Lucas Erceg

After racking up 14 saves between the Athletics and Royals in 2024, Erceg served as a late-inning fireman in 2025 after Kansas City signed Carlos Estevez to be their closer. Erceg's 2.33 Win Probability Added was the highest among Royals relievers and 12th highest overall, while his 1.64 Game Leverage Index was also a top-20 mark. The 30-year-old righty was fourth among relievers with eight wins and his 22 holds were also a career-best. However, Erceg's strikeout rate dropped precipitously; down 9.2 percentage points from 2024 and roughly six points below his career average. Perhaps it was due to a slight dip in velocity - he was down about one mile per hour on all of his offerings - or maybe due to injuries (foot, back, shoulder), two of which required stints on the injured list. Assuming he's back to full health for the start of the 2026 campaign, Erceg has proved enough over the past two seasons to retain his high-leverage role for the Royals. Read Past Outlooks