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2023 Player Outlook

One of the cleverest moves of the 2022 season went under the radar last summer when the Royals convinced the Braves to trade their No. 1 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) for just a draft pick – its Competitive Balance pick in the lockout-delayed amateur draft. The team then showed their confidence in the young switch-hitter by trading away both Andrew Benintendi and Michael Taylor. There were mild concerns about Walters as he hit only .246 in AAA in 2021 and was hitting only .241 when traded to KC in the summer of 2022 but the trade immediately paid dividends. He slashed an eye-opening .295/.399/.541 with a .940 OPS in Omaha and after being promoted to the big club at the end of August he hit .240 with 5 HR/18 RBI, good enough to put Waters in the mix for a starting outfield spot in 2023.