KANSAS CITY, Mo. — "It's funny how baseball works out."
Those are the words of new Royals first baseman Lucas Duda.
"You learn from failure. It makes you strong as a person, as a player."
Chances are you've heard of Duda: the guy who made the errant throw in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series that allowed Eric Hosmer to slide home safely and tie the game.
And considering he's played almost his entire career in the NL East, chances are you haven't heard of Duda for anything else.
"It was just an aggressive, fearless base-running play by Hoz," said Royals General Manager Dayton Moore. "And a player that's trying to make a good play, knowing that the base runner is advancing home for the tying run."
All the Royals and Duda agree it won't be an awkward union. And in the meantime, Duda, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Kansas City, can help this team.
"You look at Lucas Duda's numbers offensively, and the last 3 to 4 years [when] he's getting his 450 at-bats, he's a 30-home run guy," said Royals Manager Ned Yost.
Duda figures to, at least, temporarily fill the team's need at first base (replacing Hosmer) moving prospect Hunter Dozier over to other positions such as third base and the outfield.
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