Royals 2012 Season Preview

    The Royals come into the 2012 season as the dark horse candidates to win the AL Central, led by Ned Yost the youngest team in baseball are poised to make a run at the top of the division.

CATCHERS
Salvador Perez
Perez started the 2011 season in Class AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals but he progressed and was called up to Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers. Due to injuries to Matt Treanor forced his callup in August, he finished the season with the Royals hitting .331 with 3 homeruns and 21 RBIs im just 39 games. Perez is seen as the favorite for the Opening Day starter.
Brayan Pena
Pena was mainly the backup catcher for Matt Treanor and is seen fighting for a spot as the backup catcher for 2012. In 79 games, he hit .248, 3 homeruns, and 24 RBIs.
Manny Pina
Pina started the year in AAA Omaha but was sent down to AA Northwest Arkansas when Perez was called up to Omaha. He was a September call-up, but he did see a week in the majors when Pena went on paternity leave. He played in only four games.

FIRST BASE
Eric Hosmer
Hosmer broke through to the Royals in May, and is seen to be a long term solution at first base. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. In 128 games, he hit .293 with 19 homeruns and 78 RBIs. Scouts say he has "Hall of Fame potential". He is a lock for the Opening Day Starter.

SECOND BASE
Johnny Giavotella
Giavotella started 2012 in Omaha and was called up in the late July and became the everyday second baseman. In 46 games, he hit .247 with 2 homeruns and 21 RBIs. He is the favorite to be the Opening Day second baseman.

SHORTSTOP
Alcides Escobar
Escobar was traded from Milwaukee to Kansas City in the Zack Greinke trade. He play almost every game this year (all but 4). He has superior defense and can make some amazing plays, he stuggled with the bat early but he really put it together late in the year. He will be the Opening Day shortstop.

THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas
Moustakas was called up in the middle of the year to great fanfare. He did not start off well, much like Escobar but then when he hit a .187 average on the year, he went on a complete tear to end the year. He finished the year with a .263 batting average with 5 homeruns and 30 RBIs. His development along with the rest of the team is key for a successful 2012 year. He will start on Opening Day.

OUTFIELD
LF Alex Gordon
Gordon had a breakout year in his first full season in left field. He won the Gold Glove award with a franchise record and Major League leading 20 outfield asstists. He hit .303 with 23 homeruns and 87 RBIs. He is a lock for Opening Day.

CF Lorenzo Cain
Cain, via the Cabrera trade, will most likely become the defacto everyday center fielder. In AAA Omaha, he hit .312 with 16 homeruns and 81 RBIs.

RF Jeff Francoeur
Francoeur signed a one year deal with the Royals before the 2011 season. He came in as the everyday right fielder and performed well enough to earn a two year extension with Kansas City. He had 16 outfield assists and was a finalist for the Right Field Gold Glove. He hit .285 with 20 homeruns and 87 RBIs. He is a lock for the Opening Day lineup.

STARTING ROTATION
Luke Hochevar
Jon Sanchez
Danny Duffy
Bruce Chen
Mike Montgomery

BULLPEN
LR Nathan Adcock
LR Pelipe Paulino
MR Tim Collins
MR Louis Coleman
SU Aaron Crow
SU Greg Holland
SU Jon Broxton
CL Joakim Soria