The Kansas City Royals rolled out their Hall of Fame ballot for the Class of 2027, and let me tell you, it’s packed with a who’s who from those legendary 2014-15 pennant-winning teams. Talk about bringing back some serious memories! This isn’t just a list of names, this is a roster of guys who etched their way into the hearts of Kansas City fans forever.
New Blood and Returning Icons Join the Ballot
This year, we’re seeing some absolutely massive names make their debut on the Royals Hall of Fame ballot. **Zack Greinke**, **Eric Hosmer**, **Ian Kennedy**, and **Mike Moustakas** are all first-time candidates, and honestly, it feels like it’s about time for some of these guys. These are the players that were right at the core of those incredible 2014-15 teams, the ones that brought so much excitement to Kauffman Stadium. They’re not alone though. A strong group of carry over candidates is also back, including **Carlos Beltrán**, **Billy Butler**, **Lorenzo Cain**, **Wade Davis**, **Alcides Escobar**, **Kelvin Herrera**, **Greg Holland**, and **Joakim Soria**. That’s a serious lineup, and it means fan voting for the Class of 2027 is going to be intense.
Digging Into the Numbers: Who Deserves a Spot?
Let’s be real, the numbers on some of these guys are just insane. Take **Carlos Beltrán**, for example. He rocked a .287/.352/.483 slash line over 795 games with the Royals from 1998 to 2004, tallying a 24.8 rWAR. The man was an American League Rookie of the Year in 1999, becoming only the eighth rookie in MLB history to put up 100 runs and 100 RBI in the same season. He was an absolute force, grabbing AL Player of the Week honors three times and Player of the Month in April 2004. Beltrán even ranked among the league’s top ten in stolen bases three times during his Royals tenure, sitting at eighth in club history with 164 stolen bases and an impressive 87 percent success rate. He’s also eighth among all Royals position players in rWAR. That’s a resume!
Then there’s **Billy Butler**, a first-round pick in 2004 who became the designated hitter for that epic 2014 pennant-winning squad. Over 1,166 games, he slashed .295/.359/.449 with a 12.5 rWAR. His 2012 season was pure fire, hitting .313/.373/.510 with a career-high 29 home runs, earning him a Silver Slugger and his only All-Star appearance in front of his hometown crowd. Butler was always a doubles machine, finishing among the league’s top ten three times, and he ranked sixth in RBI in 2012. He’s tied for tenth in club history in home runs, ninth in hits, and eighth in doubles. His .295 career batting average is sixth in franchise history among players with at least 1,000 plate appearances. What a hitter!
And who can forget **Lorenzo Cain**? This guy is appearing on the ballot for the first time after getting a well-deserved retirement ceremony from the club in 2023. Acquired in that Zack Greinke trade, Cain quickly transformed into one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. From 2013 to 2017, he was third among all outfielders with a staggering 75 Defensive Runs Saved. His defense was on another level during the Royals’ 2014 postseason, where he hit an unbelievable .533 against the Orioles to snag ALCS MVP honors. His career numbers with the Royals over 713 games are .289/.342/.421 with a 24.6 rWAR. A true five-tool player who showed up big when it mattered most.
So, Kansas City, the ball’s in your court. Fan voting for the Royals Hall of Fame Class of 2027 is open RIGHT NOW. Time to make those voices heard and vote in some well-deserved legends!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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