Royals Recap

Welcome to Big Dill Sports, I'm Dillon, your host. Today, we're diving into the Kansas City Royals' wrap-up of the 2025 season. While the team had their off day on September 30th, let’s look back at their exciting finale against the Oakland Athletics in West Sacramento.

The Royals wrapped up their season on September 28th with a commanding 9-2 victory over the Athletics. Playing at Sutter Health Park, they ended their campaign with a respectable 82-80 record. This marks back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2014-15—a solid step in the right direction for the team.

Now, let's break down that final game. Carter Jensen was on fire, grabbing three hits in four at-bats, including a 482-foot solo home run, the longest in franchise Statcast history. Talk about making a statement! Michael Massey wasn't far behind, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs in an impressive four-hit afternoon.

Mike Yastrzemski made sure to leave his mark too, smashing two solo homers to end the year with 17. And Bobby Witt Jr. contributed with two RBIs, notching his MLB-leading 47th double—a fantastic season highlight for him.

On the pitching front, Cole Ragans was solid, delivering 4.1 innings of one-run baseball, striking out eight and allowing just two hits. Daniel Lynch IV came in with a flawless relief effort, pitching 2.1 perfect innings and earning the win with three strikeouts.

Manager Matt Quatraro shared his thoughts after the game, praising the team's efforts in securing a winning record but also expressing the disappointment of missing out on the postseason. Kansas City finished six games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and five games away from the final American League wild-card spot.

Now, as we close the books on the season, attention turns towards evaluating the roster and preparing for 2026. The Royals will be weighing their options and making plans to build on this strong foundation.

Before we wrap up, it's time for our 'big dill' of the episode. This honor goes to Carter Jensen. That record-breaking home run and his performance at the plate truly made him a big deal in this season finale.

Thank you for tuning in to Big Dill Sports. I'm Dillon, and I'll catch you next time as we continue to explore the stories and stats that make our favorite games special. Until then, keep those caps and gloves ready for another exciting season on the horizon.