In Kansas City, the month of October is typically when the Kansas City Royals hand the remaining interest over to the Chiefs as they take over the region hunting down another division title and push to contend for a Super Bowl. In 2024, that was not the case.

After previously waiting nearly three decades between playoff berths between 1985 and 2014, the Royals waited just nine years before returning for the first time since 2015. The 2024 season was a shock to all of Major League Baseball and even the Royals fan base.

2024 Recap

After tying the franchise’s worst winning percentage in 2023, the Royals entered a new year just hoping to come close to a .500 baseball team for the first time since 2016. That hope quickly dissipated after losing the opening two games of the season, both at home, to the Minnesota Twins and getting outscored 9-2.

The Royals eventually turned things around, going on a seven-game winning streak with sweeps of the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros. A few more ups and downs in the opening weeks of the season, but the Royals had restored hope that they might be a much-improved team from previous seasons.

Each time the Royals seemed to be falling apart, they found a way to persevere and make it with limited damage. At times, they looked like division contenders, but the Cleveland Guardians eventually locked that up.

September proved to be a tough month as the Royals were without star first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino due to a broken thumb. After suffering two seven-game losing streaks, the Royals had just enough to get back on track as they won four of their final six games to secure a spot in the Wild Card.

Familiar Postseason Foes

The Royals saw some familiar foes in the postseason, starting first with the Baltimore Orioles. After sweeping Baltimore in the 2014 AL Championship Series, they met again in the 2024 AL Wild Card. The Royals had not been playing beautiful baseball, but they battled hard to earn the two-game sweep in Baltimore.

Next up were the Bronx Bombers – New York Yankees – for the first time since 1980. After losing Game 1 of the 2024 AL Divisional Series, the Royals won Game 2 behind a four-run fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. With the series shifting to Kauffman Stadium, there was hope that the Royals could upset the World Series favorites. That hope faded as the Yankees won Game 3 and Game 4 on the road in front of back-to-back sellout crowds, ending the Royals’ season.

Golden Royals

Bobby Witt Jr became the Royals’ second player to ever win a Golden Glove and Seth Lugo became the second pitcher to earn a Gold Glove.

Witt followed the footsteps of Alcides Escobar, who won it in 2015. Witt had some big moments at the plate, but he was also much-improved in the field. Witt led all American League shortstops with +16 Outs Above Average. He played 160 games this year and just shy of 1,400 innings with 361 assists and 15 errors, concluding the year with a .974 fielding percentage. Witt’s MVP candidacy included was also accompanied by a sensational offensive season where he hit 32 home runs and led the Majors with a .332 batting average.

Lugo follows the footsteps of Royals Hall of Famer Bret Saberhagen, who won a Gold Glove in 1989. Lugo started a career-high 33 games from the mound, earning 14 putouts and 29 assists without committing an error in over 200 innings. The 34-year-old was also among the best pitchers, ending the year with a 3.00 ERA and a record of 16-9.