Every Silver Slugger Award winner in KC Royals history

Kendrys Morales (2015)

The 2015 championship-winning Royals were a well-rounded team, but their sole Silver Slugger that year was designated hitter Kendrys Morales. The Cuban slugger had a well-traveled career before joining the Royals via free agency, and he had his final impactful season in Kansas City in 2015.

Morales had his best season in 2009 with the Los Angeles Angels, but he also made a significant impact with the Royals as their nearly everyday designated hitter, providing power as a switch hitter. At 32 years old, Morales recorded 106 RBIs with a .290/.362/.485 slash line, resulting in an .847 OPS. This was his only individual award, despite receiving MVP votes in both 2009 and 2015.

Billy Butler (2012)

Another designated hitter, Billy Butler, ended a lengthy Silver Slugger drought for the Royals. The slugger, known as "Country Breakfast," had his best years one or two seasons too early to coincide with the pennant-winning teams, but he played a significant role in getting Royals fans excited about what was to come. His 2012 season marked the high point of both his career and his time in Kansas City.

Butler's lone All-Star and Silver Slugger selections came in 2012 when he posted several career highs. Whether it was his 29 home runs, 107 RBIs, or .882 OPS, Butler achieved marks he wouldn’t reach later in his career. That OPS ranked ninth among AL hitters in 2012, and he also placed tenth in total plate appearances.

Dean Palmer (1998)

Third baseman Dean Palmer had better batting seasons than his 1998 performance, yet he still won the Silver Slugger award while wearing a Royals uniform. This was the first of back-to-back Silver Slugger wins for Palmer, who joined the team from the Texas Rangers in 1997. His lone All-Star appearance also came in 1998 with the Royals, during a largely forgettable period of Royals baseball.

Palmer was an overlooked power threat, hitting 34 home runs in 1998. His career-high 119 RBIs ranked ninth among AL hitters that year, while he posted a slash line of .278/.333/.510 across 152 games with the Royals.