Under general manager Dayton Moore, the Royals have always viewed speed and defense as effective tools to win championships at the major league level. The 2015 Kansas City Royals were above league average in defense efficiency, fielding percentage, and second in baseball in defensive runs saved. From 2014-2015, the Royals swiped 257 stolen bases (128.5 per season). So when the club inked one of the top defensive shortstops in the 2018 international class, it came as no shock that the kid could fly as well.
Kansas City signed 17-year-old shortstop Wilmin Candelario out of Peravia, Dominican Republic during the 2018 international signings period for $847,500.