KCKingdom
Fansided

Kansas City Royals: Top 15 Pitchers in Wins All-Time

By Leigh Oleszczak

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 3: Danny Duffy #41 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 3, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 3: Danny Duffy #41 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 3, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 17
Next
Zack Greinke #23 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Zack Greinke #23 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Kansas City Royals all-time wins leaders: 13. Zack Greinke (60 wins)

Some of the newer Kansas City Royals fans might not know this, but Zack Greinke was once a member of the Royals and comes in at number 13 on the top wins list.

Greinke was drafted by the Royals sixth overall in 2002. He was called up to the majors by the 2004 season and thus began the beautiful relationship of having an ace pitcher in Kansas City.

Despite Greinke having some off-the-field issues (he struggled with a social anxiety disorder) and contemplating walking away from baseball, he stuck with it. Greinke’s biggest issue while in Kansas City was that the team was not filled with much talent.

Greinke could have been leading this list, but due to a lack of talent, he barely cracks it with a total of 60 wins in Royal blue.

In fact, the best season the Royals had while Greinke was pitching for them was in 2008 when they had 75 wins and 87 losses. Greinke’s first three seasons with the Royals saw the team losing 100 games.

Basically, Greinke could have been leading this list, but due to a lack of talent, he barely cracks it with a total of 60 wins in Royal blue. We’re talking about a guy here that won the Cy Young Award in 2009 with a 2.16 ERA and made a trip to the All-Star game in the same season.

Despite Greinke’s success as a Royal, he wasn’t happy being a member of a losing team. He knew he was talented and wanted to pitch for a team that could contend for a World Series title. Greinke got his wish before the 2011 season began, and was traded to the Brewers for some guys named Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar.

He spent two years with the Brewers and led them to the NLCS one season. Greinke then spent one season with the Angels, three years with the Dodgers before opting to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and then getting traded to the Astros and pitching in a World Series with them.

Zack Greinke is still looking for that coveted World Series title that he left Kansas City for, and since leaving, the Royals have been to two and won one. Not that anyone needs reminding though.

Home/Royals All-Time Lists