The Royals announced that they have activated shortstop Adalberto Mondesi from the injured list. He’s in line to make his 2021 debut after missing nearly the first two full months of the season.
The 25-year-old Mondesi went on the IL on March 31, just before the season began, with a right oblique strain. The Royals have since gone through an up-and-down year without Mondesi, last season’s stolen base champion, as they got off to a great start before enduring an 11-game losing streak. But the club has righted the ship of late and now owns a 22-23 record that places it 4 1/2 games behind the American League Central-leading White Sox.
The absence of Mondesi left the Royals’ shortstop position to Nicky Lopez, who has hit .230/.317/.310 with zero home runs and five steals in 150 plate appearances. Mondesi batted a somewhat underwhelming .256/.294/.416 with six home runs over 233 trips to the plate in 2020, but he has established himself as a major stolen base threat and a valuable starter.
His full season stats are underwhelming but not posting his September stats is incredibly misleading.
.356/.408/.667 with 6 HR and 16 SB in September last year.
Agreed. Incredibly talented player who could ascend if he can stay healthy, get his reps, and find a groove.
Granted, he’s not the greatest SS. But, Mondesi is more than adequate…he’s certainly better than Nicky Lopez.
Rather surprised they didn’t send Lopez down…Instead, Jake Newberry goes back to the minors again to make room for Mondesi.
Why? We sure didn’t need Newberry. And we put Merrifield in RF and Lopez at 2B. Makes for a great IF!
Mondesi could be Tatis if he could get healthy. And Tatis could be Mondesi if he doesn’t…..
Two completely different players. No one will ever build their franchise around Mondesi.
Very similar players. Tatis is a little bigger Mondesi a little faster but both are super athletic twitchy shortstops who can change the game. Mondesi is really good he’s just been hurt at the time of his career most guys improve and settle in.
Tatis is an elite player in the game. Mondesi might not be in the top 15 among shortstops. Lots of players can change a game every now and then. Tatis does it constantly. It’s why he got the megadeal. OPS is .979 to .699 in favor of Tatis.
Joc Pederson had some big weeks as a Dodger. The doesn’t put him in the class of a Bryce Harper because they have similarities that crop up every now and then.
Incredibly different players. Mondesi has league average exit velos. Tatis has elite exit velos. Mondesi has terrific defensive numbers. Tatis has mediocre defensive numbers. Mondesi doesn’t walk. Tatis does. The only similarities between the 2 are they are both fast and they both swing and miss a lot. This could be said about a lot of players.
If Mondesi fully comes together, his potential comp would be a lot more akin to Tim Anderson than Tatis.
Cey Hey I’d be willing to bet you’ve never sat down and watched a game with Mondesi in it. Even when he’s slumping, every day he does something to make you say “wow”. Consistency and health have escaped him so far, but the ceiling is absolutely there to be a franchise player. Switch their speed and power ratings and Mondesi and Tatis are pretty dead on.
Mondesi is a very talented player but his ceiling is not even close to what Tatis offers. A huge year for Mondesi would be 25 HRs. Tatis is a constant 40/40 threat. I do agree we haven’t seen the full talent level of Mondesi yet mainly due to injuries, but you should temper your expectations a little bit as he’s not going to match Tatis’ output, with the exception of stolen bases and maybe triples. With that said, this is a big addition for the Royals; let’s just hope he can figure out how to stay on the field.
You would lose that bet. If you were visiting here the last couple of years, you would know that I chimed in on and checked out the Royals quite a bit, a major reason being who Mondesi’s father is. Jose Offerman did things as a young Dodger that made me say “wow” too. But more often, he made me say “oof.” You are underrating consistency in terms of being a great player.
Btw, baseball is the only sport I follow. I am an avid MLB.TV user and make it a point to watch all the teams, not just Dodger games. The only other thing I follow passionately is music, and I keep up-to-date on both (no sitting around listening to oldies for me).
Seriously, I don’t think many, if any, people in MLB would consider Tatis and Mondesi to be dead-on. Gavin Lux will wind up a better SS than Mondesi.
