Kansas City Royals All-Time Worst 25 Man Roster

Court will be in session when the Mariners and their king welcome the Royals to Safeco Field tonight. Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Ambiorix Burgos – Set Up Man

The hard-throwing Ambiorix Burgos had the highest average fastball among American League relievers at 96.5 mph in 2005, which made him the closer for the Kansas City Royals. Except, as you can guess from his presence on this list, he had problems throwing the ball in the general direction of the plate.

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In 2005, the then 21-year-old Burgos was actually a pretty effective pitcher tossing 63.1 innings of 3.98 ERA relief with a K/9 of 9.2, though he blew four saves while recording only two. The next season the KC Royals installed him as the closer, and he proceeded to blow 12 out of 30 save chances—a 60% conversion rate.

Burgos’ 5.52 ERA in 2006 inflated his career numbers with the Kansas City Royals to 4.81 ERA in 136.2 innings while blowing 16 saves in 32 chances.

General manager Dayton Moore quickly flipped Ambiorix Burgos to the Mets in exchange for Brian Bannister after taking over as GM in 2007. After leaving the Royals, Burgos was 1) arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, 2) indicted for a hit and run in the Dominican Republic, and 3) accused of kidnapping and poisoning his ex-wife, causing him to be charged with murder in the Dominican Republic.

Dayton Moore was wise to get rid of a violent criminal as fast as he could.

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