2019). "Royals name Mike Matheny manager". mlb.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Worthy, Lynn (November 1, 2019). "Royals decline Alex Gordon's offer, makes veteran free agent". kansascity.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Reuter, Joel (November 5, 2019). "Giants: How can waiver claim Trevor Oaks help the team in 2020?". aroundthefoghorn.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Adams, Steve (November 6, 2019). "Royals release Jacob Barnes". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "Royals add four players to 40-man roster; Bonifacio, Dini among four DFA'd". foxsports.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Flanagan, Jeffrey (November 20, 2019). "Royals DFA Bonifacio, Dini among roster moves". mlb.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. ^ Kappel, Nick (November 20, 2019). "Royals add four players to 40-man roster". royals.mlblogs.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Foote, Jordan (December 2, 2019). "Royals: Cuthbert, Arteaga, Hahn, Mejia non-tendered". kingsofkauffman.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Rickman, Cody (December 3, 2020). "Kansas City Royals: Non-tendered bargain free agent targets for 2020". kckingdom.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  14. ^ Kappel, Nick (December 12, 2019). "Royals select Stephen Woods Jr. in Rule 5 draft". royals.mlblogs.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  15. ^ Flanagan, Jeffrey (December 13, 2019). "Royals re-sign Hahn to boost bullpen". mlb.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  16. ^ "Yankees Trade Chance Adams to Royals". mlbtraderumors.com. MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  17. ^ Polishuk, Mark (December 19, 2019). "Royals to sign Maikel Franco". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Alex Gordon Returning for 14th Season with Royals on One-Year Deal". ESPN. January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  19. ^ "Royals' Trevor Rosenthal: Contract Selected by Team". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  20. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.

External links[]

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