The Kansas City Royals enthusiasts have a lot to be jazzed up about. This up and coming team is full of stars in their lineup. Let's take a look at that predicted beginning lineup with our Kansas City Royals predictions.

Predicted Batting Order

Sal Perez (Catcher) - In his first season in the major leagues, the 21-year-old impressed many with his stellar play. He hit .331 with 3 home runs and 21 RBI in just 39 games. It is exceedingly unlikely that he'll maintain those stats during a full season, and he also needs to develop some power. He actually has a lot of potential, but he'd need a couple more years to realise it and be a major contributor down the line.

Eric Hosmer (First Base) - The Royals definitely believe that they've got a future MVP in their hands. In just 129 contests, Hosmer batted .293 with 19 HRs and 78 RBI. The greatest thing about him is that he is not simply a threat at the plate, but a big upgrade defensively. Some are saying that he would just struggle in his 2nd year, but he is not likely to let this golden opportunity pass him by and should deliver even better numbers in 2012.

Johnny Giavotella (Second Base) - Giavotella has the starting job in the bag despite competition from fellow second baseman Chris Getz this spring. But he still wishes to enhance and show the job is his to have. He made his debut in the big leagues last season, but hit just .247 with 2 home runs. He also isn't that great on defense, so he must work twice as hard and show big strides if he would like to keep his job.

Alcides Escobar (( Shortstop) - The Royals bought Escobar from the Brewers in a trade that sent ace pitcher Zach Greinke packing. The 25-year-old is a defensive specialist who has found himself in many highlight reels all though his career. He desires to develop his offensive game, but he came on powerful in the last month of the season by batting for an average of .324. He is also a big-time threat on the bases. He has 18 triples and 36 steals over the past 2 seasons.

Mike Moustakas (Third Base) - Another man coming off his debut in the big leagues last year is Mike Moustakas. The 23-year-old struggled early on, but improved as the season rolled along, and ended up hitting .263 with 5 home runs and 30 RBI over 89 contests. The team is counting on him to continue what he started last year and emerge as a force in the middle of the lineup this season.

Alex Gordon (Left Field) - After struggling mightily in his first 4 years with Kansas City, the former No. 2 selection in 2005 finally lived up to his potential last season. He hit .303 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI, but to fully turn his career around and take that next step, he needs to put up equivalent if not better numbers this season.

Lorenzo Cain (Center Field) - Another player acquired in the Greinke deal is Lorenzo Cain. He was nonetheless , limited to just six games due to the success the other outfielders were having. Cain has hit .302 in 169 career games between the Brewers and Royals. He improved his power in the minors last season, but not enough for the team to totally notice. He actually is an upgrade at center with the potential to hit for a high average and rack up a large amount of steals.

Jeff Francoeur (Right Field) - After playing on his 4th team in 3 years, Francoeur surprised a lot of people by hitting .285 with 20 home runs, 87 RBI and 22 steals. Although the team hopes that he will be able to build on what he probably did last season, I believe that it is a far better bet that he will regress back to his career numbers.

Bill Butler (Designated Hitter) - Last year, when he was moved to Designated Hitter, Butler was reluctant at first, but at the end, the change failed to faze him as his offense continued to shine. He hit .291 with 19 HRs and 95 RBI. Butler has hit right. Around .300 with at least 15 home runs and 78 RBI in every one of the last three years. He turns just 26 in April and his best years are still before him. He might be in line for a breakout season if his power continues to develop.

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A late-year downturn in 2010 carried over to last season, as the San Diego Padres went just 71-91 after winning 90 games in 2010. The Padres are hoping manager Bud Black can breathe new life back into this squad and bring it back to contention this year. The Padres acquired significant pieces in All-Star hitter Carlos Quentin, starter Edinson Volquez and promising first baseman Yonder Alonso. Whether these additions can take them to the next level is still unknown. Meanwhile, here are the starting rotation and closer situation for San Diego this year. Find out our ideas on more squads with our 2012 MLB projections.

Projected Staff

Tim Stauffer (RHP) - His 9-12 record in his first full year as a starter does not reflect the fact that his 3.73 ERA and 1.25 WHIP are good stats, which is why he has earned the right to be the ace of this rotation. The 29-year-old is prepared for a breakout year in 2012. He could win 15-plus games if the offense gives him a bit more run support.

