The home run is a landmark of baseball history, responsible for the sport’s most iconic moments. Yet more than ever, it is a characteristic of the present game, even to the detriment of contact at the plate and elite defense in the field. And still, it remains the unequivocal way of the future.

Well, maybe not for the Royals.

Kansas City appears to be trending in a different direction. Away from the long ball. Away from its competitors.

Back to athleticism. Back to the makeup of the 2014 and 2015 teams.

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