Ryan

McBroom

McBroom was released by the Royals earlier this month to pursue an opportunity overseas and has landed in the KBO. The 29-year-old corner infielder appeared in just seven games at the big-league level last season, but walloped 32 home runs in 115 games at Triple-A Omaha.

McBroom has been placed on unconditional release waivers, which will allow him to pursue an opportunity overseas in Asia this offseason. The 29-year-old corner infielder has registered a pedestrian .268/.322/.427 triple-slash line with six home runs across 177 plate appearances with the Royals since 2019. He appeared in just seven games at the major-league level last season, but clobbered a whopping 32 round-trippers in 115 games at Triple-A Omaha.

McBroom was only on Kansas City’s active roster for a couple of days. The 29-year-old is 2-for-8 with six strikeouts this season at the major league level.

McBroom went 1-for-6 during a five-game stint with the Royals earlier this season. The 29-year-old had 18 homers with an .879 OPS over 62 games in Triple-A and will give the Royals an extra right-handed bat.

McBroom has been shipped out in order for the Royals to bring in some bullpen reinforcements. The 29-year-old first baseman is hitting .167 in five games at the big-league level this season.

McBroom was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts out of the gate this season for Kansas City.

McBroom’s two-run shot was off of Luke Weaver in the fourth inning. In Cactus League action so far, McBroom is batting .324 and carries a .991 OPS through 35 plate appearances. His competition is teammate Ryan O’Hearn, of whom he competed with for the first baseman job last spring. The 28-year-old, who led MLB in pinch hits in 2020, started Saturday’s game in the DH spot and may earn a bench spot on the Opening Day roster.

McBroom hit his double off right-hander Emmanuel Clase in the top of the sixth inning and then slugged a two-run shot off left-hander Scott Moss in the top of the eighth. The 28-year-old showed good power in limited action with Kansas City last season and could maybe carve out a bench spot on the 2021 Opening Day roster.

McBroom broke a 1-1 tie with a solo homer, his sixth of the year. The 28-year-old showed off his power with those round-trippers and .502 slugging percentage, but it also came with just a .247 average and .282 OBP in 36 games.

McBroom has batted .253/.291/.493 with five home runs in 34 games this season. He could get a few at-bats versus lefties.