Edinson Volquez (RHP) - A change in views are what the Padres hope will get Volquez's career back on track. He went just 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 20 starts with Cincinnati, but he will now make the great majority of his starts in pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

Cory Luebke (LHP) - After spending time as both a starter and a reliever last season, it looks as if he is now prepared to become a full-time starter in 2012. He posted a formidable 3.48 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 16 starts last year. What the Padres are elated about the most are his 172 Ks in just 157.1 innings of work.

Clayton Richard (LHP) - A shoulder injury hemmed in his game last season, and he finished his season posting a record of 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in just 18 starts. If he'll stay healthy, he has what's needed to regain his 2010 form, when he went 14-9 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.

Dustin Moseley (RHP) - Another player whose 2011 year was cut short due to an injury is Dustin Moseley. He finished the year with a record of just 2-10, but his 3.30 ERA and 1.28 WHIP indicate that he's poised for a much better year if he can enjoy health in 2012.

Projected Closer

Huston Street (RHP) - After being unable to sign star closer Heath Bell to a new contract, the Padres were forced to make a deal with the Colorado Rockies for Street. Street converted 29 of 33 save opportunities with the Rockies last year. He should make a larger impact with San Diego this year, as he won't play majority of his games at the hitter-friendly Coors Field.

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The LA Angels should be a tricky organization to beat in 2012. Their lineup is definitely stacked, so let's take a look at the hitters they will be playing on opening day. If you'd like a more definitive preview of the team, check out our Los Angeles Angels predictions.

Projected Lineup

Chris Iannetta (Catcher) - LA brought in Iannetta in the hope that he is going to be able to supply a lift on offense from the catcher position. Iannetta hit 14 home runs with 55 RBI in 112 games with the Colorado Rockies last year, but his .238 batting average wasn't anything too great. The key issue here is whether his power numbers will carry over now that he isn't playing a lot of his contests at Coors Field.

Albert Pujols (First Base) - Los Angeles hopes that signing Pujols will get the franchise back on track in 2012. The former National League MVP hit .299 with 37 home runs and 99 RBI in 2011. Although those stats would be great for other players, he hadn't finished with fewer than 100 RBI or an average below .312 in his first 10 seasons.

Howard Kendrick (Second Base) - Kendrick truly came on robust in 2010. The 28-year-old veteran hit .285 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI, while also swiping 14 bags. The hope is that he'll continue to enhance in 2012, especially now that he is hitting in the 2-hole ahead of Pujols.

Erick Aybar (Shortstop) - Another hitter who is coming off a career year is Erick Aybar. The Angels ' leadoff hitter batted .279 with a career-high 71 runs, 10 home runs, 59 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 2011. He is also another player who should benefit from Pujols hitting behind him, as he has tremendous potential to grow as a power guy. Before last year, he only had 14 career home runs.

Alberto Callaspo (Third Base) - Callaspo played a respectable game last season. Nonetheless though he hit .285, he just doesn't have the power or speed to make a big impact on offense.

Vernon Wells (Left Field) - In his first season with LA, Wells was a massive disappointment. After hitting .273 with 31 HRs and 88 RBI with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, Wells batted just .218 with 25 home runs and 66 RBI in 131 games. He will be able to still give the Angels 20-plus home runs, however it is highly unlikely that he will revive his career in 2012.

Peter Bourjos (Center Field) - The 24-year-old Bourjos is among the promising young prospects in LA. He batted .271 with 12 HRs, 43 RBI and 22 steals last season. When you add the proven fact that he plays Gold Glove-caliber defense, this guy has the potentiality to do good things for LA.

Torii Hunter (Right Field) - The 36-year-old veteran hit 23 HRs with 82 RBI in 2011, but his .262 average and 125 strikeouts are solid signals that he's on the fall. The Angels are hoping, though, that he has some juice left in the tank.

Kendrys Morales (Designated Hitter) -Morales has not played a single game since seriously hurting his ankle in 2010. Back in 2009, though, the guy hit .303 with 34 HRs and 108 RBI. It's hard to say what to expect at that point, but , fortunately for the team, it has got a very good safety-net in Mark Trumbo, who lead the team in HRs with 29 and RBI with 87 as a rookie last season.

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The LA Angels ended up second in the AL West in 2011, with an 86-76 record. It was actually the first time under owner Arte Moreno for the team to have back-to-back seasons in which it did not make the postseason. The Angels improved their chances to make it to the playoffs in 2012 when they signed first basemen Albert Pujols and starter C. J. Wilson in their single largest free agent spending in history. Whether these acquisitions can help the Angels overtake the Texas Rangers in the West is still up in the air. Here is the projected rotation and closer situation for the team in 2012. For more on the franchise check out our 2012 LA Angels predictions.

