KANSAS CITY -- The first year of the Royals' rebuilding project is in the books. There is optimism throughout the organization after the team's young core played solidly over the final six weeks, producing Kansas City's one winning month this season in September (15-13).
That young core -- Adalberto Mondesi, Hunter Dozier, Ryan O'Hearn, Brett Phillips, Jorge Bonifacio, Heath Fillmyer, Jorge Lopez, Eric Skoglund, Brad Keller and Jakob Junis, among others -- seemed to revitalize the fan base as well.