Raul Mondesi is slashing a quite respectable .277/.306/.511 through 52 plate appearances at AAA Omaha after the KC Royals promoted him early in July. While he’s still too much of a hacker at the plate, he’s showing more pop this season than any prior year of his career on the verge of turning 21 (Mondesi’s birthday is July 27).
Whit Merrifield is on notice now. He’s going to have to fight to keep that starting job at second base with Mondesi looming at AAA. With Merrifield caught in a slump, Raul Mondesi could take over at second base as early as next season, pushing Merrifield into a utility role—and perhaps moving Christian Colon off the team.