Former Red Sox Slugger Signs Minor League Contract

A longtime member of the Boston Red Sox found a new landing spot in hopes of reviving his career.

The Kansas City Royals signed Bobby Dalbec to a minor league contract on Friday. Their official player development department announced the move on social media.

Dalbec began his career with the Red Sox, who made him a fourth-round pick in 2016. He enjoyed his most big league success when crushing 25 home runs as the starting first baseman in 2021.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t replicated that power since. Dalbec batted .215/.283/.369 with 12 homers in 117 games the following season and offered one long ball in each of the last two years, hitting .159 with 71 strikeouts in 146 plate appearances.

Punchouts were always a problem for Dalbec, who’s struck out in 36.6 percent of his career plate appearances. Michael Toglia, who’s batting .194 for the Colorado Rockies, is the only player with a higher K rate in over 160 plate appearances this season.

Dalbec has bounced around organizations this year, starting spring training on a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. Called up in late April, he went 4-for-18 with no home runs in seven games before they designated him for assignment.

The 30-year-old joined the Milwaukee Brewers, where he hit .266/.356/.498 in Triple-A. Dalbec became a free agent by opting out of his minor league deal last week.

Dalbec joins a Royals organization that just lost two of three games to the Red Sox. They’ve deposited an American League-low 100 home runs but remain in the playoff picture at 57-58.