Here at Royals camp, it is easy to overlook first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. He is 23 years old. He is neither part of the club’s returning core nor a prospect on the cusp of the big leagues. He is not camp darling Peter O’Brien, who spent the opening weeks mesmerizing his new teammates with his ridiculous raw power.
For close to a month, O’Hearn has faded into the background, spending his camp in relative anonymity, quietly studying the movements of Eric Hosmer, the man who currently resides at first base.
“It’s the ‘School of Hoz’ over there,” O’Hearn said.