Kansas City Royals Tickets

2010 Kansas City Royals Season Preview As promises of a turnaround in Kansas City continue to be spread, the Royals finished the 2009 season tied for dead last in the American League Central division.

General manager Drayton Moore has warned fans that it will be a slow process to get the franchise moving in the right direction, but the team is hopeful that signs of progress will become apparent in 2010.

All talk with the Royals has to begin and end with ace Zack Greinke, who has quickly blossomed into the best young pitcher in baseball and certainly one of the most exciting to watch.

After Greinke, the news isn't quite as exciting.

Veteran pitcher Gil Meche has had a positive influence on some of the younger starters and usually gives the Royals a chance to win when he takes the mound.

Luke Hochevar is another young Royals pitcher who is showing progress, but he doesn't have nearly as high of a ceiling as someone like Greinke.

Closer Joakim Soria has quickly and surprisingly emerged as one of the top closers in the American League. It's always comforting for the starting pitchers to know that when they hand a game over to their closer, he will shut the door on the opposing team.

As for the lineup, the Royals lack a lot of impact bats. The team sees promise in first baseman Billy Butler, but they need him to show more power for someone playing a corner infield position.

Third baseman Alex Gordon was expected to become a franchise-type player, and that may still happen. For now, however, he continues to try and figure out how to succeed at the major league level.

There is progress taking place with the Royals, but it's not going to come as quicky as some had hoped. When you still have guys like pitcher Bruce Chen on your 25-man roster, you aren't close to competing for anything.

It's going to be another rough season for the Royals in 2010, but reaching the 70-win mark would at least be a sign that the team is moving in the right direction.