Royals Roundup, Oct 29: Gomez's AFL Debut, Yost's Secret, 2026 Infield

[Royals Keep]

Here is some of the latest Royals analysis and history from around the internet. The roundup covers Angeibel Gomez's AFL performance, Ned Yost's leadership, 2026 infield grades, bullpen struggles, Kevin Appier's legacy, and potential 2027 bullpen additions.

• 17-year-old Royals prospect Gomez showing off his 'incredible talent' in AFL (MLB.com). Notes that 17-year-old Royals prospect Angeibel Gomez is impressing in the Arizona Fall League with a .906 OPS and elite sprint speed, despite being significantly younger than most players, and highlights his adjustment ability and potential as assessed by coaches and scouts.
• He won the World Series as a manager. This is his secret ingredient to winning a title (The Athletic $$$). Argues that Ned Yost's emphasis on mental preparation and team culture was key to the Royals' back-to-back World Series appearances in 2015 and 2017.
• Grading every Royals infielder reveals who stood out in 2026 (Kings of Kauffman). Notes that the Kansas City Royals' infield earned the highest grade (A) in 2026 due to strong defensive performances, including four Gold Glove nominees, despite the team's overall 69-93 record; highlights Bobby Witt Jr.'s 7.0 fWAR and Carter Jensen's .790 OPS and 27 home runs.
• The Royals can’t spend their way to a better bullpen (Royals Review). Argues that the Royals' 2026 bullpen struggles, marked by a 5.07 ERA and 26 blown saves, cannot be fixed by spending heavily on free agents, citing past failures like Will Smith and Chris Stratton's 5.98 ERA in 2024, and highlights the Brewers and Rays' success in building effective bullpens through diverse, lower-cost acquisition methods.
• Looking back at Kevin Appier (Royals Review). Looks back at Kevin Appier, noting his 1987 draft by the Royals, 16-year MLB career with 169 wins, 2,600 innings, 55 bWAR, and his overlooked contributions despite being one of the top pitchers of the 1990s.
• 3 low-cost acquisitions who could help rebuild the Royals bullpen for 2027 (Kings of Kauffman). Notes three low-cost bullpen acquisition targets for the Royals in 2027, including A.J. Puk's strikeout potential, Taylor Clarke's return as a possible setup man, and Yuki Matsui's strong 2026 performance despite command issues.