Royals' Raul Mondesi: In four-way battle for starting job

Mondesi enters camp in a four-way battle for the second base job, The Associated Press reports.

Analysis:

While he is the least proven of the keystone hopefuls in Kansas City, Mondesi is easily the best defender and is most clearly a part of the team's long-term future, as he will likely slide over to shortstop when Alcides Escobar leaves after the 2017 season. If he were to beat out Christian Colon, Cheslor Cuthbert and Whit Merrifield for the starting job, Mondesi would likely post a batting average in the low .200s, but he stole nine bases (on 10 attempts) in 149 plate appearances last year, so he could be a big contributor in that category.