KC Royals: 3 memorable Zack Greinke Royal moments

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.

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.

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.