Projected Rotation

Jered Weaver (RHP) - After an outstanding 2011 campaign, Weaver solidified himself as one of the top starters in the league. He went 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 33 starts. He would have won the AL Cy Young Award had it not been for Justin Verlander's incredible season. At age 29, he's still in his physical prime and will surely put up similar numbers in 2012.

Dan Haren (RHP) - The right-hander totally lived up to the hype in his first season in LA. The 31-year-old went 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 34 starts. It was the seventh straight season Haren made at least 33 starts, and only one time in those seven seasons has he posted an ERA above 4.00. Haren still has a lot of juice left in his tank for one of the more dependable pitchers in the league.

C.J. Wilson (LHP) - This rotation has the fixings to be one of the better ones in the majors in 2012. Wilson is projected to be the Angels ' No. 3 pitcher this year. He went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 34 starts with Texas last year, giving him 31 wins during the past two seasons.

Ervin Santana (RHP) - As No. 4 pitchers go, the 29-year-old Santana is a pretty solid guy to have. He went 17-10 with a 3.92 ERA in 2010. While he probably did just go 11-12 in 2011, he had a career-best 3.38 ERA. He probably will not get a lot of attention doing into the season, but he could just as easily win 15-plus times this season.

Jerome Williams (RHP) - After just six starts with the Angels, he earned a starting spot in the rotation this year, going 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. I don't believe he can keep up that production for a full season, however.

Projected Closer

Jordan Walden (RHP) - The team is hoping that he'll take that next step and become a dominant closer this year. The 24-year-old came in and saved 32 games in spite of blowing 10 saves last season. He probably did begin to get better as the year went on. Thanks to the Angels ' improved offense and one of the very finest rotations in all of baseball, Walden has the ability to save 40-plus games in 2012.

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A disappointing 79-83 record last season ended the Cincinnati Reds' chances to defend their National League Central championship from 2010. But general manager Walt Jockety didn't make many moves to improve them, resulting in a disappointing 2011. The GM feels like he has added in the right pieces to contend in 2012, however. He has acquired a proven starter in Mat Latos and a shutdown closer in Ryan Madson. With the St. Louis Cardinals losing Albert Pujols, and Prince Fielder not returning to the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati believes it is the team to beat in the NL Central division. Here are my MLB predictions for the Reds' starting rotation and closer in 2012.

Projected Rotation

Johnny Cueto (RHP) - The 2011 season was arguably the best of his career so far. His 2.31 ERA and 1.09 WHIP were both career bests and in his 9-5 record, five of his no-decisions came from a blown save.

Mat Latos (RHP) - With Latos the Reds could really bolster their rotation. He went just 9-14 in 2011, but his 3.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP indicate he pitched much better than his record. There are some concerns with him making the move from Petco to Great American (which is generally more hitter-friendly), but Latos still posted solid numbers on the road last year, so don't expect his numbers to inflate too much.

Bronson Arroyo (RHP) - Arroyo had a down year last season, thanks to a mono infection that affected his performance. He started 32 games for the Reds, but he finished just 9-12 with a horrible 5.07 ERA for the year. Now that he seems to have regained his health, look for him to bounce back with numbers more similar to his 3.88 ERA and 17 wins of 2010.

Mike Leake (RHP) - In just his second season in the big leagues, the 24-year-old won a team-high 12 games in 2011. Leake lowered his ERA from 4.23 to 3.86 and WHIP from 1.50 to 1.17, too. So long as he matches his numbers from 2011, then he will give the Reds a legit starter at the back of their rotation.

Homer Bailey (RHP) - Bailey has shown some major potential in his career, but he needs to start producing on a more consistent basis if he wants to keep his job. He went 9-7 last year with a 4.43 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in a career-high 22 starts. If he doesn't improve soon, he might just lose his position in the rotation, should the team decide to make Aroldis Chapman a starter this season.

Projected Closer

Ryan Madson (RHP) - Francisco Cordero saved 37 games for the Reds last year, but he is certainly on the decline and Cincinnati opted not to retain him. Cincinnati is excited about having Madson close the ninth, as he converted 32 of 34 save opportunities with the Philadelphia Phillies last year. Madson could save upwards of 40 games this year, especially with the new look of their starting staff, but an arm injury may cost him the 2012 season.

