2024 Season in Review: The best Royals moments

There were more good moments than in their 106-loss season!

Royals fans had tempered expectations coming off a 106-loss season. But the team stunned the baseball world with a huge turnaround that gave fans thrilling moments all season. Here are the top moments from the 2024 season.

April 11 - “The Boys Are Playing Some Ball”

After coming off 106 losses, the Royals looked for some early success this year. They went on a seven-game winning streak capped off by a 13-3 rout of the Astros in a series sweep. Bobby Witt Jr. went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI, putting the league on notice of his intentions of an MVP campaign. When interviewed by Joel Goldberg after the game, Bobby credited his teammates, saying “the boys are playing some ball right now”. It lifted the team and gave them a mantra that carried them the entire season.

June 2 - Nelson Velázquez comeback triple against Padres

By June, the hot start was beginning to look real, giving fans dreams of contention. The Royals trailed the Padres 3-1 heading into the ninth inning, but the first two hitters reached base, giving fans hope. Pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez (remember him?) stepped in to face lefty Yuki Matsui, and drilled one to the centerfield fence for a game-tying triple. One batter later, Nick Lofton hit a sac fly to score Velázquez to win the game.

June 7 - Bobby Witt’s game-tying triple

Less than a week later, the Royals staged an even bigger comeback. The Mariners scored seven runs in the first inning, and other teams might have packed it in. But the Royals chipped away at the lead, and trailed 9-7 heading into the ninth inning. Fans were thinking “just get one hitter on base so Bobby can hit.” Nick Loftin led off with a walk, and Garrett Hampson moved him to third on an infield single. After Maikel Garcia plated a run on a force out, Bobby stepped up ready to play hero. He smacked a ball down the left field line to score Garcia and tie the game. But not content for a double, Witt hustled and made it to third, much to the amazement of his teammates. He would score on a hard grounder hit by Velázquez to win the game.

June 13 - Maikel Garcia walk-off double

The Royals faced some adversity in June with a tough stretch of games against expected contenders. They were in danger of getting swept in a four-game set against the Yankees and were trailing 3-2 in the ninth inning of the series finale. Two runners reached base against Yankees closer Clay Holmes, bringing up the slumping Maikel Garcia. Garcia lined a 2-0 pitch down the left field line to bring home both runs and give the Royals a 4-3 walk-off win.

July 15 - Bobby’s Home Run Derby performance

Only four Royals had ever participated in the Home Run Derby before this year, but Bobby Witt Jr. was selected to participate during All-Star weekend in his native Texas where his dad once starred for the Rangers. He smacked 20 home runs in the first round, then 17 in the next round to advance to the finals against Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernández. He fell to Hernández 14-13 with the last drive hitting off the middle of the centerfield wall. Still, it was an impressive performance - his 50 total home runs were more than anyone else - and it made Royals fans proud.

August 17 - Dairon Blanco’s 7-RBI game

For one day, Dairon Blanco was the greatest player in baseball. The speedster didn’t get many starts, but he made his start against the Reds in August count. He drilled a two-run home run in the second, a rarity for the player better known for his stolen bases. But the very next inning he came up with the bases loaded, and wouldn’t you know it - he homered again. That wasn’t even the end - the next inning he laced an RBI single giving him seven RBI in just three innings, tying the Royals single-game record.

September 27 - Royals clinch their first post-season berth since 2015

The Royals were spenders last off-season, investing to upgrade the pitching staff. But even the most optimistic of fans did not expect a run at a playoff spot. The Royals wobbled a bit in September with two seven-game losing streaks. But they still managed to clinch a playoff spot while in Atlanta, their first trip to the post-season since winning it all in 2015.

October 1 - Royals sweep the Orioles, advance to ALCS

The Royals were not content to just make the playoffs. In the words of Bobby Witt Jr., they didn’t “come this far just to come this far.” After a tense 1-0 win over the Orioles in Game 1, the Royals showed it was no fluky with another great-pitched game with clutch hitting to sweep the best-of-three series on the road, setting up an ALCS matchup against the Yankees.

Did I miss any? What was your favorite moment of the year?