Kansas City Royals 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base

The Royals have struggled to find consistent production at second base in the JJ Picollo era.

In 2024, the Royals seemed to get solid production from the keystone with Michael Massey,  Nick Loftin, Garrett Hampson, Adam Frazier, and Maikel Garcia all splitting time at the position. According to FanGraphs, the Royals' second baseman ranked 18th in baseball with 1.8 fWAR, with Massey leading the way at 1.7 fWAR. Thus, when Kansas City acquired Jonathan India from the Reds last season, it was assumed that the Royals' production at second base would improve as well.

Unfortunately, that was far from the case. In 2025, the Royals ranked 28th in second-base fWAR, with a 0.0 mark. India led the way with a 0.4 fWAR, but that was a massive decline from his 2.9 fWAR in 2024 with the Reds. Furthermore, Massey had a -0.3 fWAR, and Loftin and Frazier combined for a 0.4 fWAR in 2025 (remember, Frazier didn't come until midseason). They also got middling production from Tyler Tolbert and Cavan Biggio at the position as well (combined -0.2 fWAR). 

The Royals seem okay running it back in 2026, hoping that India and Massey can bounce back to 2024 form. Kansas City could've non-tendered India, but they decided to bring him back for one more season. Massey isn't a free agent until 2029, but he's already 28 years old, and this is probably a crucial year for him if he wants to prove to Kansas City that he can be a long-term option. 

Let's break down the Royals' situation at second base in 2026 and what the depth in the organization looks like. 

Royals Second Basemen At a Glance

Starter: India
Backup: Massey
Depth: Loftin, Tolbert
Prospects: Peyton Wilson, Javi Vaz, Sam Kulasingam, Justin Johnson, Tyriq Kemp

Royals fWAR Ranking Last Year: 28th out of 30
Royals fWAR Projection This Year: 28th out of 30

The Good

A lot will be riding on India this year, as the Royals opted to bring him back on a one-year, $8 million deal. It seems expensive, especially since he not only posted a negative overall fWAR last year, but he also posted an 89 wRC+, a career-worst. That said, there are some promising signs this spring that hint that India will be able to put his lackluster first year in Kansas City behind him.

First off, manager Matt Quatraro admitted in the offseason that playing India in multiple positions had a negative effect. He pointed that out at the Winter Meetings back in December.

Last season, the Royals opted to let Massey be the everyday second baseman, and India rotated as a utility guy in left field and at third base at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, the move was disastrous for India, especially on defense. India posted a -5 FRV in 3B, and that poor defense carried to second base, as he posted a -4 FRV at the keystone. The poor defense seemed to have a mental impact on India's bat, and he ended up having his worst season at the Major League level.

Quatraro is intent on India being their regular second baseman, with Massey mixing in here and there based on matchups. So far this spring, it seems like that has helped India be in a better headspace in 2026. He's currently hitting .333 with a 1.206 OPS in 26 Cactus League plate appearances, and he's also showing some solid metrics in his Statcast summary this spring, via TJ Stats.

Plate discipline has always been an area where India rates highly, so what he's doing this spring isn't a surprise. However, his 90th EV and Max EV rank in the 77th and 72nd percentiles, respectively, and his barrel rate ranks in the 85th percentile. While it's unlikely that he transitions those numbers to the regular season, if he shows any improvement in exit velocity and barrel rate in 2026, he could end up producing a lot more at the plate this year compared to his first season in Kansas City.

Massey has also showcased solid skills this spring as well. That is encouraging to see, especially after his OPS went from .743 in 2024 to .581 last year. The former Illinois product is hitting .364 with a .962 OPS in 24 Cactus League plate appearances, and he is showcasing solid skills this spring, especially in terms of launching, pulling, and hitting the ball hard. 

Massey and India may not be great second basemen individually, which explains why Quatraro hasn't really given either guy the regular position for now. That said, they are showing promising signs for an offensive comeback in 2026. Furthermore, they should both be better defensively at second base this season, as long as they can stay healthy. 

The Bad

The problem at second is that there isn't much depth. Yes, India and Massey could be a nice combo, but they have a history of injuries, especially for Massey. In fact, Massey has been shut down for a little bit this spring due to a low-grade calf strain, according to MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers.

After Massey, the Royals don't have a whole lot of options at second to challenge India. Loftin has had a good spring, hitting .300 with a 1.000 OPS in 35 Cactus League plate appearances. However, he's limited defensively, and he probably fits better at third base or in left field. Tolbert is a little bit better defensively than Loftin, and he is a plus base-runner. Conversely, he may be more of a pinch-runner type than a guy who can play semi-regularly.

If Massey is expected to be out for a considerable amount of time, it wouldn't be surprising for the Royals to add Josh Rojas, who is primarily a third baseman but can play second base in a pinch. Rojas is hitting .258 with a .909 OPS this spring in 36 plate appearances.

In terms of prospects, there are some gritty, high-floor types, but no one is ready to be a major impact player at the MLB level this season.

Wilson has some power upside for a second baseman, but he strikes out way too much. Vaz is a high-contact hitter, but he offers no power and has been absent this spring, which is a sign he may be injured. Kulasingam is a gamer who offers a polished skill set at the plate and on the field. However, he hasn't showcased much in the power end this spring, as illustrated by his TJ Stats Statcast summary.

Johnson and Kemp are mid-round draft picks who played at Wake Forest and Baylor, respectively. However, they are long shots to see any playing time at the MLB level this year or next, and they are high-contact hitters who still have power questions, even for second basemen. 

The Bottom Line

The Royals traded for India back in 2024 because they don't really have many second-base options in the system beyond Massey. Thus, India seemed like a reasonable gamble that could become a long-term option if things worked out, or could allow them to move around if Massey did break out. Massey hasn't broken out, and India doesn't seem likely to stay in Kansas City beyond 2026.

Nonetheless, they still offer some upside and production potential in 2026, as long as they stay healthy.

I tend to believe more in India than in Massey, simply because India has a stronger proven track record. The 29-year-old infielder has a career fWAR of 7.9 in 659 games, and he had 100+ wRC+ marks in 2023 and 2024 in Cincinnati. Massey may be better served anyway as a player with 300-350 plate appearances per year. That could allow him to maintain his health and body a bit better over a full 162-game season.

Regardless, second base production for the Royals will ride on India and Massey in 2026. Should one of them get hurt or be tanked, they will likely need to trade for someone from outside the organization to fill that spot.

Perhaps Frazier for a third time?