KC Royals: 3 memorable Zack Greinke Royal moments

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Mention Zack Greinke’s name, and KC Royals fans tend to have mixed reactions. There is no doubt about his great ability to pitch; his CY Young performance in 2009 is proof enough of that. But it was, after all, Greinke who sought a trade out of Kansas City.

And since the offseason 2010 trade via which Greinke got his wish, the Royals seem to plague him. Until 2019, they were the only team he hadn’t beaten and he’s now 1-4 against them. He’ll get another shot at the team that drafted him and with whom he broke in with all those years ago when he starts for Houston Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.

Although Royals fans have a right to love or dislike Greinke, let’s take a look at three of his most memorable moments as a Royal.

Zack Greinke’s only Cy Young award came when he was with the KC Royals.

Despite posting 159 of his 219 major league victories with other clubs, and recording his best single-season ERA with the Dodgers at 1.66 in 2015, Greinke’s only Cy Young award came when he was with Kansas City in 2009.

KC Royals fans may know that year all too well.

Though the team finished with a 65-97 record, Greinke was a phenomenal bright spot in an otherwise unsavory season. He was essentially the club’s best player, boasting a 16-8 record, 2.16 ERA, 1.073 WHIP and 242 strikeouts in 229.1 innings. His ERA led the majors and his WHIP was the best in the American League.

In earning the Cy Young award, Greinke became the first Royal since David Cone in 1994 to win it. Greinke, though, admitted he didn’t particularly enjoy the recognition that came with winning the Cy Young.

But he certainly did deserve it for his fantastic performance in his sixth season with the Royals.

Zack Greinke once gave hitting advice to KC Royals fan favorite Alex Gordon.

Alex Gordon is a fan favorite here in Kansas City and always will be. He did tend to struggle from time to time, though, and when he was in a major slump, Zack Greinke decided to help his teammate out—in typical Greinke fashion, that is.

Joe Posnanski, a former writer for The Kansas City Star and current writer at The Athletic, wrote about the situation for mlb.com in 2017; per Posnanski, Greinke invited Gordon to watch a video in the film room. Gordon knew Greinke knew baseball and took him up on the offer.

Well, the advice Gordon received was not what he was expecting. As he entered the room, Greinke showed him footage of Greinke’s first home run against the Diamondbacks from 2005. In fairness to Greinke, it was a gorgeous one to look at.

After replaying the clip, Greinke proceeded to tell Gordon, “Do more of that.”

Judging that 2010 was Gordon’s worst season, when he hit a mere .215, one could presume this advice worked in Gordon’s favor, for he bounced back with a .303/.376/.502 line in 2011. Whether it helped or not (Gordon is the only one who knows for sure), it’s fun to assume Greinke may have had a hand in his turnaround.

Did Zack Greinke want to stay in the minors when the KC Royals called him up?

By now, Zack Greinke’s unconventionality with the Royals and other clubs should be well known. But this story may very well take the proverbial cake.

In 2019, then-KC Royals mlb.com writer Jeffrey Flanagan wrote about how some organization managers told pitchers they were being promoted to the major leagues, including former KC third base coach Mike Jirschele’s account of how Greinke reacted when, as his manager at Triple-A Omaha, Jirschele told the promising young pitcher he’d be making one more start before heading for Kansas City and The Show. Upon hearing the news, Greinke said:

“I don’t know. Do you think if we asked them they would let me go back to Single-A and be a shortstop? I think I can be a pretty good shortstop.”

Jirschele was rightfully confounded by Grienke’s response. Here was Greinke, told he was headed for the majors, and wondering instead if he could be sent back down to Single-A. Jirschele told the pitcher as much, and Greinke simply told him, “Oh, ok.”

Jirschele said he doesn’t know if Greinke was being serious or not. However, his career batting average of .225 with nine home runs gives a hint at what kind of hitter Greinke might have been had his request been taken seriously.

Next. Prospect getting a long look. dark

With Zack Greinke back in Kansas City to face the Royals Wednesday night, it’s a good time to remember some of his memorable Royal moments.

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Zack Greinke’s only Cy Young award came when he was with the KC Royals.

Zack Greinke once gave hitting advice to KC Royals fan favorite Alex Gordon.

Did Zack Greinke want to stay in the minors when the KC Royals called him up?

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