Alex Rios signed with the Kansas City Royals, in part, because he had never reached the postseason. It seemed to be a bold choice, as the Royals were typically expected by baseball prognosticators to revert back to their previous status as doormats in the American League.
As the season began, and the Royals went 7-0, Rios was on fire. He had hit the ball well throughout Spring Training, and continued to do so in the first week of the season, producing a .321/.345/.464 batting line with a home run and eight RBI.