Kansas City Royals: Recent Notable First Round Picks

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) – Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Zack Greinke is a well-established starting pitcher in Major League Baseball and got his start with the Kansas City Royals. He chose to sign a $2.5 million deal with the Royals rather than playing for the Clemson Tigers. The Royals were certainly glad he did so.

He was awarded with the Cy Young Award at the end of the season, and remains the Royals’ only first round pick to be a Cy Young Award winner.

Greinke was called up to Kansas City in May 2004 and almost got the win in his first major league start. The Royals were awful in 2004 though (as they were several years before and after that), and the closer blew the save.

As time went on, Greinke began to suffer from social anxiety disorder and contemplated quitting baseball all together. When he eventually returned, he was a starter for a bit and then sent to the bullpen. In 2008 though, he was right back in the starting rotation and actually ended his 2008 season with 15 scoreless innings (Source of link: ESPN).

2009 was when Greinke got hot though, as he finished the year with a 2.16 ERA, which was the lowest in the league. He was awarded with the Cy Young Award at the end of the season, and remains the Royals’ only first round pick to be a Cy Young Award winner.

Next: Greinke After the Royals