Kansas City Royals: All-Time Worst Defenders

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1988: Danny Tartabull of the Kansas City Royals looks on a MLB game in the 1988 season. (Photo by: Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

Right Field: Danny Tartabull

Total TZ: -64 over 4,456.0 innings

TZ per 1,500 innings: -21.54

Danny Tartabull is the only other Royals’ player to have an average TZ per 1,500 in the 20’s. He and former third baseman/right fielder Mark Teahen both accomplished that feat. Mark Teahen was almost bad enough to appear in both places (What’s the opposite of a super utility player?).

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Tartabull was very productive with the bat and twice hit more than 30 home runs for the Royals. In 1991, Tartabull hit 31 home runs with 35 doubles and 100 RBIs. His slash line that season was .316/.397/.593. It helped earn him his first, and only, All-Star selection.

After he left the Royals, he was never quite the same player in the batter’s box, but one constant remained. He was a terrible right fielder. It makes sense that someone drafted to be a second baseman wouldn’t translate to a great outfielder.

More recently, Tartabull has had some problems with the law. According to an article for ABC News by Priyanka Tilve, Tartabull is a fugitive:

"When he failed to show up for his 180-day jail sentence a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to Los Angeles County Child Support Services. The warrant for Tartabull’s arrest has now been out for over a year. His name and photo were added this week to the new wanted poster issued by L.A. County officials."

It’s unfortunate that a promising player, who made plenty of money in his career, chose to let his life go this route. While it has nothing to do with his defense, it also makes him one of the more un-likeable former Royals of all-time also.

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