The chipped paint on the dugout bench felt cool under Michael Massey’s hands as he watched the final out of another Royals win. It wasn’t a playoff-clinching victory, not even close. But for a team that began the season with expectations buried somewhere beneath the league basement, a late-September series win against the Athletics felt…different. It felt like a flicker of something more, and it’s a flicker fueled by a quiet, consistent performance from the young second baseman. But the story of Massey isn’t just about a rising batting average; it’s a microcosm of how MLB is quietly recalibrating its definition of “valuable” in an era obsessed with launch angles and exit velocity.
Beyond the Box Score: The Value of Consistency
The numbers themselves are respectable, but hardly splashy: 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .244 batting average as of September 28th. Compared to the league leaders, Massey doesn’t immediately jump off the page. Shohei Ohtani is hitting .304 with 44 home runs, and Ronald Acuña Jr. is on pace for a 40-70 season. But that’s precisely the point. Baseball has become increasingly fixated on the spectacular, on the players who redefine the limits of power and speed. Yet, the Royals, and increasingly other teams struggling to rebuild, are finding value in players like Massey who consistently contribute, who put the ball in play, and who don’t necessarily need to hit 40 bombs to be impactful. This isn’t a rejection of analytics, but a nuanced understanding of how they apply to different team contexts. A team rebuilding isn’t looking for a superstar to carry them; they’re looking for building blocks, for players who can reliably contribute while younger prospects develop.
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The shift is subtle, but the data supports it. While home run rates remain elevated compared to historical averages, teams are increasingly valuing on-base percentage and contact rate, metrics that highlight a player’s ability to simply get on base. This isn’t a return to “small ball,” but a recognition that consistent offense, even if less visually exciting, is more sustainable than relying on boom-or-bust power hitters. Massey’s recent performance – going 4-for-4 in a September 27th game against the Athletics – exemplifies this. It wasn’t a grand slam, but it was a demonstration of consistent hitting, of putting the ball in play and forcing the opposing team to make mistakes.
The Royals’ Rebuild and the Rise of the Reliable
The Kansas City Royals are in the midst of a painful rebuild, having traded away key veterans in recent years to acquire prospects. In 2023, they’ve posted a record well below .500, and fan attendance has predictably declined. The average attendance at Kauffman Stadium this season is down 15% compared to 2017, the year after their World Series win. In this environment, players like Massey become crucial. He’s not a savior, but he’s a symbol of hope, a sign that the rebuild is progressing, even if slowly. He represents a new generation of Royals players, one focused on fundamentals and consistent performance.
The team’s management has publicly emphasized the importance of developing players who can contribute consistently, even if they don’t possess elite-level talent. General Manager J.J. Picollo has spoken repeatedly about the need for “positional versatility and plate discipline” in evaluating young players. Massey embodies both of those qualities. He’s a reliable defender at second base and has shown a willingness to adjust his approach at the plate, focusing on making contact and putting the ball in play. This isn’t about lowering expectations; it’s about redefining what constitutes success in the context of a rebuilding team.
The Broader Implications for Player Development
What’s happening in Kansas City isn’t isolated. Across MLB, teams are re-evaluating their player development strategies, shifting away from a sole focus on power and velocity towards a more holistic approach that values contact, on-base percentage, and defensive versatility. This has significant implications for the future of the game. We may see fewer players attempting to hit the ball as hard as possible and more players focusing on hitting it where it’s pitched.
This shift also challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding scouting and player evaluation. Traditionally, scouts have prioritized players with raw power and athleticism. Now, they’re increasingly looking for players with a high baseball IQ, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn. The emphasis is shifting from potential to performance, from projecting future greatness to evaluating current capabilities. This doesn’t mean that scouts are abandoning traditional metrics, but they’re incorporating new data points and a more nuanced understanding of what constitutes a valuable player.
The story of Michael Massey is a reminder that baseball is a game of inches, of subtle adjustments, and of consistent effort. It’s a game where a .244 batting average and 3 home runs can be just as valuable as a .300 average and 40 home runs, depending on the context. As MLB continues to evolve, and as teams continue to refine their player development strategies, the value of the reliable, consistent player will only continue to grow. The question now is: will other teams follow the Royals’ lead and prioritize building around players who may not be superstars, but who can consistently contribute to winning baseball?
