The Top 10 Royals…

By Seth Herrold
Coming up with a list of the top 10 Royals players in history could be a tough task, but you have a starting point with George Brett and a lot of good players to work through from that point on. What I am going to do, however, is come up with a list of the top 10 Royals that I have seen play in person. The task suddenly becomes more difficult as George Brett, Frank White, Willie Wilson and the rest of the stars from Kansas City’s heyday are thrown out.

I went to my first Royals’ game ever in 1997. The Royals suffered a 6-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians. I liked baseball, as any kid that age does, but I wouldn’t say I followed the Royals. Not like I do now anyway. By 1999 I really started following the Royals, as in listening or watching as many games as possible and getting down to Kauffman Stadium on multiple occasions. So that is the starting point for me as I embark on this challenge to come up with a list of 10 worthy players for such a list.
What started this idea to come up with a list of the top 10 Royals of my time as a fan was a comment that I made after the Memorial Day game this year. After Eric Hosmer had a home run in the first, a double off the top of the wall that drove in two runs in his next at bat and a pair of sparkling plays in the field, I said “Eric Hosmer is probably the best player I have ever seen in a Royals uniform.” Now that comment is probably going to be true and I would say he is already in the top 10, but I can’t have him number one yet, just because there is always the chance that he is the next Angel Berroa. Berroa, who is not on this list, was the Royals’ shortstop in 2003 and won the rookie of the year award for the American League after a stellar season. The next year, however, Berroa was nowhere near the fielder or hitter he was in his rookie campaign. He struggled in the Royals’ system for a few years afterwards and then dropped off the face of the planet. I seriously doubt Hosmer will follow that map, but because of Berroa, I don’t have Hosmer first yet, but enough about that, lets get to the list.
Number one, Carlos Beltran. Beltran was a starter in centerfield for the Royals from 1999 to 2003 when he was traded to the Houston Astros. Beltran was an absolute joy to watch. He was, in the time I have followed the Royals, the truest five-tool player I have ever seen. He could run, hit for average, hit for power, field and throw runners out. Beltran had over 100 RBIs four different times for the Royals, had 123 career homers and hit over .300 twice. He hit 29 home runs in 2002, the second most in a single season I have ever seen hit by a Royals player.
Number two, Jermaine Dye. Dye came closer than any other Royals’ player I have seen to breaking Steve Balboni’s club record for home runs in a single season, which is 36. Dye hit 33 home runs in 2000, ranking sixth in Royals history. He was a power hitter and could hit for average as well. Eventually, Dye was the World Series MVP for the Chicago White Sox.
Number three, Mike Sweeney. People who know me know I’m not a big Mike Sweeney fan. He was injured all the time, overpaid and a terrible fielder. That being said, the guy was a solid hitter. He hit .340 in 2002 and had a career average of .299 with the Royals. He blasted 197 home runs in his time in Kansas City and I’m sure he will make the Royals Hall of Fame the first year he is on the ballot.
Number four, Zack Greinke. One of only two pitchers on this list. Kansas City hasn’t ever had what could be considered as a good rotation since I have been following them, but Greinke could pack the stadium when he pitched. He’s the only Royal to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated since the time I started following the Royals and won a Cy Young award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league.
Number five, Eric Hosmer. Hosmer is the best of all the current Royals from a talent standpoint. He looks great at the plate and equally as good in the field. Hosmer is the caliber of player you don’t see in Kansas City very often and is very exciting to watch. He should be in the running for a rookie of the year award this year and I see a lot of potential in this guy.
Number six is Johnny Damon. Damon only spent the very earliest portion of his career in Kansas City, but he was a great average hitter and base stealer during his time with the Royals. Six may be a little high for him, but guys like Gordon and Butler still need to do a little more to pass him.
Number seven is Joakim Soria. The other pitcher on this list. Despite some struggles this season, Soria has still put himself in the same conversation as Jeff Montgomery and Dan Quisenberry. He has the third most saves in team history and has gone over 40 saves in a season twice. He still has room to go and could move past either of the aforementioned closers on the team’s all-time saves list.
Eight and nine go to Alex Gordon and Billy Butler, no particular order, and to round out the list I selected David DeJesus over Raul Ibanez. DeJesus was a guy I hated to see go. He was a solid player for the Royals who had occasional power and was a good average player, breaking the .300 mark twice.
Others I left off that were good players for the Royals, in addition to Ibanez, include Mark Grudzielanek, who won a Gold Glove in 2006 and hit .300; Joe Randa, who was one of the toughest outs I’ve seen; and Jose Lima, who went 9-0 before suffering his first loss one season.
Not a who’s who of baseball on this list, but with the Royals’ prospects, it could see an overhaul in as little as five years or so. The Royals have had bad teams in this stretch, going over .500 just once (2003). Guys like the ones on this list have always given fans hope, however, and Hosmer is giving fans a lot of hope for the future. With him in the big leagues already and waves of talent behind him, the future may not be too far away.