Hunter Renfroe Goes To The Royals On Two-Year Deal
1 year agoFree-agent outfielder Hunter Renfroe agreed on a two-year, $13 million with the Kansas City Royals on Friday. Renfroe will have the ability to opt out of the deal (player option) after Year 1 at $6.5 million. The deal also includes incentives. Renfroe will add a veteran presence for a rebuilding Royals team and will have an everyday outfield role as he makes the move to the American League Central. The 31-year-old right-handed slugger spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds, slashing a disappointing .233/.297/.416 with 20 home runs, 31 doubles, 60 RBI and 60 runs scored in 140 total games. The 20 homers were the fewest he's had in a season in his eight-year big-league career. Renfroe should still provide decent power for KC and as outfield depth in fantasy leagues, but nobody should be banking on a return to the 30-homer plateau in 2024.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Hunter Renfroe Sitting On Saturday
1 week agoKansas City Royals outfielder/first baseman Hunter Renfroe is not in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon. Instead, MJ Melendez will shift to right field, which will open first base for Cavan Biggio. On Opening Day, Renfroe went 0-for-4 at the plate with one strikeout. Last season, Renfroe appeared in 120 games for the Royals. Across this stint, Renfroe held a .229/.297/.392 slash line with 18 doubles and 15 round-trippers. He was an elite defender in right field as he placed in the 87th percentile in arm value and 91st percentile in arm strength. However, in the batter's box, he generated an underwhelming .291 xwOBA and .223 xBA, which placed him in the 18th and 13th percentile, respectively. Given his lack of consistent production, he should only be rostered in deeper AL-only formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton Returning To Kansas City
5 months agoKansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe and relief pitcher Chris Stratton both had their 2025 club options exercised according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Renfroe had a down year in 2024 as he hit just 15 home runs, his lowest total in a full season throughout his career. He held a .229/.297/.392 slash line. Stratton served as a high-leverage reliever this past summer and posted a 5.55 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP with four saves and five holds. Fantasy managers should expect Renfroe to be deployed as a platoon option early on in right field with the opportunity to grow into a full-time role if he can get back on track. He could be worth a look as a late-option for power in deeper formats. Stratton should be in the mix to see a handful of save opportunities in 2025.
Source: Mark Feinsand
Source: Mark Feinsand
Hunter Renfroe Starting On Bench In Game 1 Of Wild-Card Series
6 months agoKansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 1 of the wild-card series on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. With Renfroe riding pine, the Royals will roll with Tommy Pham in right field, and he will hit seventh against Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes. Renfroe's playing time in the postseason might be more spotty now that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) is back from the injured list to take over designated hitter duties, at least for the wild-card series. If the 32-year-old Renfroe does get into a game at any point during the series in Baltimore, it will likely come against a left-handed pitcher. In his first year with the Royals in 2024, Renfroe hit just .229/.297/.392 with a below-average .689 OPS, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 120 games played. In 23 games with KC, Pham went 23-for-101 (.228) with two homers and eight RBI.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Hunter Renfroe Returns From Injured List
7 months agoThe Kansas City Royals reinstated outfielder Hunter Renfroe (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Thursday and optioned right-hander Steven Cruz to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. The team also designated right-hander Dan Altavilla (oblique) for assignment. Renfroe, who is hitting just .237/.312/.398 with a .710 OPS, 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 334 at-bats for the Royals this year, will be a platoon bat for the Royals against left-handed pitchers, at best, upon his return after the addition of right-handed-hitting outfielder Tommy Pham. With Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) expected to miss the rest of the regular season, some of Renfroe's playing time could come at first base down the stretch. He has been out since late August with a strained right hamstring. He went 8-for-21 (.381) with a homer and three RBI in six games before landing on the IL, so KC will be hoping he can pick up where he left off.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
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