Royals' Raul Mondesi: Second base an option again in 2017

Mondesi is among the candidates vying for the Royals' starting job at second base in 2017, the Kansas City Star reports.

Analysis:

Despite a PED suspension early in 2016 while he was in the minors, Mondesi debuted with the Royals in late July as a 20-year-old and struggled to find regular playing time down the stretch as he hit .185/.231/.281 in 47 games. Prior to his suspension, Mondesi displayed a combination of power and speed that was previously unseen in his profile, and a significant part of his long-term value comes from his defensive ability shortstop, where he's currently blocked by Alcides Escobar. He'll get an opportunity to compete for the job at the keystone in spring training with the likes of Whit Merrifield, Cheslor Cuthbert, and Christian Colon.