Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas best Royals third baseman of 2010s
By Cody Rickman
The 2010s are coming to a close, so let’s take a look at the best Kansas City Royals players at each position. Next is third base, where Mike Moustakas is the obvious choice.
Mike Moustakas, drafted second overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2007 amateur draft out of Chatsworth High School (California), paired with Eric Hosmer to be the top two prospects in the best farm system in baseball in 2011.
Moustakas was the winner at nearly every level he stopped at in the Royals farm system, contributing on the 2007 Pioneer League championship, 2008 Midwest League championship, 2010 Texas League championship, 2011 Pacific League championship, 2014 AL Pennant, and 2015 World Series championship.
Even when Moustakas was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers midway through the 2018 season, he has continued to be a major contributor on playoff teams in 2018 and 2019. When TV pundits describe what a winner is like, they need only look at Mike Moustakas.
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Moustakas put together a fine career with Royals producing the following stat line during his eight years:
- 934 games,
- 251/.306/.430
- 139 HRs
- 189 extra base hits
Mike Moustakas was the most popular player on the Royals during his time in uniform, gathering two All-Star selections (2015 and 2017). He was the AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2017 and broke the Royals single season home run record with 38 home runs in 2017. That season earned him a spot in the home run derby that year, which was the first time in over two decades that a Royal got to take part in the derby.
Moustakas was always considered a good defensive third baseman leading the league in putouts, assists, and double plays in 2012. He led the league with fewest errors at third base in 2013. It feels like a crime that he has never won a Gold Glove.
Mike Moustakas’ most memorable moment for me is his 11th inning home run to take the lead in Game 1 of the 2014 ALDS versus the Los Angeles Angels. I remember listening to this game on the radio, half asleep, and nearly falling out my bed when I heard the crack of the bat and the Royals radio broadcast going crazy.
The Royals never got any draft pick compensation for losing Mike Moustakas to free agency and Moustakas has gotten cheated by the free agency system since his original free agency with the Royals got him nothing.
I am very happy he signed his large contract this offseason with the Cincinnati Reds and look forward to driving the four hours from Nashville to Cincinnati to watch him play while I break the unwritten code and wear my Moustakas Royals jersey to the ballpark.
Next. Royals All-Decade Team for 2010s. dark
Even though Mike Moustakas didn’t spend the entire decade with the Royals, he still is their best third baseman from the past ten years and fans wish nothing but the best for him moving forward.