The KC Royals have had some pretty impressive rookies in their time with four players taking home Rookie of the Year honors. Which ten had the best debuts?
Before jumping into which players made this list of rookie phenoms, there are a few great players who deserve a shout out for their rookie campaigns. Unfortunately, not everyone can make a list of ten, so there had to be some narrowing down.
There’s no George Brett on this list. There also won’t be great pitchers Dennis Leonard or Paul Splittorf. One player, Lou Piniella, won Rookie of the Year honors in 1969 but isn’t going to show up on the list. All of these players were great, but they simply got outperformed by ten of their fellow Royals‘ rookies.
A lot of determining factors went into building this list. WAR was certainly a big factor, but things like ERA, batting average, wins, saves, and home runs played a big role also. The player also had to surpass the 130 at-bats mark or 50 innings pitched mark during the season in question.
Keep in mind that while some of these players had awesome debuts, they flamed out later in their careers. Not all of these players are great players and a couple of them aren’t even good players, but they put up impressive numbers during their rookie seasons.
That’s enough of the explanations. Let’s get to the good stuff and see which players cracked the list.
Next: The Wizard
Number Ten: Eric Hosmer – Rookie Year: 2011
Eric Hosmer was the first in a wave of young talent that helped bring back winning baseball to the KC Royals. He was the third overall pick by the Royals in the 2008 draft and it’s paid dividends.
He’s not been the atypical version of what post people expect in a first baseman so far in his career. He doesn’t have 40 home run power, so far, and hes more of a gap to gap hitter. He’s also sneaky fast on the bases, see 2015 World Series game five, and plays an excellent defense at first base.
While he’s done a lot of good things for the Royals over the past couple of years, his rookie campaign is what lands him on this list.
Hosmer slashed .293/.334/.465 across 563 plate appearances in his rookie season. He also hit 27 doubles and 19 home runs, which is currently a career high. While he hasn’t hit the 20 home run mark yet, he’s still just 26 years old and has plenty of potential to reach that thresh hold.
Hosmer posted an overall bWAR of 1.5 in that 2011 season. While he’s known for his prowess with the glove, it hurt his overall wins above replacement numbers that season as he posted a -1.7 dWAR mark. His oWAR was good for 2.5 that year.
Hosmer would finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2011. He lost out to the Tampa Bay Rays’ starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, who went 13-10 on the season with a 2.95 ERA. So far, it would seem that Eric Hosmer is the better player.
Next: Marky Mark
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.
Next: Pop Quiz
Number Eight: Dan Quisenberry – Rookie Year: 1980
Dan Quisenberry actually debuted in 1979 but he failed to reach the 50 innings pitched mark in that year. MLB’s current rules are that a player maintains rookie eligibility until either 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched.
In his 1980 season, Quisenberry recorded a 3.09 ERA but also recorded 33 saves for the KC Royals. He also helped the Royals to their first World Series appearance, even though they’d lose in six games. He gave up six earned runs in 10.1 innings during the World Series that year, but that’s not why he made the list.
He pitched 128.1 innings that season and his saves are a big part of his 2.5 WAR that season. While good closers tend to rack up WAR a little more rapidly than position players, he’s still worthy of this list.
While he didn’t win the Rookie of the Year award in 1980, he was named the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year. He’s also finished fifth in the Cy Young Award voting that season.
He went on to become the all-time saves leader for the Royals and set the single season mark in 1983 at 45. Ironically, ten years later Jeff Montgomery would tie that record, and ten years after that Greg Holland would break that record.
Next: Ace Up The Sleeve
Number Seven: Yordano Ventura – Rookie Year: 2014
When Yordano Ventura made his debut at the end of the 2013 season, everyone knew that he had a promising weapon: 100 MPH heat.
In 2014, Ventura made the team out of training camp as the team’s fifth starter and it proved to be a wise decision. He went 14-10 on the year and carried an ERA of 3.20 on the season. He struck out 159 batters in 183 innings of work and helped the Royals to their first playoff appearance in 29 years.
He posted a bWAR of 3.2 that season and showed signs of maturity in parts of that season that led many to believe he had earned the moniker ‘Ace’. It wasn’t until his second year that his passion and energy boiled over into something ugly, but that’s a different story for a different day.
Outside of his misfortune in the 2014 All-Star game, a game that he never should have found his way into, he was masterful for the Royals during their playoff run.
He pitched seven innings of one-run baseball against the Angels during second game of the 2014 American League Division Series. He also pitched well against the Giant’s in games two and seven of the 2014 World Series.
