Coming off a 56-106 season one year prior, the Royals made a surprising turnaround in 2024, fueled by superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and a strong rotation led by All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo. The Royals punctuated their turnaround with the franchise's first playoff berth since 2015, and they ended the season 86-76, an overall improvement of 30 wins.

Well before Kansas City clinched, it had already ensured that it would finish this season with a winning record, becoming just the 13th team to do so (excluding shortened seasons) one year after losing 100-plus games since MLB switched from a 154- to a 162-game schedule in 1961, the start of the Expansion Era.

Here's a breakdown of how 100-loss teams have fared in subsequent seasons during this time period.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, only teams during the Expansion Era (1961-present) are included here for the sake of consistency with the 162-game schedule. Shortened seasons such as 1981, 1994, 1995 and 2020 are not included.

How many teams lost 100 or more games from 1961 to the present?

A total of 94 teams have lost 100 or more games in a season since the start of the Expansion Era in 1961.

What is the average win total for those teams the following season?

Through the end of the 2024 season, teams posted an average win total of 68 the year after losing 100 games.

How many teams finished the season after they lost 100 or more games with a record above .500?

Of the 91 teams with 100 or more losses from 1961-2023, 13 finished the next season above .500:

2023-24 Royals (56-106 to 86-76)
2022-23 Reds (62-100 to 82-80)
2021-22 Orioles (52-110 to 83-79)
2016-17 Twins (59-103 to 85-77)
2008-09 Mariners (61-101 to 85-77)
1988-89 Orioles (54-107 to 87-75)
1985-86 Giants (62-100 to 83-79)
1985-86 Cleveland (60-102 to 84-78)
1979-80 Athletics (54-108 to 83-79)
1973-74 Rangers (57-105 to 84-76-1)
1966-67 Cubs (59-103 to 87-74-1)
1962-63 Cubs (59-103 to 82-80)
1961-62 Phillies (47-107 to 81-80)

The highest win total among these teams belongs to the 1967 Cubs and 1989 Orioles, who each won 87 games after losing 100-plus the prior season. The largest year-over-year increase in wins belongs to the 1962 Phillies, who went from 47 wins the previous season to 81 the next, representing an increase of 34 wins.

How many teams with 100-plus losses one season reached the postseason the next?

That would be two: Before the 2024 Royals, there were the 2017 Twins, who reached the playoffs with an 85-77 record after going 59-103 the prior season. Minnesota lost the AL Wild Card Game to the Yankees that October.

Note: The Marlins, who reached the postseason during the shortened 2020 season after losing 105 games in 2019, are excluded here.