Kansas City Royals: Ranking every season from 2010s

8 of 10

Justin Maxwell #27 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates a walk-off grand slam against the Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium on September 22, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

RANKING EVERY ROYALS SEASON FROM 2010-2019

NUMBER 3: 2013

Record: 86-76

The 2013 season was the beginning of what was to come for the Kansas City Royals. It was the first year in which the Royals had a winning record in a decade and for the first time in a long time, people actually thought the Royals might be relevant.

Prior to the 2013 season, the Royals had made a big-time trade where they sent Wil Myers, Mike Montgomery, and Jake Odorizzi to Tampa Bay in exchange for James Shields and Wade Davis. Shields became the ace that the Royals had been searching for since they traded Zack Greinke in 2010. Shields finished the season with a 3.15 ERA in 228.2 innings.

Greg Holland was dominant out of the pen, locking down 47 saves with a 1.21 ERA while Luke Hochevar had a great year as well with a 1.92 ERA. The bullpen as a whole was really good, but we obviously aren’t surprised by any of that.

The Royals weren’t eliminated from playoff contention until the end of the year and they really gave their fans a lot of fun to close out the season. In the final home game of the year, the Royals hosted the Rangers and won via a walk-off grand slam by Justin Maxwell.

That was most definitely a sign of what was to come, as we’d all know way too well.

Home/Royals All-Time Lists