Eric Hosmer once stood tall at first base, making flashy glove flips, looking handsome and sprinkling in the occasional rip over the right field wall when he wasn’t hammering the ball into the ground. You may think he didn’t live up to his potential, but for seven seasons he was a perfectly above-average offensive first baseman who had moments of brilliance, saving them particularly for the post-season when the Royals needed him the most.
Someday we’ll know for sure if Hosmer was worth the gigantic contract the Padres gave him (spoiler alert, he won’t be worth it) but the Royals have really missed him at first base.