AL Central: Who is the top right fielder?
By Brett Pnazek
No. 2: Alex Rios (Kansas City Royals)
Mar 4, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Alex Rios (15) hits an RBI double in the third inning during a spring training baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
2014 Stats
Batting Average: .280
Home Runs: 4
Runs Batted In: 54
Steals: 17
Offensive Wins Above Replacement: .8
Defensive Wins Above Replacement: -.8
Rios is No. 2 on the list and was under consideration for the top spot but his loss of power is troubling.
He managed only four home runs in Texas in a full season after hitting six in only 47 games the year before. He is still a good bet for a solid batting average and steal the occasional base as he did 21 times last year. Rios also fits in with the Royals as they lack home run power and rely more on small ball.
Rios is no different than the other guys on this list as he is a plus OWar and a negative DWar. He doesn’t have a strong arm which helps the negative rating. His range though is probably the best as he still has speed to cover more ground than the rest.
The Royals’ right fielder could bat anywhere from the two-spot to the six-spot in the lineup. If Rios shows that he has regained some of the pop it’s not inconceivable that he bats in the Top 3 of the lineup. Rios signed a one-year contract this offseason with a mutual option for 2016. This means that if the Royals fall out of contention he’d be a viable candidate to be traded if his numbers are solid.
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