Following his rookie season in 2011, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, but the young player struggled to follow up that season with success in 2012. His statistics fell significantly and Royals manager Ned Yost minced no words, telling Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that the 22-year old regressed during the year:

"He regressed, but he's going to (rebound). Absolutely. He got into some bad mechanical areas. Started pressing. Started listening to too many people. Started changing too many things. His swing got long. It got loopy. It got violent."

In 2012, Hosmer finished with a .232 batting average with 14 home runs and 60 runs batted in. Each lower than his 2011 year when he accumulated a .293 average with 19 home runs and 78 RBIs. Selected with the third overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, Hosmer spent a few seasons in the Royals minor league system before being recalled in early May of 2011.

The Royals finished the 2012 season 72-90, third in the AL Central.