Kansas City Royals: All-Decade Team for 2010s

ALL-DECADE TEAM FOR 2010S

DESIGNATED HITTER – BILLY BUTLER

• 1x All-Star
• 1x Silver Slugger

This one was a tough decision between Billy Butler and Kendrys Morales, but ultimately, I went with ol’ County Breakfast.

Butler will always be remembered as the Royals lone representative of the 2012 MLB All-Star Game that was hosted by Kansas City. After being snubbed by Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano, Royals fans responded with their displeasure by both booing and chanting “Billy Butler” during Cano’s home run derby at bat.

Fans booed throughout Cano’s entire batting session and back then, you had outs rather than a clock. Every time he hit an out, fans cheered with joy, all to show their support for Butler. It was quite the scene!

Butler played four seasons with the Royals (eight total) during the decade. He hit 29 home runs and 107 RBI/.313 BA during the 2012 season and was a key contributor on the 2014 team. It was a bummer that he left just before the Royals won the World Series, but at least he got to be a part of that 2014 team, who also played in a World Series.

The reason I went with Butler over Morales here was because Butler was with the organization longer and achieved more. He didn’t win a World Series championship like Morales did, but he went to an All-Star Game as a Royal and played proudly for this team when a lot of guys didn’t want to. That’s worthy of a spot on the all-decade team.