With pick No. 109 in this year’s MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected infielder Michael Massey from the University of Illinois. Over the course of his collegiate career, Massey posted a slash line of 0.324/0.367/0.485 while racking up 110 RBI in 159 games. A back injury forced him to serve as Illinois’ designated hitter, but he was eventually able to return to his natural position at second base later in the 2019 season.
Joining the Royals’ rookie affiliate, the Burlington Royals, Massey appeared in 42 games. Hitting 0.272 with 5 home runs and 25 RBI over the course of 173 at-bats, the 21-year-old got off to a slow start but improved a ton down the stretch.