(Graphic by: Jamilete Hernandez)

The Kansas City sports world has been buzzing with news and activity as it does year-round. The Chiefs have made some strategic picks in this year’s draft, while the Royals, Sporting KC, and the Current are fighting their own battles. Here’s what’s going on in Kansas City. 

This Year’s Notable Draft Picks For The Chiefs:

• Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio State) – Selected after a last minute trade position swap with the Eagles, Simmons has proven himself a strong offensive tackle who has been assigned the crucial task of protecting QB Patrick Mahomes, a wise decision after the offensive line struggled to do this in Super Bowl 59.
• Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, Tennessee) – Second round pick Norman-Lott is expected to bring powerful rushing ability and added depth to the defensive line. 
• Jalen Royals (WR, Utah State) – Royals is a promising athlete renowned for his yards-after-catch capabilities. 

Kansas City Current Still On Top, But Can They Remain There?

Ranked number one in the entire NWSL, the Current has played an outstanding season of soccer so far, with a record of 5-1 overall, including four shutouts. Unfortunately, the North Carolina Courage handed them their first loss of the season on April 26, knocking them out of their undefeated position. While they remain in the NWSL title discussion, the Orlando Pride has built a dam in the path of the Current, perfectly matching their records across the board. 

The Current will face off against Bay FC in Kansas City on May 11. 

Royals Fall Again Into A Negative-Overall Record

It has been a back-and-forth season for Kansas City baseball, with inconsistencies in  offensive production and run scoring. Contrary to last season, Royals legends Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez have seen a drop in their On Base Percentages, allowing them little room for runs. 

Speaking of runs, the Royals are ranked dead-last in the MLB in runs per game, with an average of 2.96 runs per contest. While solid pitching has been a trend, we have seen enough offensive support. 

The Royals will begin their next series against the Boston Red Sox today, May 9. 

Sporting KC Struggles To Find Their Footing This Season

Kansas City men’s soccer currently sits at 13th in the Western Conference, but have had a hard time performing on both sides of the ball. While they’ve netted a total of 15 goals out of their 10 total games so far, they’ve conceded 19, giving them a -4 differential. On the upside, they snagged a win of 5-3 against San Jose on the road, their highest scoring game so far. 

Sporting KC will find themselves face-to-face with the Portland Timbers on May 10. 

There is much anticipation in the air as for how these teams will perform as they transition out of their early seasons. Some will fall behind, and others will stay ahead of the pack, and we are surely in for an exciting ride as they continue their seasons.