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Here we shall learn about some of the initial background of our beloved game of Baseball. The present time sport of baseball is reasonably analogous to the historical activity described as Stoolball and is believed to have got its origins from the eleventh century.

Stoolball is thought to be an activity where someone throws a ball towards a target and the other participant guards this goal. Precisely what the goal was is not certain, it could have been a tree stump, given that in old Sussex dialect the meaning associated with the word stool means stump.

There are a few stories about the game of stoolball; firstly it was played by milkmaids while they waited for their husbands to come back home after their working day in the fields. They'd place their milking stool and turn it the wrong way up and that had been the target. Then one participator would toss a ball toward the stool as the other player would guard it, when the thrower might hit a stool leg the defensive player was out, if the defensive player hit the ball and the other team caught they'd also be out.

A different story is that it was an activity played by church people after attending a church service. They might grab a church stool and invert it and use it as the goal and then a person would protect the goal, at first off with their hands and later on with a paddle much like a heavy Ping Pong paddle. It actually varied by area according to what was available to use.

An extra for runner for the modern game of baseball can be a few of the people games of Great Britain that progressed into the present time games of cricket and Rounders. They both basically were games that a single player threw a ball toward a goal and another partaker protected that target through batting a ball away from the target. Sometimes they could try and score points thru running between bases while other participants try to put the runner out by some method.

In another article we shall explore further the way the present day sport of baseball developed over time. So be sure to return again.

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The Tigers won the AL Central for the first time in franchise history in 2011, notching a 95-67 record. They ultimately fell short of the World Series, losing in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers. Detroit did not remain idle in the offseason, inking power-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder. They are the favorite to win the division again this year. Here are our MLB predictions for Detroit's projected starting rotation and closer situation.

Projected Rotation

Justin Verlander (RHP) - Verlander had a season for the ages when he won both the 2011 Cy Young and AL MVP. He spent 2011 on a tear, going 24-5 on the year with a 2.40 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Few pitchers have what it takes to win 20 games in a season, and Verlander has done it only once in his entire career. But he has totaled 61 wins over the last three seasons. He is almost a lock to win at least 18 games when healthy, making him a threat to win the Cy Young again in 2012.

Doug Fister (RHP) -At the trade deadline last year, the Tigers landed Fister from the Seattle Mariners and they simply can't wait to see what he can do in a full season in Detroit. In just 10 starts with the Tigers, he went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.84 WHIP.

Max Scherzer (RHP) -Scherzer's numbers dipped a bit last year, as he saw his ERA jump from 3.50 in 2010 to 4.43 in 2011. But despite that, he was still able to win 15 games for the Tigers. What hurt him the most was that he gave up 29 home runs, but that seems to be more of a fluke instead of a trend moving forward. Expect him to go back to his usual self and improve his ERA this season.

Rick Porcello (RHP) - Despite posting a 4.75 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, he still managed to win 14 games last season. Even if his numbers are a little unconventional, he has come up with 38 wins in just three big league seasons. And with Porcello turning just 23 in December, it is safe to assume that the kid is only getting started.

Jacob Turner (RHP) - The Tigers are expecting Turner to nab the last spot in the rotation. The team is extremely high on its most heralded prospect. Although the 20-year-old posted a high 8.53 ERA in three starts last season, many still believe that he was what it takes to the AL Rookie of the Year in 2012.

Projected Closer

Jose Valverde (RHP)-Valverde showed his mettle for the Tigers when he became arguably the best closer in all of baseball last season. He converted all 49 of his save chances while posting a 2.24 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. With the much-improved offense and pitching that the Tigers are expected to send to the field in 2012, expect similar numbers and another 40-plus save season.

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The Tigers added one of the top free agents in this offseason when they landed Prince Fielder, adding some power to an already-effective lineup. Here are our MLB predictions for Detroit's starting lineup.

Projected Lineup

Alex Avila (Catcher) - The young catcher exploded on the scene last year, hitting .295 with 19 home runs and 82 RBI. He earned a spot on the All-Star team, plus led all catchers with a .895 OPS. At just 24-years old, Avila is a reason for Detroit fans to get excited.

Prince Fielder (First Base) - With the addition of Fielder, the Tigers are suddenly an even more formidable team and have one of the more feared lineups in all of baseball. The All-Star first baseman hit .299 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI with the Milwaukee Brewers last year, and he now has at least 30 homers in the last five seasons. The son of former Tigers star Cecil Fielder is also one of the more durable players in the league. He has played in at least 157 games in each of the past six seasons.

