Kansas City Royals All-Time Worst 25 Man Roster

Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general of fall foliage outside of Kauffman Stadium before game six of the ALCS between the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Chris George – Starting Pitcher

Chris George was the 31st pick of the first round for the KC Royals in 1998. In an era where a terrible Royals team gave their fans no hope on the field, many turned their hopes to “prospects”. Year after year, the front office talked about the talent in the pipeline and told fans to be patient. Year after year, fans were “rewarded” with busts like Chris George.

At one point, even people outside the Kansas City bubble believed Chris George was a talented young pitcher. Baseball America rated him the 40th best prospect in baseball in 2000, and no. 25 in 2001.

George arrived in Kansas City in 2001 at age 21 and made 13 starts with a 4-8 record and 5.59 ERA. He only got worse after that. George pitched for the KC Royals for three more seasons, compiling a 14-20 record, a bloated 6.48 ERA, with a t-ball like 3.2 K/9.

The high point of Chris George’s major-league career came in 2003 when he somehow managed to go 9-6 while making 18 starts despite hitters bludgeoning him for a 7.11 ERA.. He was even worse the following season, with a 7.23 ERA—which finally caused KC Royals GM Allard Baird to realize that George wasn’t cut out for major-league baseball.

What’s scary is that the 2003 KC Royals were the only Kansas City squad to record a winning record between 1995 and 2013. And Chris George somehow managed to hold down a rotation spot for more than half a season.

George hung on to pitch eight more seasons for various minor, and Mexican league teams before giving up the game after the 2012 season.

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