The Royals' bats go cold in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Cubs on July 23, 2025, spoiling Rich Hill's debut. Read how Chicago silenced Bobby Witt Jr. & KC.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of missed opportunities and offensive frustration at Wrigley Field, as the Kansas City Royals were shut out 6-0 by the Chicago Cubs. The quiet night at the plate overshadowed the much-anticipated debut of 45-year-old veteran Rich Hill, leaving the team with a bitter taste as they dropped the series finale.
The Royals' offense managed just six hits, with the team falling to 49-53 on the season.
All eyes were on veteran lefty Rich Hill as he took the mound for the first time in a Royals uniform. Called up to provide rotation depth, Hill delivered a respectable performance, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings while striking out four. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly enough. The Royals' offense was completely neutralized by Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, who carved through the lineup for seven scoreless innings. Kansas City mustered a meager six hits, with only Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. managing singles. The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, allowing three more runs in the seventh to seal the lopsided 6-0 defeat.
The loss pushes the Royals to 49-53, a season-high four games below .500. They remain entrenched in fourth place in the AL Central, now a distant 11 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. While the team struggles for consistency, its stars continue to produce. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the club with a .291 batting average, and Salvador Perez remains the primary power source with 17 home runs and 60 RBIs. However, it's clear that individual performances aren't enough to carry a team that can't generate runs on nights like this.
While the big-league club grapples with its current identity, there's positive news brewing in the minor leagues. In Bleacher Report's latest post-draft rankings, the Royals' farm system climbed to 20th in MLB, an improvement from its previous 21st position. The system is headlined by top prospect Jac Caglianone, a versatile 1B/OF, and boasts impressive depth at catcher with Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen. This slow but steady improvement in the pipeline offers a glimmer of hope for the future, even as the present feels challenging.
With the trade deadline looming and the team slipping further from contention, the Royals are at a crossroads. The front office remains quiet on the transaction front, but decisions will need to be made soon. Will they stand pat, sell off pieces, or make a bold move to spark a second-half run? After a day off to regroup, the team will need to find its offensive spark quickly to avoid letting the rest of the season slip away.
