Look, I get it. If you just glance at the standings, the 2025 Kansas City Royals look like the definition of "mid." A final record of 82-80. Third place in the American League Central. No champagne showers, no October miracle. Basically, they were the baseball equivalent of a plain cheeseburger—reliable, but not exactly something you’re going to write home about.
But honestly? If you’re only looking at the win-loss column, you’re missing the actual story hidden in the Kansas City Royals stats.
People keep saying this team took a step back after that 2024 playoff run. I don't buy it. When you actually dig into the numbers from this past season, you see a team that was fighting through some weird statistical anomalies and a starting rotation that, for a good chunk of the year, was actually holding the whole thing together with duct tape and grit. This wasn't a collapse. It was a grind.
The Bobby Witt Jr. Factor: Beyond the Triple Slash
We have to start with Bobby. Obviously.
Everyone wants to talk about the .295 batting average or the 23 home runs, and yeah, those are great. But what’s wild is how he’s evolving. In 2025, Witt finished with 184 hits and 99 runs scored. He played 157 games. That’s the kind of availability you just don't see from superstars anymore. He’s becoming the ultimate "floor" for this franchise. Even when the rest of the lineup was struggling to hit a beach ball—which happened more than we’d like to admit—Witt was there.
He also swiped 38 bags. That’s a slight dip from his peak, but it’s intentional. He’s picking his spots better. He isn't just running to run; he’s running to score. His OPS sat at .852, which is elite for a shortstop who plays Gold Glove-caliber defense. If you think he had a "down" year because he didn't hit 30 homers, you’re looking at the wrong numbers. His 10.4 fWAR over the last couple of seasons puts him in a room with guys like Mickey Mantle. That's not hyperbole. That’s the data.
Pitching: The Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans Rollercoaster
The rotation was... a lot.
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Seth Lugo was supposed to be the steady hand, the guy who just gives you six innings of three-run ball every single time out. And for 26 starts, he kind of was. He ended 2025 with an 8-7 record and a 4.15 ERA. Not world-beating, but he ate 145.1 innings. The problem? That back injury in late September. Losing your veteran anchor right when you're trying to claw back into the Wild Card race is a Mike Tyson-level gut punch.
Then you’ve got Cole Ragans.
Cole is the most frustratingly brilliant pitcher I’ve watched in a long time. The Kansas City Royals stats show he had a 4.67 ERA across 13 starts, which sounds mediocre until you see the strikeouts. 98 K’s in 61.2 innings! That is a ridiculous 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s got some of the best "stuff" in the American League, but the consistency just wasn't there in 2025. He was either striking out the side or walking the bases loaded. There was no middle ground.
- Michael Wacha: Stayed remarkably consistent with 126 strikeouts.
- Kris Bubic: Quietly posted an 8-7 record with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts.
- Noah Cameron: The surprise of the year, winning 9 games with a sub-3.00 ERA.
Honestly, if Bubic and Cameron hadn't stepped up the way they did, this team finishes ten games under .500. The fact that the Royals stayed in the hunt until September is a testament to the depth they’ve built in the farm system.
Vinnie Pasquantino and the Power Vacuum
Vinnie P is the heart of the "Pasquatch" movement, and he delivered the power this year. 32 home runs. 113 RBIs. Those are "Big 3" type numbers.
But here is where the stats get kind of ugly. Behind Vinnie and Salvy (who still managed 30 homers at age 35, which is insane), the cliff was steep. Maikel Garcia hit .286, which is great for setting the table, but the team's OPS against fastballs was bottom-tier.
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According to some deep-dive metrics from the 2025 season, the Royals were 21st in the league in batting average against heaters. You can't survive in the modern MLB if you can't catch up to 96 mph. They were also 7th in hitting into double plays. It felt like every time they got two runners on, a ground ball to shortstop ended the threat. It’s hard to win games when you’re constantly killing your own momentum.
Why the 82-80 Record is Deceiving
The Royals went 10-3 against the White Sox. They went 4-2 against the Orioles. But they went 0-6 against the Yankees.
That tells me this is a team that beats up on the weak and struggles against the elite. They finished 26-22 in Interleague play, which is respectable. But they went 4-9 against the Tigers. That’s the division rival they need to leapfrog, and they couldn't do it.
The defense remained a bright spot. They aren't making the silly errors that plagued the 2023 season. They’re fundamentally sound, they just need one more consistent bat in the middle of that order. Jonathan India was a nice addition, but a .233 average wasn't exactly the spark the front office was hoping for when they traded Brady Singer for him.
What This Means for 2026
If you’re a Royals fan, you shouldn't be discouraged by these Kansas City Royals stats. You should be hungry.
The core is there. Witt is a superstar. Pasquantino is a legitimate power threat. The pitching staff has high-upside arms like Ragans and steady veterans. The path forward is pretty clear, even if it isn't easy.
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First, the coaching staff has to fix the approach against fastballs. You can't have a whole roster "looking for breaking balls" and getting blown away by average heaters. That’s a philosophical shift that needs to happen in spring training.
Second, the bullpen needs a closer who doesn't make every ninth inning feel like a heart attack. Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez had their moments, but the "save by committee" approach usually ends in tears.
Finally, keep an eye on the health of the rotation. If Seth Lugo’s back is a long-term issue, the Royals are going to have to dive back into the trade market. They can’t rely on Noah Cameron catching lightning in a bottle twice.
Actionable Insights for Following the Royals:
- Watch the K-BB%: For pitchers like Cole Ragans, ignore the ERA. If his walk rate drops, he’s an All-Star.
- Track OPS vs. Fastballs: This is the "hidden" stat that will determine if the offense takes the next step in 2026.
- Monitor Vinnie’s Health: He is the only true protection Witt has in that lineup. If he misses time, the whole offense stalls.
The window isn't closing. It’s barely even open. This 2025 season was a reality check, a "sophomore slump" for a rebuilding franchise that got a taste of success a year early. Now, they know exactly where the holes are. The numbers don't lie, and right now, they're saying this team is one big off-season away from being a real problem for the rest of the AL Central.