This story was featured in Issue 2.2 of Royals Baseball Insider and is available for free to all fans who attend any game during the homestand from May 12–18.
As a tragic offseason in Kansas City came to an end, Jason Hammel addressed reporters on the first floor of Kauffman Stadium on February 8, after signing a two-year deal with the Royals.
“It was a strange offseason,” Hammel said. “It didn’t really go according to plan.”
Fresh off a career-high 15 wins and a 3.83 ERA with the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs in 2016, Hammel was one of the top free-agent starting pitchers on the market.