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KC Royals: Top Ten Rookie Seasons All-Time

By Scott Dillon

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 23: Mark Teahen of the Kansas City Royals bats during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, August 23, 2009. The Twins defeated the Royals 10-3. (Photo by John Williamson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 23: Mark Teahen of the Kansas City Royals bats during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, August 23, 2009. The Twins defeated the Royals 10-3. (Photo by John Williamson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, : Kansas City Royals right fielder Mark Quinn crashes into the wall as he misses a double hit by Minnesota Twins David Ortiz that scored Doug Miekiewicz to pull ahead in the eighth inning in Kansas City, MO, 13 May 2002. The Twins won 3-2. AFP PHOTO/Dave KAUP (Photo credit should read DAVE KAUP/AFP/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, : Kansas City Royals right fielder Mark Quinn crashes into the wall as he misses a double hit by Minnesota Twins David Ortiz that scored Doug Miekiewicz to pull ahead in the eighth inning in Kansas City, MO, 13 May 2002. The Twins won 3-2. AFP PHOTO/Dave KAUP (Photo credit should read DAVE KAUP/AFP/Getty Images) /

Number Nine: Mark Quinn – Rookie Year: 2000

When Mark Quinn played his rookie season in the year 2000, it looked like they might have back-to-back years with a Rookie of the Year winner. He wound up finishing third that season and would lose the honor to 32 year old Kazuhiro Sazaki. Sazaki was a closer for a very good Seattle Mariner’s team and saved 37 games that year.

Quinn made his debut during the 1999 season, but only amassed 65 plate appearances. That was still enough time for him to flash his power potential with six home runs in that 17 game stretch. He also hit two home runs in his Major League debut:

While that’s an incredible feat, it’s not the reason he’s on this list. He’s on this list for what he did in 2000.

During the 2000 season, Mark Quinn bashed 20 home runs across 544 plate appearances. He slashed .294/.342/.488 on the season and had 33 doubles and 78 RBIs. All of his home runs, doubles, and RBIs would be career highs for Mark Quinn (He also set a career mark in walks that season, something he was notoriously bad at).

The Royals would finish fourth in the American League Central that season, but it was certainly not the fault of Mark Quinn. He even outplayed the 1999 Rookie of the Year Carlos Beltran, though Beltran was plagued by injuries that season.

Quinn would last just four seasons in the Major Leagues as he saw his numbers drop off each season. He now spends his days as an assistant hitting coach with the Baltimore Orioles.

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