The 2014 Major League Baseball playoffs are already halfway complete, and the Kansas City Royals find themselves just four wins away from the World Series.

The AL Wild Card Royals have become a must-watch team with their timely hits and upsets over favored teams. The Royals finished 89-73 during the regular season, second place in the American League Central behind the Detroit Tigers. The Royals then stunned the baseball world by rallying to defeat the Oakland Athletics in a dramatic come-from-behind victory in extra innings in the first round. In the second round, the Royals silenced the critics by sweeping the No. 1 seed Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in three games.

One of biggest reasons the Royals have had so much success this season is because of their Venezuelan presence.

This season, Alcides Escobar, Salvador Perez and Omar Infante have played a huge role in the Royals making their first American League Championship Series appearance since 1985. This year is also the first time the Royals have made the playoffs since 1985.

Shortstop Escobar, of La Sabana, Venezuela, led the Royals in hits this season with 165. He, along with Jarrod Dyson, are two of the best base runners in baseball. This season, the Royals led the Majors in stolen bases. Escobar had an impressive .285 batting average this season.

Catcher Salvador Perez, a native of Valencia, has had a memorable season. Ranking second on the team with 150 hits and 17 home runs, Perez is one of the best power hitters on the team. Only Alex Gordon had more total bases than Perez did this season. Perez has also been sharp at the plate making the last two All-Star Games for the American League. In the wild card round against the Oakland Athletics, Perez came up to bat in the 12th inning. Perez delivered with a game-winning walk off hit to give the Royals their first postseason win in 29 years.

Veteran second baseman Omar Infante, of Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, has also contributed to the Royals this season. The 32-year-old had 133 hits for the Royals this season and 21 doubles. Infante's fielding percentage this season is 97.8.

Baseball has always been a thriving sport in the Hispanic community. Latin American nations such as the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Cuba have always presented MLB with top tier players. Venezuela has given MLB many great players over the years as well. Players such as Omar Vizquel, Andres Galarraga, Victor Martinez and Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio are just a few notables. Freddy Garcia is widely considered one of the best pitchers from Venezuela.

The Royals are set for a best of seven game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Again, they will be the underdog playing on the road for the majority of the series. Game 1 begins Friday, Oct. 10 at 8:07 p.m. EST on TBS at Camden Yards Stadium.

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