Top 10 most impactful KC Royals MLB All-Star Game performances

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In anticipation of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, here’s a look at the 10 most decisive Royals performances from previous Midsummer Classics. My measurement standard is Win Probability Added, which calculates the contribution toward victory of each player’s performance.

The KC Royals have a long history of great All-Star performances

For those not familiar with Win Probability Added, it reduces what each player did—outs, hits, and game situation — to a number representing the decisiveness of the player’s contribution on a scale where 0 equals neutral, -1.0 equals a train wreck, and +1.0 equals utter decisiveness. In exhibition contests such as All-Star Games, where 25 or more players play a role for each team, values are often very fractional, meaning that a score as low as +.100 can be very strong.

Let's take a look.

No. 10. — Kevin Appier, pitcher, 1995.

American League manager Buck Showalter tabbed Appier to follow starter Randy Johnson to the mound in the July 11 game played at The Ballpark in Arlington. Appier justified Showalter’s faith in him, holding the National League starters scoreless and hitless over two innings. Eventually, however, the NL stars won 3-2. Appier Win Probability Added: +.123.

No. 8 (tie) — Amos Otis, outfielder, 1973.

The starting center fielder in the game played at what was then known as Royals Stadium, Otis singled in the second inning, to drive home Reggie Jackson with the game’s first run. Otis' second hit, opening the fourth inning, came with the AL trailing 3-1 and did not result in a score. Otis was replaced in the fifth inning and the NL went on to win 7-1. Otis Win Probability Added: +.140.

Moving on, including the other No.8...

Two KC Royals pitchers and an outfielder make the list

No. 8 (tie) — Bo Jackson, outfielder, 1989.

If this rating was based on celebrity or glamour, Jackson’s leadoff home run off Rick Reuschel at Anaheim Stadium would be No. 1 on our list; for sheer memorability and drama, it ranks there. Bo drove in a second run with a second-inning groundout, singled in the fourth, and struck out in the sixth before being removed. The AL won 5-3, and for his home run, Jackson won the All-Star Game MVP. Jackson Win Probability Added: +.140.

No. 7 — Lorenzo Cain, outfielder, 2015.

Cain was one of three Royals starters in the lineup for the game played on July 14 at Great American Ballpark. After being retired in the first inning, Cain singled harmlessly in the fourth. In the fifth inning, Cain got a third shot, this time with the AL leading 2-1 and two runners on base. His double down the left field line scored Albert Pujols to boost the AL lead to 3-1. The AL went on to win 6-3. Cain Win Probability Added: +.141.

No. 6. — Bret Saberhagen, pitcher, 1990.

Saberhagen was the third AL pitcher, taking the mound in the fifth inning of a scoreless tie. He pitched two perfect innings, striking out Mike Sciosia and getting credit for the 2-0 victory when the AL scored twice in the top of the seventh inning. Saberhagen Win Probability Added: +.142.

A repeat and two heroes of KC's 2014-2015 World Series clubs

No. 4 (tie) — Bret Saberhagen, pitcher, 1987.

AL manager John McNamara nominated Saberhagen to start the game, and he delivered three shutout innings, allowing only a first-inning double to Andre Dawson. The game remained scoreless into the 13th inning when the NL stars broke through for two runs and the victory. Saberhagen Win Probability Added: +.141.

No. 4 (tie) — Eric Hosmer, first baseman, 2016.

The defending world champions had four All-Star players for the July 12 game played at Petco Park. Hosmer, the starting AL first baseman, stood in against former Kansas City teammate Johnny Cueto with one out in the second inning and boomed a 1-1 pitch into the left field seats for a game-tying home run. One inning later, with runners at second and third, Hosmer’s infield single to third base scored Edwin Encarnación and put the AL in front 2-1. Hosmer Win Probability Added: +.140.

No. 3. — Salvador Perez, 2016.

Two batters after Hosmer’s second-inning home run, Perez, the AL’s starting catcher, got his chance and drove a shot into the left field seats at almost exactly the same spot. His home run, also off Cueto, with Mookie Betts on base, gave the AL a 3-1 lead. Perez was retired on a groundout in the fourth and left the game, but his homer was later viewed as the decisive blow in the AL’s 4-2 victory. Perez Win Probability Added: +.174.

A catcher and an infielder

No. 2. — Darrell Porter, 1979. The starting catcher, Porter flew out to start the second, then came up one inning later with runners at first and second, and two outs. His grounder to third should have been the final out, but Mike Schmidt’s wild throw allowed Chet Lemon to score as Porter reached. Then, in the sixth inning of a 2-2 tie, Porter doubled Rick Burleson to third and Burleson scored on Bruce Bochte’s base hit. That put the AL ahead 6-5 but the NL eventually won 7-6. Porter Win Probability Added: +.236.

No. 1 — Cookie Rojas, 1972. The AL stars lost this game 4-3, but Rojas starred in the defeat. Rojas pinch hit for Rod Carew with two outs, a runner on first, and his team trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, Rojas stunned NL pitcher Bill Stoneman with a rocket shot into the left field seats at Fulton County Stadium, thrusting the AL in front 3-2. Unfortunately, the NL tied the game with a ninth-inning run and won it 4-3 on Joe Morgan’s 10th-inning single. Rojas Win Probability Added: +.536.

There you have them ... the most impactful MLB All-Star Game performances for KC Royals players in franchise history. Will any of this year's Royal All-Star representatives — Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr., Seth Lugo, and Cole Ragans — add their names to the list?

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