Kansas City Royals: Top 5 Outfielders in Royals History

5.  Lorenzo Cain (2011-2017) 2x All Star, 2014 ALCS MVP, 2015 World Series Champion

To get us started on the list, we have the speedy and lovable Lolo Cain.

If someone ever asks you to sum up Lorenzo Cain, Joe Buck’s call in game 6 of the 2015 ALCS vs. Toronto has got us covered: “HE CAN FLY!”

Cain, originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 17th round of the 2004 MLB Draft, was traded to Kansas City in 2010 along with Alcides Escobar, Jeremy Jeffress, and Jake Odorizzi for Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Bentancourt (thanks, Zack!).

Cain’s introduction into his baseball career was definitely different than most, as he didn’t start playing the game until his sophomore year of high school. The only reason he even started playing is because he didn’t make his school’s basketball team. He had no idea how to swing, throw, or even had any equipment. To keep it simple, that just shows how much of an athlete Lorenzo Cain truly is. The sky is the limit, kids.

When he got into Kansas City, Cain was riddled with injuries and, shockingly enough, barely knew how to run. That’s when he decided to train with Al Hobson, track coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College, and his life was forever changed.

Cain’s breakout season was in 2014 when he slashed .301/.339/.412 with five home runs, four triples, 29 doubles, 28 stolen bags, 46 RBI, and 55 runs. He ranked eighth in the AL for his batting average and stolen bases. His damage at the plate and his spectacular glove during the postseason would help him go on to win the 2014 ALCS MVP.

In 2015 his success would continue, where he would slash .307/.361/.477 and finished third place in the AL MVP race, just behind Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson. Pretty good company, don’t ya think?

Lorenzo Cain’s path to baseball is a feel-good tale for everyone, and I couldn’t be happier to see Lorenzo continue to be successful in Milwaukee. He will always have a special place in the heart’s of Royals fans everywhere, and his hermano Salvy.

Rankings in the Royals Top 25 Positional Players:

4th: Defensive WAR

7th: WAR

11th: Batting Average (tied w/ David DeJesus and Willie Wilson)

16th: Offensive WAR

19th: Runs, OBP

21st: 2Bs

22nd: Hits, Total Bases, 3Bs

23rd: ABs, PA

24th: OPS

25th: Games

4. Alex Gordon (2007-Present) 3x All-Star, 5x Gold Glove, Platinum Glove Award, 2015 World Series Champion

Next on the list, another fan favorite: Alex Gordon.

The Lincoln, Nebraska native Alex Gordon was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the second overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft and has been with us ever since.

Interestingly enough, Gordon was primarily a third baseman in the Royals Organization, but they moved him into left field in the 2010 season, replacing David DeJesus: another top outfielder in Royals history, but not quite making this list.

At one point there was a concern over Alex’s future with the Royals. His streaky hitting and ironically horrendous fielding at the hot corner didn’t help his case whatsoever, finishing with the worst fielding percentage and most errors of all American League third basemen in 2008. Thankfully, the Royals stuck to their gut feeling.

Getting accustomed to the outfield, 2011 was a much better year for Gordon’s career, leading all of the MLB outfielders in assists with 20 and 2nd in the Major Leagues in doubles along with teammate Jeff Francoeur. In 2011, he would also win his first of five (so far) Gold Gloves.

In 2012 he found immense success and really started to make a name for himself, as he finished the season batting .294 and led the major leagues with 51 doubles and was statistically the best fielding Left Fielder in the majors, winning his second Gold Glove.

In 2013, his average dipped to .265, but was also named an All-Star and won his third consecutive Gold Glove in Left Field.

2014 was another year of success with the glove, as he would win yet another Gold Glove and Platinum Glove, secure his second All-Star selection, and also broke Wade Boggs’ record for most home runs from any Major Leaguer from Nebraska. However, he struggled mightily in the postseason, and dare I bring up the fact he was the game-tying run in game seven (should we have sent him?).

All that needs to be said about his 2015 season: “Gordon in the air to center. Back at the wall… this game is tied!”

Since Gordon’s extension, not much has been worth noting, other than his fifth Gold Glove in 2017, but we will never forget all that Alex has done for our franchise. The clutch defensive juggernaut will never be forgotten.

Rankings in the Royals Top 25 Positional Players:

4th: WAR, HRs, BBs

5th: Doubles

6th: Offensive/Defensive WAR, Games Played, ABs, PAs, Runs, Hits, Total Bases, RBI

13th: Stolen Bases

16th: Triples

24th: OBP

3. Hal McRae (1973-1987) 3x All-Star, 1985 World Series Champion, Silver Slugger, Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

Ranking third in the top 5, we have the ex-skipper and old-school tough guy Hal McRae.

Hal McRae was drafted by the Cinncinati Reds in the 6th round of the 1965 MLB Draft and played with the Reds until he was traded to the Royals during the off-season in 1972. McRae is one of the longest-tenured players in Royals history, playing 14 seasons with Kansas City.

While he was under contract in Cincy, McRae was playing in Puerto Rico when he suffered a multiple leg fracture, which led to concern about his career. McRae had lost his speed and some of his athleticism in the blink of an eye and was no longer considered a special outfielder. He overcame adversity and slowly but surely made his comeback.

When Hal was traded to Kansas City, he struggled at the plate in his first year, but in 1974 he started to feel himself, slashing .310/.375/.475 with a very successful .850 OPS.

He gained attention in 1975 and 1976, as he was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career and slashed .306/.366/.442. In the 1976 season, McRae had an amazing year and was once again voted in as an All-Star, finishing the season slashing .332/.407/.868. Hal also finished 4th in the MVP race that season.

