3KANSAS CITY ROYALS

O/U WINS: 73.5

KEY PLAYER: Adalberto Mondesi. He made his debut in the 2015 postseason, but is still just 25 (younger than Pete Alonso, for example). There is so much talent here. His speed led to eight more steals than anyone last year. He can defend. The question is whether his offensive approach will mature.

PLAYER WHO’LL NEED

TO STEP UP: Andrew Benintendi. You would have bet on him being a fixture in Boston during the 2018 championship season. But his health and production cratered to the point that Boston sold low on him. He is not a free agent until after the 2022 season, so the Royals are hoping to regenerate him into a key part of the lineup for at least two years.

NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Daniel

Lynch. Brady Singer broke through for the 2020 Royals and Lynch is expected to join him in the rotation. Kansas City is banking a lot of its rebuild around its young arms, and the 6-foot-6 lefty Lynch is probably the best of the group.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: How special is SS Bobby Witt Jr. going to be? The second pick of the 2019 draft has yet to play above Rookie ball yet tempted Kansas City in spring to promote him to the majors.

HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: There is buzz on the Royals, but they are likely still a year away. They still might be sellers in July — Danny Duffy, Greg Holland and Jorge Soler are all in their walk years, and they could always test the market for a piece like Whit Merrifield.

PROJECTED LINEUP 2B Whit Merrifield LF Andrew Benintendi SS Adalberto Mondesi 1B Carlos Santana C Salvador Perez DH Jorge Soler 3B Hunter Dozier CF Michael A. Taylor RF Kyle Isbel

ROTATION

RHP Brad Keller LHP Mike Minor LHP Danny Duffy RHP Brady Singer RHP Jakob Junis