Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked Royals fans who they wanted to be the Opening Day left fielder with a bevy of options after the guy most of us have assumed would be the guy heading into Spring Training. It turns out, Royals fans haven’t changed their minds.
Isaac Collins
– who probably will be the Opening Day left fielder – got 57% of the vote. On retrospect, I guess that’s a pretty obvious call. Royals fans are smart enough not to put too much stock into Spring Training stats, and if Isaac Collins can’t be the guy, the Royals will be starting the year behind the eight ball in the outfield for at least the third season in a row.
What’s perhaps more interesting is how the rest of the results came in. I can understand Lane Thomas is probably better suited to center field instead of Kyle Isbel against the projected starter, a tough lefty in Chris Sale. But Starling Marte could still really hit last year, and while his defense didn’t rate well, the Royals really need a solid bat more than a glove out there. But Royals fans preferred the field of “someone else” rather than Marte. Who are you all putting out there instead of him? Nick Loftin has had a really nice spring, so maybe he would make some sense. I still think I’d take Marte, though.
Regardless, Collins is who Royals fans want and almost certainly who they’ll get. Only two weeks to go to find out if it’s going to work!
These survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.
