How Mark Redman made ASG in only season with KC Royals

Back in 2006, this KC Royals left-handed pitcher made the All-Star Game even after losing his first four decisions in his only season with the team.

To say Mark Redman was well-traveled during his big league career is an insult to journeymen everywhere.  After the Pittsburg Pirates traded Redman to the KC Royals following the 2005 season, he was joining his sixth team since 2001.

His best season to this point was 2003 with the Florida Marlins, when he started 29 games and produced a 3.59 ERA with a decent 1.22 WHIP.  Both would end up being career bests.

The first seven times Redman took the mound wearing a Royals jersey were debacles – and that is being polite.  He was 0-4 with a 6.88 ERA after a start on May 19th.  A turn of fortune occurred starting in June as he won all five starts.  By the time the All-Star break rolled around, Redman’s record stood at 6-4 and he sported a 5.27 ERA.

Major League Baseball has a rule that states every team must be represented at the ASG which explains Redman’s inclusion.  It would be logical to think another KC Royals player had a better year but at the break, that was not the case.

Mark Teahan ended up with 18 home runs and an OPS+ of 122, but at the end of June he was only slashing .252/.298/.409 with five home runs.  And that is how we end up with one of the worst additions to an All-Star Game in history.

Redman ended the year 11-10 with a 5.71 ERA.  His WHIP was 1.58, he walked nearly as many as he struck out and he lasted two more seasons with Atlanta and Colorado. The 2006 year with the Royals was the last time he put together a full season in the big leagues.

While MLB’s stance that every team has a player at the ASG is well-meaning, at this level participation trophies should probably not be handed out. In many years, the KC Royals have had one or more players who were deserving of an appearance at the mid-season classic. 2006 was not one of those seasons.