Some of us hardcore fans track Royals players from the moment they are signed. Some of these players spend some time in Royals blue at the big league level, only to depart, others never make it to Kansas City, but continue their career bouncing around in other organizations.
Some former Royals signed multi-year contracts last winter, including Ryan O’Hearn with the Pirates, Brad Keller with the Phillies, and Mike Yastrzemski with the Braves. Some were former top prospects that could use a change of
scenery, like MJ Melendez with the Mets and Nick Pratto with the Rangers. Former first round pick Foster Griffin returned from a stint in Japan to become a sought-after free agent, signing with the Nationals. Some players have changed positions – Fernando Cruz and Erick Mejia were infielders when they were in the Royals farm system, and now they are pitchers.
Here’s a compilation of players that once played in the Royals organization either as big leaguers or minor leaguers, that are on MLB-affiliated rosters or in Asia to begin the year. These rosters are as of today, and are subject to change.
Hitters
CJ Alexander, Astros (AAA)
Andrew Benintendi, White Sox
Cavan Biggio, Astros (AAA)
Dairon Blanco, Rangers (AAA)
Mark Canha, Rangers (AAA)
Orlando Calixte, Chunichi Dragons (Japan)
Bobby Dalbec, Yomiuri Giants (Japan)
Paul DeJong, Yankees (AAA)
Cam Devanney, Hanshin Tigers (Japan)
Jared Dickey, Athletics (AA)
Clay Dungan, Padres (AAA)
Nate Eaton, Red Sox (AAA)
Ryan Fitzgerald, Dodgers (AAA)
Adam Frazier, Angels
Freddy Fermin, Padres
Jordan Groshans, Braves (AA)
Randal Grichuk, Yankees
Garrett Hampson, Reds (AAA)
Brewer Hicklen, Braves (AAA)
Nicky Lopez, Rockies (AAA)
MJ Melendez, Mets (AAA)
Callan Moss, Pirates (AA)
Ryan O’Hearn, Pirates
Edward Olivares, Rays (AAA)
Blake Perkins, Brewers
Tommy Pham, Mets (AAA)
Logan Porter, Giants (AAA)
Nick Pratto, Rangers (AAA)
Jakson Reetz, Mariners (AAA)
Franmil Reyes, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (NPB)
Sebastián Rivero, Angels (AAA)
Brent Rooker, Athletics
Esteury Ruiz, Marlins (IL)
Carlos Santana, Diamondbacks
Jorge Soler, Angels
Samad Taylor, Padres (AAA)
Cayden Wallace, Nationals (AA)
Mike Yastrzemski, Braves
Pitchers
Jason Adam, Padres (IL)
Dan Altavilla, Twins (AAA)
Nick Anderson, Athletics (AAA)
Scott Barlow, Athletics
Mason Barnett, Athletics (AAA)
Scott Blewett, Cardinals (AAA)
Jonathan Bowlan, Phillies
A.J. Causey, Athletics (AA)
Chandler Champlain, Nationals (AAA)
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox
Taylor Clarke, Diamondbacks
Dylan Coleman, Yankees (AAA)
Austin Cox, Yokohama DeNA BayStars (Japan)
Fernando Cruz, Yankees
Michael Fulmer, Giants (AAA)
Gerson Garabito, Brewers (AAA)
Robert Garcia, Rangers
Ofreidy Gómez, Mets (AAA)
Foster Griffin, Nationals
Jesse Hahn, Blue Jays (AAA)
Patrick Halligan, Red Sox (AAA)
Hunter Harvey, Cubs
Thomas Hatch, Diamondbacks (AAA)
Taylor Hearn, Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan)
Ben Hernandez, Mariners (AA)
Carlos Hernández, Guardians (IL)
Tim Hill, Yankees
Andrew Hoffman, Diamondbacks
Matthew Hoskins, Rays (Low-A)
Jakob Junis, Rangers
Brad Keller, Phillies
Will Klein, Dodgers
Rylan Kaufman, White Sox (AA)
Brooks Kriske, Athletics (AAA)
Jackson Kowar, Orioles (AAA)
Ben Lively, Guardians (IL)
Sam Long, Chiba Lotte Marines (Japan)
Michael Lorenzen, Rockies
Richard Lovelady, Mets
Elvis Luciano, Yomiuri Giants (Japan)
Andrés Machado, Orix Buffaloes (Japan)
Sean Manaea, Mets
Yunior Marte, Reds (AAA)
Yunior Marte, Giants (High-A)
Logan Martin, Giants (AA)
Erick Mejia, Nationals (AA)
Wyatt Mills, Dodgers (AAA)
Noah Murdock, Pirates (AAA)
Connor Oliver, Pirates (High A)
Joel Payamps, Braves
Trevor Richards, Phillies (AAA)
Jarold Rosado, White Sox (AA)
David Sandlin, White Sox (AAA)
Colin Selby, Orioles (IL)
T.J. Sikkema, Red Sox (AAA)
Brady Singer, Reds
Evan Sisk, Pirates (AAA)
Burch Smith, Tigers (AAA)
Collin Snider, Cubs (AAA)
Gabe Speier, Mariners
Josh Staumont, Reds (AAA)
Jacob Wallace, Braves (AAA)
Luke Weaver, Yankees
Ryan Weiss, Astros
Joey Wiemer, Nationals
Kyle Wright, Cubs (AAA)
Ryan Yarbrough, Yankees
Angel Zerpa, Brewers
Tyler Zuber, Marlins (AAA)