Mondesi isnt even close to the talent Tatis is. He has a good glove and is fast. Aside from that he has average power at his position at best and lacks the plate discipline to maximize his greatest asset which is speed.
As far as you asking if someone has watched him play. Nearly every SS in MLB is exciting to watch make plays. That is why the position is considered a premium position defensively.
Offerman played several years in KC, so I’m familiar with the comp. Mondesi ceiling is much higher IMO.
Obviously Tatis is a better player, I’m just saying they’re similar profiles except Tatis has more power and Mondesi has more speed.
They are not similar profiles. That’s the whole point. Tatis has a lot more power. Tatis has better plate discipline. Tatis has more defensive issues. When you have to give this many caveats to a comp. It’s a bad comp.
Tatis has been healthy and playing. If Mondesi had been healthy the last couple years he certainly could have developed more power and plate discipline. That’s what guys his age typically do. Will he do that with all the injuries? I don’t know but these are similar guys here. Mondesi got hurt and might never be the same.
No one will ever build a franchise around mondesi? Honestly ask anyone close to the royals and they will tell you that is exactly part of there plan…. if mondesi can stay healthy he could be lindor…
And before anyone calls me stupid for that…. GG defense at short, with 25-30 HR and 85-95 RBI is frankie lindor basically and if healthy Mondesi definitely could give you that
Mondesi would really need to deliver on the ‘it’ factor to Webster Tatis territory.
Off Topic, I’m really surprised this site has yet to mention the Rays share holders sueing Stuart Sternberg. That is huge news.
bucketbrew35, A huge mess for the sport. The McCourt-Dodgers fiasco looks tidy in comparison. It’s just shady. The sport we love has become a magnet for negative headlines. Yes, it needs to be covered and discussed here.
Hello bucketbrew….
There’s a piece in the Tampa Bay Times about it – all a bit strange though….
tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2021/05/24/tampa-b…
Seems a bit odd – the monetary amount – and the fact that the flirtation with Montreal has been written about here and repeatedly.
Mondesi isnt even close to the talent Tatis is. He has a good glove and is fast. Aside from that he has average power at his position at best and lacks the plate discipline to maximize his greatest asset which is speed.
As far as you asking if someone has watched him play. Nearly every SS in MLB is exciting to watch make plays. That is why the position is considered a premium position defensively.
People who have watched Ahmed Rosario might disagree with you. It’s more about watching the plays he doesn’t make.
Way off-topic: What does everyone think of the MLB local market caps released today? They are getting savaged in the media, and deservedly so. A case of MLB drawing negative attention to itself that could have easily been avoided. Who would buy one of these things?
thespun.com/more/mlb/look-mlb-new-local-market-hat…
@cey hey re caps….
Where’s the revenue going?
If it’s to good local causes, kids clubs, Players Alliance I’ve no problem with the concept. The execution however begs for alternative pictures……
In my teams case – a fan with a telescope looking in the far distance towards a shiny new stadium… With a white elephant on top of it…
Pirates fans jumping off one of the many bridges in their beautiful city.
Orioles fans throwing Chris Davis off a bridge
Twins with a calendar finishing early October.
Giants fans can have the cast of Dynasty, it was after all a long time ago ;0)
Toronto – DNA double helix.
Astros – the complete works of Nostradamus (small print admittedly)….
Dodgers – an array of pitchers all over the cap
Angels – an array of hitters and absolutely no pitchers.
Phillies – a profile of Bryce Harper staring at one large basket of eggs.
Brewers – an abandoned farm scene.
Red Sox – John Henry dressed as a hobo pleading poverty
Yankees – any hideous design that means previously undiscovered tribes in the amazon won’t be discovered wearing the NYY logo like 94% of the rest of the planet.
Etc etc….
A’sfanin LondonUK:
Every team — Crying fans claiming their team is cursed with all these injuries
He’s a headache to go against for opposing teams
Definitely an upgrade over Lopez.