In game six, a game that the Royals had to win to have a shot at the World Series title, Yodrano Ventura took the mound with a heavy heart. His friend Oscar Tavares had died in a car accident and Ventura made it publicly known that he was dedicating that game to his recently departed friend. In the biggest game of his life and on the biggest stage, he blanked the Giants over seven innings as the Royals’ rolled to a victory.
Now he seems ready to leave a shaky 2015 campaign season in the dust. It seems fitting that a changeup is what may help Ventura get back to the ‘Ace’ he was supposed to be.
Next: Flash Gordon
Number Six: Tom Gordon – Rookie Year: 1989
Tom Gordon first made his debut in 1988 where he appeared in five games and pitched to a 5.17 ERA across 15.2 innings. Very few knew that he would become one of the all-time winning-est pitchers in KC Royals’ history.
Gordon’s rookie season was considered to be his 1989 season and he appeared in 49 games for the Royals that season. He bounced between the bullpen and the rotation as he earned a save that season, but also started 16 games. One of those starts turned into a complete game shut-out on August third against the Toronto Blue Jays. He gave up three hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Tom Gordon was also involved with another rookie phenom when he gave up the first home run of Alex Rodriguez‘ career in 1995:
Gordon finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting that season. While he finished behind Gregg Olson, who recorded 27 saves for the Baltimore Orioles that season, he did finish ahead of some guy named Ken Griffey Jr (What ever happened to that guy?)
Gordon recorded double digit win totals for the Royals on five separate occasions while his team never made the playoffs. He also went on to become a very prominent closer later in his career as he recorded a total of 158 saves.
Hopefully his son Nick Gordon, who plays for the Minnesota Twins, doesn’t make a Twins’ list similar to this one someday. It will likely mean that he gave the Royals’ fits.
Next: Angel In the Infield
Number Five: Angel Berroa – Rookie Year: 2003
Angel Berroa certainly looked like the juice was worth the proverbial squeeze during his rookie season. He was the major piece that came back to the KC Royals in the Johnny Damon trade, and for a season it looked like a positive move for the Royals. That didn’t last long.
After his rookie season, Berroa played in 35 games prior to the 2003 season but failed to reach the 130 at-bats threshold in that time. He came into the 2003 season with 128 at-bats under his belt.
In 2003, Berroa earned the Rookie of the Year honors. He beat out players like Hideki Matsui, Rocco Baldelli, Jody Gerut, and Mark Teixeira for the award and did so with a bWAR of 2.5.
His 17 home runs, 27 doubles, 21 stolen bases, and .287 batting average were all career highs over the course of a full season. While his bat was an asset in the lineup his rookie season, he was pretty poor with his glove. He posted a negative defensive runs saved mark in all of his full seasons with the KC Royals.
He flamed out quickly, but he burned bright for at least one season with the Royals. 2003 was the last time the Royals had a winning record prior to the 2013 season. Angel Berroa wasn’t the worst player the Royals had in that stretch, but he may have been the most symbolic.
Next: The Hammer
Number Four: Bob Hamelin – Rookie Year: 1994
They don’t come much bigger or fall much harder than ‘hammerin’ Bob Hamelin did back in 1994. He took the American League by storm in a strike shortened season that saw him hit 24 home runs in just 312 at-bats.
He went on to beat out Manny Ramirez for Rookie of the Year honors that season, and had an incredible slash line of .282/.388/.599 that season. Not only did he hit 24 home runs that year, but he also clubbed 25 doubles and drove in 65 RBIs.
He posted a 2.6 bWAR that season but, like Angel Berroa, he quickly fell out of favor. The next season he slashed .168/.278/.313 with only seven each of home runs and doubles. Ironically the National League Rookie of the Year winner that season was Raul Mondesi, the father of the Royals’ current top prospect.
He slightly resurrected his career when he moved on to play for the Detroit Tigers during the 1997 season, but he would call it quits shortly thereafter. With as close to a mic drop as he could come, he walked into the dugout following a groundout and told the manager:
"“I’m done.” The manager asked, “For the game?” and Hamelin answered, “No, for good,” and walked into the clubhouse for the last time."
He didn’t last long in this league, but for a brief moment the Royals’ fans got a look at what they thought could be a promising future. That seemed to be the case for so many seasons for Royals’ fans.
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Number Three: Carlos Beltran – Rookie Year: 1999
Carlos Beltran may be the closest thing to a hall of famer on this list. He’s still got some play left in him and should at least be considered for a hall of fame vote someday. He’s currently got 396 home runs and a career slash line of .380/.354/.490. He’s an eight time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, and was Rookie of the Year in 1999.
