Kansas City Royals Top Ten: The New Generation
By Tab Bamford
The Royals’ 2015 World Series win over the New York Mets gave Kansas City its first World Series title in 30 years. The makeup of the Royals’ 2015 roster revealed how much had changed in those 30 years. All-Star catcher Salvador “Salvy” Pérez handled a staff of pitchers who spoke English and Spanish and included Dominican starters Edinson Volquez and Yordano Ventura. That was something with which 1985 starting catcher Jim Sundberg didn’t have to concern himself. Added to the 2015 mix were the Venezuelan double-play combination of shortstop Alcides Escobar and second baseman Omar Infante, Puerto Rico
The 2015 Royals fulfilled the promise of a farm system increasing reliant on development of talent from Latin America. It was a system which produced many talented players, including a Rookie of the Year candidate throughout the 1990s and 2000s, not the least of which was Puerto Rican centerfielder Carlos Beltrán who won the 1999 AL Rookie award.
As many Royals fans are all too aware, however, Beltrán departed via trade and would earn his ring elsewhere like many talented young players before him. Salvy and his 2015 teammates winning the Series ring and raising a banner at Kaufman Stadium provided hope of a different future.
We continue our celebration of the greatest Latino players in the history of the 30 major league organizations by turning to Kansas City.
A reminder: The Top 10 for each team was created through rankings based on WAR, as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com.
Let’s take a look to see where Salvy, Beltrán and your other favorite Latinos on the Royals landed on the all-time Top 10 list.
Kansas City Royals
1. Carlos Beltrán
Seven years with Kansas City, 24.8 WAR, 1999 American League Rookie of the Year
Puerto Rico
Beltrán appeared in 14 games in 1998 and then captured the attention of the AL in ’99 when he hit 22 home runs and drove in 108 runs, earning him Rookie of the Year honors. In 795 games over his seven seasons in Kansas City, Beltrán stole 164 bases (caught only 23 times) and hit 123 home runs. He drove in 516 runs and scored 546 times. He was a beast in blue. After ranking first in Mets history, he repeats with the Royals.
2. Salvador Pérez
Seven-plus seasons in Kansas City, 19.8 WAR, five-time All-Star, four Gold Gloves, 2015 World Series MVP
Venezuela
While the catcher on the other side of the state gets more attention, Pérez is among the best behind the dish in the game today. Though the start of his 2018 regular season was delayed due to injury, he’s been a terrific signal caller and solid offensive contributor. He’s hit 120 home runs, scored 345 runs and drove in 443 in 840 regular season games (and counting). But he’ll always be remembered for his .364/.391/.455 slash line in the 2015 World Series.
3. David DeJesus
Eight years with Kansas City, 18.1 WAR
U.S./Puerto Rico
The departure of Beltrán created the opportunity for DeJesus to take on the starting centerfield role for the Royals. From 2003-10, DeJesus patrolled center and was a top-of-the order hitter, batting .289 with a .360 on-base percentage. Although he enjoyed his best seasons with Kansas City, his lone post-season appearance would come with Tampa Bay in 2013.
4. Eric Hosmer
Eight years with Kansas City, 14.2 WAR, one-time All-Star, four Gold Gloves, 2016 All-Star Game MVP
U.S.
Hosmer was, in many ways, the heartbeat of the Royals’ recent stretch of success. He appeared in 1,066 games in Kansas City, slashing .283/.342/.439 with 129 home runs and 570 runs batted in. Unfortunately for Royals fans, perhaps his finest season was his final one with the club. He hit 25 home runs, drove in 94, scored 98 times and hit .318 last year.
5. Joakim Soria
Seven years with Kansas City, 14.1 WAR, 2-time All-Star
Mexico
How about a closer in the top four? Soria broke in with the Royals in 2007, spending the first five years of his career with the Royals before a journey through Texas, Detroit and Pittsburgh ultimately led to his return for a couple more years in 2016-17. Overall, Soria piled up 162 saves with 473 strikeouts in 438 innings while a member of the Royals. And who knows, maybe he’ll be back again some day?
6. Danny Tartabull
Five years with Kansas City, 12.8 WAR, one-time All-Star
Puerto Rico/Cuba
The son of José Tartabull, Danny posed a completely different type of offensive threat as a slugging outfielder versus the slash-and-run style of his father. While José tallied two career home runs during his nine-year big league career, Danny knocked 124 homers and drove in 425 runs during his five seasons with the Royals and even holds the franchise’s highest OPS at .894.
7. Jose Rosado
Five years with Kansas City, 10.4 WAR, 2-time All-Star
US / Puerto Rico
When Royals fans think back to the 1990s, Kevin Appier is the pitcher who comes to mind first. But Rosado represented the club in two All-Star Games (1997, 1999) during his brief five-year career. He won a career-high 10 games and struck out a personal best of 141 in 1999. He would only throw 27.2 innings in the majors after that season though.
8. Alcides Escobar
Eight years with Kansas City, 9.9 WAR, one-time All-Star, one Gold Glove
Venezuela
Escobar was one of the key elements of the trade that sent Zack Greinke to Milwaukee in 2010. Since arriving in Kansas City, Escobar has been as consistent as they come at shortstop. He’s appeared in all 162 games three times in his career (2014, 2016, 2017). He has stolen 154 bases in 191 attempts and scored 492 runs in 1,152 games with the Royals. In 2015, he won a Gold Glove Award, was named to the All-Star Game and won the World Series.
9. José Offerman
Three years with Kansas City, 9.7 WAR
Dominican Republic
Between 1996-98, Offerman was a speed merchant for the Royals. He led the league with 13 triples in 1998, his final season in Kansas City, and stole 78 bases while with the team. Offerman scored 246 times in 415 games and slashed .306/.385/.419 with the Royals after he was acquired from the Dodgers.
10. Rey Sánchez
Three years with Kansas City, 9.3 WAR
Puerto Rico
Sánchez signed with Kansas City before the 1999 season to replace Offerman, who departed for Boston. While he didn’t quite replace Offerman’s speed, Sánchez was a solid all-around middle infielder for the Royals until he was dealt to Atlanta during the 2001 season.
WHO DID WE MISS? WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS!
Featured Image: Sporting News