Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski has quickly made his presence felt with the Kansas City Royals.
In doing so, Yastrzemski has carved his name into the history books. He belted his third leadoff homer in just 15 starts for the Royals, becoming the second fastest player to hit three leadoff homers with a new team since 1901. Rickey Henderson, who hit three leadoff homers in his first seven games with the Mariners in 2000, is the only player ahead of Yastrzemski.
Finding upgrades in the outfield was a priority for the Royals at the trade deadline. Royals outfielders had combined to produce a .205/.262/.306 batting line through July 31, hitting just 20 homers. They ranked last in the majors in hits (251), doubles (47), home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging.
Yastrzemski has done his part to improve the Royals’ lineup. He has produced a .229/.339/.625 batting line in his 59 plate appearances in Kansas City, hitting five homers and four doubles. Yastrzemski has continued to get on base, drawing nine walks with just nine strikeouts. His presence atop the lineup has set the table for shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and third baseman Mikael Garcia.
That production has already pushed Yastrzemski up the Royals’ leaderboard. His 0.8 fWAR is the second-best mark for any Royals outfielder, trailing only Kyle Isbel (1.2 fWAR). The difference is evident in the standings, as the Royals have moved within 2.5 games of the final wild-card spot entering Wednesday.
Likewise, Yastrzemski’s performance could pay off this offseason. He is slated to be a free agent and should generate plenty of interest due to his ability to get on base and decent power. As he has made an immediate impact, these few months may not be the only time he spends in a Royals uniform.
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