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During his rookie season with the Royals, he earned the starting center field job out of training camp and started as the lead-off hitter for the KC Royals. It wouldn’t take long for him to slot into a run producing spot in the lineup as his power showed quickly at just 22 years of age.
In fact, his home runs that season matched his age as he bashed 22 long balls. He also his 27 double and stole 27 bases while he slashed .293/.337/.454 accross 663 at-bats in his rookie year.
That season, he beat out players like Freddy Garcia, Tim Hudson, Carlos Lee, and Trot Nixon for Rookie of the Year Honors and the vote wasn’t even close. He posted a bWAR that season of 4.7.
Beltran was later traded away during the 2004 season in a move that saw players like Mike Wood, Mark Teahen, and John Buck get sent to the Royals. While he’s up there in age and didn’t play for the Royals for the majority of his career, he has more games with the Mets, he’s still a fan favorite in Kansas City.
In fact, there has been some recent speculation that he could be looked at to replace designated hitter Kendrys Morales following the 2016 campaign. That’s likely a pipe dream but he does have some experience with dramatic late-inning comeback wins:
Next: Ya' Big Ape
Number Two: Kevin Appier – Rookie Year: 1990
Kevin Appier had a dominant rookie season and by far the best rookie campaign of any Royals’ rookie. Even with the fourth best ERA in the league that season, 2.76, he still finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting.
He lost handily to Sandy Alomar who posted a slash line of .290/.326/.418 across 445 at-bats. He also posted nine home runs and stole a total of four bases on the season.
Meanwhile, Appier was dominate for the KC Royals. He appeared in 32 games, 24 of which he was the starter. He three three complete game shutouts that season and posted a record of 12-8.
In other words, Appier got hosed on the Rookie of the Year voting. To be honest, if anyone should have felt slighted it was Kevin Maas of the Yankees. He hit 21 home runs that season in only 254 at-bats.
That season, he flirted with a no-hitter in a July game against the Detroit Tigers. He gave up one hit and four walks that game with the lone hit coming off of Lou Whitaker. He was the first batter to step into the box for the Tigers that day.
He is one of the winning-est pitchers in Royals’ history and while he left for a time, he finished his career with the Royals in 2004. He’s a member of the Royals’ hall of fame and for good reason.
Next: AlkaSeitzer
Number One: Kevin Seitzer – Rookie Year: 1987
Kevin Seitzer is, without question, the best rookie hitter the Royals ever had.
In spite of his fantastic year he lost out on Rookie of the Year honors to Mark McGwire. McGwire hit 49 home runs in his rookie season, so it’s not hard to see why he took home the award.
In 1987, Kevin Seitzer made the Royals’ roster out of training camp. He was used as a first baseman at the start of the season but later moved to the hot corner to try and extend George Brett’s career.
He was kind of overshadowed as a rookie by the presence of Bo Jackson, who hit 22 home runs on the year, but he didn’t have the caliber numbers of Seitzer.
In 725 plate appearances as a rookie in 1987, a MLB high, he slashed .323/.399/.470. He had 207 hits that season which was also an MLB high.
He also hit 33 doubles that season and spent a lot of time over by his fielding position with eight triples on the year.
Perhaps most impressive was his eye at the plate. He drew 80 walks in his rookie season and has a Royals’ career on base percentage of .380. That’s good enough for eighth best in team history.
He put up a bWAR of 5.5 that season which was good enough for 17th best in baseball that season. He spends his time now as the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves. They currently have three home runs on the year.
Next: Who's Next?
Who will be the next KC Royal’s rookie to make this list?
The Royals have had some real clunkers over the years. Season after season, it seemed that the promise of the youth movement was going to pay off and year after year led to disappointment.
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Then 2011 rolled around and the Royals had the best farm team in baseball. The arrival of Hosmer and Moustakas signaled a change in the Royals’ clubhouse.
It’s hard to argue that the young players that all came up together and won together and struggled together didn’t have a big hand in the Royals’ winning the whole thing last season.
The Royals’ farm system is now a little depleted. Trades for Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist saw the Royals ship out a slew of pitchers, including 2014 postseason hero Brandon Finnegan.
Now the Royals will have to rely on some players to step up and fill holes as this core starts to disband in the coming years, if they do.
Next: All Time Worst Defenders
Well what do you think KC Royals’ fans? Who were some of the best rookies to ever suit up for the Royals? Who would you add to my list? Who would you remove? Which Royals’ minor league player will make this list someday? Let me know your thoughts in the comments’ section below.