8 Mike Moustakas, 3B

Royals manager Ned Yost has no plans to give up on struggling third baseman Mike Moustakas, the Kansas City Star reports.

"The kid is going to be fine," Yost told the Star. "Yes, he’s fighting it right now. They’re all fighting it. They want success. They want to bring a championship to Kansas City. At times, the desire to win overwhelms them.

"I’ve been in baseball my whole life. I know which kids are going to work and which kids aren’t. He’s going to work. I’ve seen it too many times. (Being patient) with young guys works. It works."

Heading into Saturday's action, Moustakas has hit .189/.261/.331 with four home runs in 142 plate appearances.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas has gone hitless in his last three games.

Moustakas went on a hot streak prior to his mini-slump, hitting a home run in three straight games. Moustakas has since gone 0 for 13 with five strikeouts. He'll look to end the streak against Angels pitcher Jason Vargas Tuesday. Moustakas is hitting .200/.277/.348 in 115 at-bats. 

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas hit 20 home runs in his breakout 2012 campaign, and Fantasy owners were only expecting more moving forward from the 24-year-old. Thanks to his third home run in as many nights Friday, he is finally starting to look like the borderline No. 1 third baseman that Fantasy owners thought they were getting during the draft.

He is still batting just .228 on the season, but with his low strikeout rate and emerging power, we should definitely expect that to improve moving forward. Moustakas has been hurt by a .226 batting average on balls in play that ranks as the 17th-lowest in the majors this season. If Moustakas' BABIP was even just .277, his career rate, he would be looking much more respectable.

Even given his power surge, I think Moustakas has room to improve moving forward. It might be too late, but Moustakas still seems like the type of player smart Fantasy owners buy low on.  

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas finally started warming up with the bat Wednesday in Baltimore. Despite K.C. taking the loss, Moustakas went 3 for 4 and belted his second home run of the season. 

Moustakas singled twice and smashed a two-run blast off Chris Tillman in the sixth inning with two outs. He's now batting .219 after entering Wednesday hitting just .196. 

Royals manager Ned Yost is considering changes to his current lineup and believes two players could have vastly different roles in the future, the Kansas City Star reports Wednesday. 

While Eric Hosmer has spent a lot of time cleaning up for the Royals this year and Mike Moustakas has been lower in the order, Yost has higher hopes for both down the line when they are finally ready. 

"I still believe when it all is said and done that (Eric) Hosmer is going to be a three hitter," Yost said, "and that Moose (Moustakas) is going to be a four or five hitter. It just takes time in the big leagues to get yourself established. You’re still projecting younger players who you think are going to be really productive -- Sal (Perez), Moose, Hos and Cain. It just takes time."

Hosmer is heating up in May and already has seven hits in the month over five games to raise his average to .269 with nine RBI. He's yet to homer. Moustakas has been slow to hit all season with an average below the Mendoza line.