Kansas City Royals Top Five left Fielders

Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Raul Ibanez (2001-2003, 2014, 4.1 WAR)

Before he was signed last year to essentially be a player/coach for the Kansas City Royals, Raul Ibanez was a solid outfielder. Like Emil Brown, Ibanez never had a chance to be an every day player until he joined the Royals, and like Brown, he rewarded their faith in him.

In his first three seasons in Kansas City, Ibanez produced a .291/.347/.492 batting line, hitting 55 home runs and 81 doubles. His 2002 season, when Ibanez truly seized a starting job, was one of the best in his career, as he produced a .294/.346/.537 batting line with 24 home runs and 103 RBI, his first season of driving in 100+ runs.

Defensively, Raul Ibanez was not exactly stellar, as he is considered to have cost the Royals six runs in left, but he had his moments. During the 2003 season, Ibanez finished fifth with eight assists and second in double plays in left.

Even without doing much with the bat or with the glove last season, Raul Ibanez was a key figure in helping to get the Kansas City Royals to the World Series. As the Royals were the first team to truly give Ibanez a chance, it was nice to see his career come in a full circle. Maybe some day, he will return as a coach.

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