The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City,Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expansion franchise in 1969,and has played in four World Series,winning in 1985 and 2015,and losing in 1980 and 2014. Outside of a dominant 10-year stretch between 1976 and 1985,and a brief,albeit dominant resurgence from 2014 to 2015,the Royals have combined for a bottom-ten all time winning percentage in MLB history.
George Howard Brett is an American former professional baseball third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.
David Lee Henderson,nicknamed "Hendu",was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Boston Red Sox,San Francisco Giants,Oakland Athletics,and Kansas City Royals during his 14-year career,primarily as an outfielder.
Alexis Israel Ríos is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Chicago White Sox,Texas Rangers,and Kansas City Royals. A World Series champion with the Royals in 2015,Rios is a two-time MLB All-Star. In 2007,he was a Fielding Bible Award winner for right fielders. In 2013,he hit for the cycle and achieved six hits in one game. Rios is a three-time World Baseball Classic participant with the Puerto Rico national baseball team.
Prince Semien Fielder is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Detroit Tigers,and Texas Rangers. He was selected in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by the Brewers out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne,Florida,and spent the first seven years of his MLB career with the Brewers before signing with the Tigers,in January 2012. In November 2013,Fielder was traded to the Rangers,where he played the remainder of his career.
Willie James Wilson is a former professional baseball player. He played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals,Oakland Athletics,and Chicago Cubs. He was an outfielder known for his speed and ability as an effective leadoff hitter. Wilson's career total of 668 stolen bases currently ranks him in 12th place all-time among major leaguers.
Raúl Javier Ibañez is a Cuban-American former professional baseball left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) now serving as Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations for MLB. He played 11 of his 19 big league seasons for the Seattle Mariners,while also playing for the Kansas City Royals,Philadelphia Phillies,New York Yankees,and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. While primarily a left fielder,Ibañez often saw considerable time as a designated hitter (DH),throughout his career.
Alonza Benjamin Bumbry is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres from 1972 through 1985. Bumbry was the 1973 American League Rookie of the Year,and went on to be an All-Star and World Series champion. He is an inductee of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Prior to his major league career,Bumbry served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze Star.
Norichika "Nori" Aoki is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers,Kansas City Royals,San Francisco Giants,Seattle Mariners,Houston Astros,Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Nelson Ramón Cruz Martínez Jr. is a Dominican–American professional baseball designated hitter and right fielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Texas Rangers,Baltimore Orioles,Seattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins,Tampa Bay Rays,Washington Nationals,and San Diego Padres. Cruz is a seven-time MLB All-Star. Known for his power hitting,he has won four Silver Slugger Awards and two Edgar Martínez Awards.
Alcides Escobar,is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Milwaukee Brewers,Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals,and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Michael Charles Brantley Jr. is an American professional baseball left fielder and designated hitter for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians. The son of former MLB player and hitting coach Mickey Brantley,he is a left-handed batter and thrower.
Jarrod Martel Dyson is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,Seattle Mariners,Arizona Diamondbacks,Pittsburgh Pirates,Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
Jackie Bradley Jr.,nicknamed "JBJ",is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Milwaukee Brewers,Toronto Blue Jays,and Kansas City Royals. Listed at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and 200 pounds (91 kg),he bats left and throws right-handed.
Salvador Johan Pérez Díaz,nicknamed "Salvy",is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball catcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is an eight-time MLB All-Star,five-time Gold Glove Award winner,and received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award when the Royals won the 2015 World Series over the New York Mets. On the international level,he represents the Venezuelan national team.
Jorge Carlos Soler Castillo is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs,Kansas City Royals,and Atlanta Braves.
Mitchell Evan Haniger is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.
Cody Marshall Decker is an American former professional baseball player who played for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed power hitter,he played first base,third base,left field,and could catch.
The 2015 American League Championship Series (ALCS) was a best-of-seven playoff contested between the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals for the American League (AL) pennant and the right to play in the 2015 World Series. The series is the 46th in league history. The series was broadcast by Fox and Fox Sports 1 in the United States,with Fox airing Game 1 and Fox Sports 1 airing Games 2–6. Sportsnet,a property of Blue Jays owner Rogers Communications,simulcast Fox and Fox Sports 1's coverage in Canada. Game 1 took place on October 16,and the series ended with the Royals winning Game 6 on October 23.
The 2015 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series to determine the participating teams in the 2015 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff—played in two series. Fox Sports 1 carried the majority of games in the United States,while Sportsnet primarily simulcast Fox Sports 1's coverage in Canada. MLB Network had exclusive coverage of Game 3 of the Kansas City Royals–Houston Astros series in both the United States and Canada,and Game 2 of the Toronto Blue Jays–Texas Rangers series in the U.S. only. The ALDS began on October 8 and ran until October 14. The Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals had home field advantage in this round of the playoffs. With the New York Yankees being eliminated by the Astros in the AL Wild Card Game,this is the first time in ALDS history that all four ALDS teams were expansion teams.
