Kansas City Royals: Top Moments of 2017 Season

2.) Eric Hosmer Walk-Off Homer

The reasons this home run ranks higher than the previous one are three-fold.

Firstly, this home run mattered. When Hosmer took former Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland deep, the Boys in Blue were still in the thick of the playoff race. When Hosmer homered on the final day, the team had long since been eliminated.

Secondly, the excitement of a walk-off home run—particularly when your team is trailing—is unmatched. As amazing as Hosmer’s final blast was, it was more likely to induce tears of sadness than it was tears of joy.

Thirdly, the home run came against a former teammate. While Hosmer would rather have hit the clutch shot off someone else, the fact that it came off Holland adds to the story. Fans will always remember the time Hosmer took Holland deep to win the game. They will, obviously, never forget his blast to close the season but might struggle to remember the circumstances.

It also would have helped the Oct. 1 homer if it had come in Hosmer’s final at-bat. Although, hitting it after that standing ovation was amazing.

On Aug. 23, the Kansas City Royals were a couple of games over .500. However, they faced a 4-3 deficit entering the bottom of the ninth against Colorado. Gordon walked to start the inning before Holland recorded a pair of outs. Melky Cabrera singled and Hosmer followed with our second-best moment of the season.