Ryan Raburn (Second Base) - Raburn is a versatile player who figures to take over second base full time. He hit just .213 in the first half of last season, but progressed in the second half, when he hit .341. In 121 games last year, he had 14 home runs and 49 RBI, which is promising for a second baseman. But he needs to lower his strikeouts and raise his average if he is going to take that next step.

Jhonny Peralta (Shortstop) - After a strong season last year, Peralta solidified his position in the lineup and has now earned himself the starting job at shortstop. He has improved his game and has learned to strike out less, which resulted in him finishing with a career-high .299 batting average. He also put up solid power numbers of 21 home runs and 86 RBI.

Miguel Cabrera (Third Base) - Cabrera has agreed to move to third base to allow Fielder to play first, but where he plays is of no consequence because he is a dynamite player defensively. He is also considered to be one of the most dominant hitters in the game. He hit .344 with 30 home runs and 105 RBI in 2011, and the 28-year-old is still in his physical prime and has shown no signs of slowing down. He's hit at least .324 with 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI in each of the last three seasons.

Andy Dirks (Left Field) -It seems that Dirks will have every opportunity to hold down the open spot in left field, but after hitting just .251 with 7 home runs and 28 RBI in 78 games last year, it's hard to expect a lot from him offensively. He did just turn 26 in January, so there is still an outside shot for him to have a breakout season.

Austin Jackson (Center Field) - After hitting only .293 in 2010, Jackson managed just a .249 average in his second season as the Tigers' starting center fielder. Jackson's biggest asset is his glove, which is well above-average, but he also provides some speed on the base path, stealing 49 bases and hitting 21 triples over the past two seasons combined.

Brennan Boesch (Right Field) - A thumb injury ended Boesch's season early in 2011. He was really coming along nicely, hitting .283 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 115 games. He is expected to be healthy and ready to go for 2012, and the Tigers are hoping he can continue from where he left off before the injury.

Delmon Young (Designated Hitter) - After the Tigers acquired Young from the Minnesota Twins via a midseason trade, the former No. 1 overall pick really came into his own and played extremely well for Detroit. Young hit .274 with 8 home runs and 32 RBI in just 40 games with the Tigers. At the age of 26, he is still relatively young, and even though he has never reached his potential, he still has a lot of time to do so in the future.

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The Oakland Athletics ended up last in the AL West last year and then traded away three of their best pitchers. This batting order isn't going to scare to a lot of people away either. Let's have a look at the lineup and what should be expected out of them this season. If you need more information on the team, check our 2012 Oakland Athletics preview.

Projected Lineup

Kurt Suzuki (Catcher) - After signing a huge deal, he has not managed to live up to the expectations he raised while batting .274 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI in 2009. Though his home run numbers stayed recurring, his average and RBI totals have taken a big hit, at just .237 and 44 RBI in 134 games played last year.

Brandon Allen (First Base) - The A's acquired Allen in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. Although he has played inconsistently in the Majors up to this point, he can truly be looked upon in the current season thanks to the fact that he has hit 20 or more HRs in every one of the last four seasons in the minors. He hasn't truly shown much promise in the majors yet, so we'll figure out if that carries over or not.

Jemile Weeks (Second Base) - After he had a good season last year, the A's were not keen to part ways with Weeks this past offseason. The 25-year-old hit .303 with 50 runs, 26 doubles, 36 RBI and 22 steals in just 97 games last season. The A's hope for a breakout season for Weeks, if not this season then soon.

Cliff Pennington (Shortstop) - Pennington batted just .264 with eight home runs and 58 RBI in 2011, but there is still hope that he can put up better stats in 2012. He probably did improve in pretty much every class last season after a down season in triples and steals in 2010.

Luke Donaldson (Third Base) - Donaldson will get a great chance to display what he'll do this year. Scott Sizemore was the Athletics projected third baseman, but a torn MCL injury will cause him to miss the 2012 year. Donaldson has just 32 career at-bats in the big leagues all the way back to 2010. He doesn't have lots of power and will possibly hit for a low average, making him pretty unlikely to shine at the hot corner.

Yoenis Cespedes (Left Field) - Though some are predicting that Cespedes will become an instant star in the big leagues, Cuban players generally take a year or two to adapt before they really reach their potential. Some even question whether he'll be prepared to play come Opening Day. But Cespedes does have great potential to be a 5-tool threat down the line; it is simply hard to imagine him being a big player in his first season in the big leagues.