Not only was Hal mashing the ball at the plate, but his aggressiveness on the basepaths was shocking as well, considering he had suffered a traumatic injury earlier in his career. Hal’s approach to this that he would share with his teammates would be to take nothing for granted. He was so aggressive, in fact, that the “Hal McRae Rule” was invented, forcing the runner to slide into second base in order to break up a double-play ball. In short, middle infielders had nightmares of Hal McRae, not the boogeyman.

As his career progressed, Hal had to change his ways and become a designated hitter. Even in his late thirties and early forties, he was still making a name for himself at the plate. At the age of 36 in 1982, McRae was selected to his third All-Star game, finished fourth in the MVP race, and won his first Silver Slugger Award, slashing .308/.369/.542. Not bad for an old timer, eh?

Hal finished his career with the Royals with a slash of .293/.356/.458 with 169 HRs, 1012 RBI, 105 stolen bases and an .814 OPS. After his playing career, Hal was named the Kansas City Royals manager from 1991-1994. He had a 286-277 record as a manager with the Royals.

Rankings in the Royals Top 25 Positional Players:

2nd: Doubles, RBI

3rd: Walks

4th: Offensive WAR, Triples, Games Played, Plate Appearances, Total Bases

5th: ABs, Runs, Hits, Home Runs

6th: WAR, Batting Average

9th: OPS

10th: SLG

13th: OBP

14th: Stolen Bases

2. Willie Wilson (1976-1990)  2x All-Star, Gold Glove Award, 2x Silver Slugger, 1980 AL Batting Champion,  1979 AL Stolen Base Leader, 1985 World Series Winner, Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

Runner-Up in our top 5 list is Willie Wilson.

Willie Wilson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the 18th pick of the 1974 MLB Draft and quickly began to make a name for himself. His baserunning was opening eyes down in the minor leagues, and he didn’t have to wait long to be called up to Triple-A and the Major Leagues. Don’t get me wrong, speed wasn’t the only aspect he excelled in.

Wilson was called up in 1978 but didn’t become the Royals starting Left Fielder until the 1979 season. In 1979, he slashed .315/.351/.420 and led the AL that season in singles with 143 and an unreal 83 stolen bases, blowing his competition out of the water.

The 1980 season proved that Wilson was for real, as he led the league in hits, runs, triples, and singles, and finished second in stolen bases. He also won a Gold Glove and his first of two Silver Sluggers, and finished 4th in the MVP race.

In 1982, he was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career and had a career-high .332 batting average, slashing .332/.365/.431, winning his second Silver Slugger Award. The following season, he would have his worst year at the plate yet, but still was selected to the All-Star roster.

After some off-field issues, Willie was still playing good ball, but he couldn’t keep his streaks of greatness that he had early on in his career. He remained a huge success in the Royals run for a World Series title, .367 against the Cardinals in the World Series and led the league for the third time in triples with a career-high 21 during the 1985 regular season. Regardless, Willie Wilson will go down as one of the best outfielders in Royals history, and certainly an excellent draft pick that helped the Royals his entire career.

Rankings in the Royals Top 25 Positional Players:

1st: Stolen Bases

2nd: Singles, Triples

3rd: WAR, Offensive WAR, Runs

4th: ABs, Hits

5th: Defensive WAR, Games Played, Plate Appearances, Total Bases

8th: Doubles

11th: Batting Average (tied with Lorenzo Cain, David DeJesus) Walks (tied with Eric Hosmer)

12th: RBIs

1. Amos Otis (1970-1983) 5x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove Winner, 1971 AL Stolen Base Leader, Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

Finishing off the list as the greatest Royals outfielder of all time, here is Famous Amos Otis.

Amos Otis was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round but started his Major League career with the Mets. He had several disagreements with the Mets skipper Gil Hodges, due to the fact that he didn’t want to be a third baseman.  In what would be one of the worst trades in Mets history, the Mets gave up on Otis, trading him to the Kansas City Royals for Joe Foy, who left baseball by ’71 due to an unfortunate drug problem.

When he came to Kansas City, Otis was immediately put into the outfield. He quickly became a starting center fielder, becoming an All-Star in his first season with Kansas City. He slashed .284/.353/.424.

The next three seasons straight he would also be an All-Star, also winning three Gold Gloves in 1971, 1973, and 1974. In 1971, he would slash a career-high batting average of .301/.345/.443 and would lead the American League in steals. In 1974, he finished 3rd in the MVP race, slashing .300/.368/.484.

Amos was consistently performing for the Royals and was a huge factor to the team’s success, becoming a threat to the entire league. In 1976 he would once again become an All-Star. When the playoffs came, he was no different, and in the 1980 World Series, he hit .478 with 3 long balls and 7 RBI. Unfortunately, Otis could only do so much, and the Phillies were victorious over the Royals. As a result, Otis never won a World Series ring.

Not only was Amos an outstanding ballplayer, but he was also recognized for his humanitarian work, as he saved eight children that were stranded during a flood On September 12, 1972, at Brush Creek. When asked, Otis said, “If it was my kids, I would have wanted someone to do something for them, too.”

Rankings in the Royals Top 25 Positional Players:

2nd: WAR, Offensive WAR, Runs, Total Bases, Walks, Stolen Bases

3rd: Games, ABs, PAs, Hits, Triples, Home Runs, RBI

4th: Doubles, Singles

16th: OBP

18th: OPS

20th: SLG

23rd: Batting Average

Conclusion

There have been so many outfielders along the way that are deserving of recognition, but there’s just too many to list. The Royals have been extremely successful throughout the years of scouting and picking out defensive and offensive talent in our outfield. Like the list? Hate the list?  Who would make your list of top outfielders in Royals history? Let us know in the comments!