Stars you may have forgotten were once KC Royals

These postseason enemies were once KC Royals during their long careers.

When thinking of José Bautista, what comes to mind? His bat flip against the Rangers in the 2015 American League Division Series? His pesky bat during that postseason? Or maybe his miscue with Ryan Goins in Game 2 of that season’s ALCS against Kansas City that allowed Ben Zobrist to reach base to ignite a five-run Royal seventh inning?

Well, before he helped the Royals as an opponent, Bautista was part of the club very briefly in 2004. After playing 16 games in Baltimore that season, Tampa Bay claimed him off waivers. After he played 12 games with the Devil Rays, the Royals purchased Bautista. He ended up playing just 13 games with the club, not contributing much offensively.

Bautista drove in one run, slashed .200/.231/.240 and struck out 12 times before the Royals traded him to the Mets for Justin Huber. The Mets immediately flipped him, sending him (along with Ty Wigginton and Matt Peterson) to the Pirates for Kris Benson and Jeff Keppinger.

Bautista made a name for himself when the Pirates traded him in 2008 to Toronto, where he flourished. Despite a low .253 average, he smashed 288 home runs, had 766 RBIs, and notched 803 walks in 10 years with the Blue Jays.

Speaking of postseason enemies, remember Coco Crisp? Crisp, who spent the majority of his career with Oakland and had two hits, an RBI and scored a run against the Royals in the 2014 Wild Card game, was once with Kansas City, too.

Crisp had a 49-game stint with the Royals in 2009. He got off to a hot start during the opening series against the White Sox, hitting .364 with four hits, three RBIs and two walks in three games, but soon fell off. He ended up slashing .228/.336/.378 with three home runs, 14 RBIs, 29 walks, and 13 stolen bases by June before being sidelined by season-ending shoulder surgery.