Kansas City Royals: All-Time Worst Defenders

Left Field: Lou Piniella

Total TZ: -25 over 5,562.0 innings

TZ per 1,500 innings: -6.6

Lou Piniella may be the worst defensive left fielder in Royals’ history, but he’s far from the worst Royal. He actually holds some very important titles in Royals’ history.

Piniella was the Royals’ first ever batter. He also recorded the Royals’ first hit and scored their first run. He actually went 4-5 in that game as the Royals would post their first win in history.

Lou Piniella would go on to win the American League Rookie of the Year that season, but he would never go on to win any Gold Glove awards. He’s just another Royal who was more known for his bat than for his glove.

While Lou Piniella didn’t win any awards for having a good glove, he’s probably not considered the Royals’ worst defender. That recognition often goes to Lonnie Smith who had a worse fielding percentage than Piniella did.

Following the 1973 season, Piniella would be traded to the New York Yankees where he would watch his old team and his new team form a bitter rivalry. He was on the end of the rivalry that won all of the American League Championships and ultimately has three World Series rings (two as a player and one as a coach).

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