Despite a Royals season defined by the disappointment of failing to reach the postseason after entering the year with so much promise, the year was not devoid of reasons for optimism.
Kansas City did manage to salvage a winning record to give them their second consecutive winning season, marking the first time they'd done so since the three year stretch from 2013 to 2015.
And they achieved such a feat primarily from how strong their pitching staff looked overall. While much of the shine will certainly be on the rotation, the bullpen's effectiveness cannot be overlooked. This could be Carlos Estévez leading the league in saves or the cast of characters like Steven Cruz or Taylor Clarke unexpectedly stepping into bigger roles.