Coco Crisp (Center Field) - Crisp finally stayed healthy in 2011 after playing simply a mixed 124 games the prior two years. He doesn't truly do a heap, though, besides rack up steals. Although he swiped 49 bases last year, he just batted .264 and has extraordinarily limited power when he does make contact.

Josh Reddick (Right Field) - The A's managed to land Reddick in the trade that sent Bailey to the Boston Red Sox. Reddick batted .280 with seven HRs and 28 RBI in 254 at-bats with the Red Sox last season. Though those stats don't truly appear like anything special, he does have each chance to be good with a full season with the Athletics.

Seth Smith (Designated Hitter) - Smith really failed to live up to his actual potential, but he should be able to give the A's a solid bat for the time being. He probably did hit .284 with 15 home runs, 59 RBI and 10 steals in 2011. However it doesn't look like he is going to have the same success, as he won't be playing the bulk of his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Colorado.

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The Kansas City Royals enthusiasts have a lot to be hopeful about. This young team is full of promising players in their lineup. Let's take a look at that projected starting lineup with our Kansas City Royals predictions.

Predicted Lineup

Sal Perez (Catcher) - In his first year in the big leagues, the 21-season-old impressed many with his stellar play. He hit .331 with 3 HRs and 21 RBI in just 39 games. It is exceedingly doubtful that he can maintain those stats during the course of a full season, and he also needs to grow some power. He definitely has plenty of potential, but he might need two more years to realise it and be a major contributor down the road.

Eric Hosmer (First Base) - The Royals definitely believe that they've got a future MVP in their hands. In just 129 contests, Hosmer hit .293 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI. The best thing about him is that he isn't just a threat at the plate, but a massive upgrade on defense. Some say that he might just struggle in his 2nd year, but he's not likely to let this wonderful chance pass him by and should deliver even better stats in 2012.

Johnny Giavotella (Second Base) - Giavotella has the starting position in the bag despite competition from fellow 2nd baseman Chris Getz this spring. But he wishes to enhance and show the job is his to keep. He made his debut in the major leagues last year, but hit just .247 with 2 HRs. He also isn't that great defensively, so he must work twice as hard and show huge strides if he would like to keep his job.

Alcides Escobar (( Shortstop) - The Royals bought Escobar from Milwaukee in a deal that sent ace pitcher Zach Greinke off. The 25-season-old is a defensive expert who has found himself in many highlight reels all though his career. He still wishes to develop his offensive game, but he came on robust in the last month of the season by hitting for an average of .324. Also he is a big-time threat on the bases. He has 18 triples and 36 steals over the last 2 years.

Mike Moustakas (Third Base) - Another player coming off his debut in the big leagues last season is Mike Moustakas. The 23-season-old struggled early on, but improved as the year rolled along, and ended up hitting .263 with 5 home runs and 30 RBI over 89 games. The team is relying on him to resume what he started last season and emerge as a force in the middle of the batting order this season.

Alex Gordon (Left Field) - After fighting mightily in his first four years with Kansas City, the former No. 2 selection in 2005 eventually lived up to his potential last season. He batted .303 with 23 HRs and 87 RBI, but to fully turn his career around and take that next step, he should put up comparable if not better numbers this season.

Lorenzo Cain (Center Field) - Another player acquired in the Greinke deal is Lorenzo Cain. He was nonetheless , limited to just 6 contests because of the success the other outfielders were having. Cain has hit .302 in 169 career contests between the Brewers and Royals. He improved his power in the minors last season, but not enough for the team to fully notice. He definitely is an upgrade at center with the potentiality to hit for a high average and notch up lots of steals.

Jeff Francoeur (Right Field) - After playing on his fourth team in 3 seasons, Francoeur surprised a large number of people by hitting .285 with 20 home runs, 87 RBI and 22 steals. Although the team hopes that he'll build on what he probably did last year, I think that it's a much better bet that he can regress back to his career numbers.

Bill Butler (Designated Hitter) - Last year, when he was moved to Designated Hitter, Butler was unwilling initially, but in the final analysis, the change didn't faze him as his offense continued to shine. He hit .291 with 19 home runs and 95 RBI. Butler has hit right. Around .300 with at least 15 HRs and 78 RBI in every one of the last 3 years. He turns just 26 in April and his best years are still ahead of him. He could be in line for a breakout season if his power continues to develop.

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