SURPRISE, Ariz. _ The Kansas City Royals have asked all the reasonable questions and put their best and brightest on the case.
They've been tantalized and teased by Adalberto Mondesi's potential and confounded by his misfortune with regard to injuries. They feel like if they somehow keep him healthy for an entire season, baseball will be in awe.
A member of the Royals organization since 2011, Mondesi still won't turn 25 until July. A 6-foot-1, 190-pound five-tool player and switch-hitting shortstop, he's a potential superstar.
But his seasons have regularly been truncated by injuries, such as last year's left shoulder issues that necessitated two injured list stints on top of another for a groin strain. His season ended prematurely because of shoulder surgery.
Despite playing in only 102 games, the most of his career in the majors, Mondesi tied teammates Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier as well as Eduardo Escobar for the major league lead with 10 triples. Mondesi also ranked second in the majors with 43 stolen bases, and he became the first American League shortstop to register at least 10 triples, 40 steals and 60 RBIs in a season.
The fact that he's missed significant time every year makes his exploits more enticing. He's never played more than 125 games in a year, and that total came in the minors in 2013. Which means there's an argument that he still has a lot of upside.
"There's no maybe about it," Royals manager Mike Matheny said. "And the key is a full season. We've yet to see a full major-league season of what this guy can do. He and I have had these conversations. This guy is special.
"You guys have watched it longer than I have, but, just watching the league, there's not many guys that can do what he does. I think he's got maybe as much if not more of a ceiling than anybody in that room. I truly do. I think we've seen plenty to let us know that's true defensively, and I would say on the offensive side too."
All anybody needs to do is look to the Royals' division rival Cleveland Indians and their shortstop Francisco Lindor to understand the potential impact of Mondesi.
Lindor, 26, is also a switch-hitting shortstop. He has speed, the ability to hit for average and power and excel defensively. Last season, he earned his second Gold Glove, second Silver Slugger Award and fourth All-Star selection after his third consecutive season of at least 30 home runs and 15 or more stolen bases.
"I told (Mondesi), I don't care who you line yourself up with in the league," Matheny said. "I'll take you."
