In this latest edition of our 2024 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Busts series, the team of focus will be the Kansas City Royals. The Royals have fairly low expectations for the new season. Although this is true, they have some solid sleepers for fantasy baseball this season. As a result, let’s discuss their top two sleepers and their biggest bust for the upcoming campaign.
Kansas City Royals Sleepers and Busts for 2024 Fantasy Baseball
Draft Day Sleepers
MJ Melendez, OF/C
Heading into the 2023 season, MJ Melendez was a clear breakout candidate for the Royals. Unfortunately, he failed to meet expectations and did not take a major step forward. In 148 games, he had 16 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .235 batting average. While those were not necessarily bad numbers, he was not a high-impact player in fantasy baseball. However, he has the potential to change that in 2024.
Melendez is entering just his third MLB season, and he still has plenty of time to improve. He is viewed as having plenty of potential for a reason, so he’s a player worth considering in the later rounds. The potential for him to be a 20 to 25-home run hitter is there, so let’s see if he can take that step this campaign for the Royals.
James McArthur, RP
James McArthur is a very interesting player to watch this season. Upon first glance, one may argue that his 2023 season was underwhelming, as he had a 4.63 ERA in 18 games for the Royals. However, what makes him a sleeper this season is how marvelously he completed his season. In his final 12 appearances, he allowed zero runs, zero walks, and just five hits in 16.1 innings pitched. That is simply dominant stuff.
Given how spectacularly McArthur finished out the year, he should receive plenty of chances to shine with the Royals in 2024. While expecting him to be that perfect again is unrealistic, he has the tools to be a high-impact reliever. Thus, give him a shot for your fantasy baseball club this campaign.
Draft Day Bust
Nelson Velazquez, OF
Nelson Velazquez proved to be a nice midseason addition to the Royals. In 40 games following his move to KC, he had a notable 14 home runs and 28 RBIs. Those were some impressive power numbers from the 25-year-old outfielder, and the hope is that he will build off it in 2024. While he certainly could, he also comes with some clear risks.
Velazquez certainly showed promise last season with his power. However, he also has struggled to hit for contact throughout his career. He had a .235 batting average last season and a .205 batting average in 2022. If he takes a step back in that regard in 2024, he could disappoint, especially if he does not maintain his current power.
Nevertheless, the Royals have some interesting players to keep an eye on in fantasy baseball this season. Melendez and McArthur could take significant steps forward this season. Meanwhile, Velazquez’s goal will be to prove that last season was not a fluke. We will need to wait and see how this trio performs with the Royals from here.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.