5 Baseball Players who Played for Royals and Mets
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played for both the Royals and the Mets.
Carlos Beltran
Carlos Beltran is a 9-time all-star who played an incredible 20 years in major league baseball. Over his 20-year career, he played for 7 different teams – 2 of which were the Royals and the Mets.
Beltran also played for the New York Yankees, St Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants – making him an extremely versatile Immaculate Grid answer.
Combine that with the fact that he was a 9-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove winner, and 2-time Silver Slugger and you can see why Beltran will show up quite often in many fans’ grids.
Beltran Key Stats
- Rookie of the Year (Royals)
- All-Star (Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees)
- Gold Glove (Mets)
- Silver Slugger (Mets)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Mets)
- 100+ RBI Season (Royals, Mets)
- 40+ Stolen Base Season (Royals)
Matt Harvey
Matt Harvey, a right-handed pitcher who played 9 years in the league – mostly with the New York Mets – is known for his early career dominance and his struggles with injuries.
During his peak, he was referred to as the “Dark Knight,” delivering All-Star performances and helping the Mets reach the 2015 World Series.
Over his career, Harvey recorded over 800 strikeouts with an ERA of around 4.00. His best season came in 2013 when he posted a 2.27 ERA and struck out 191 batters in 178 innings, earning an All-Star selection (Mets).
Bret Saberhagen
Bret Saberhagen, who had an exceptional career from 1984 to 2001, shone as a starting pitcher for the Royals, Mets, Red Sox and Rockies. Saberhagen was a dominant force on the mound, winning the Cy Young Award twice with the Royals in 1985 and 1989.
He was also instrumental in leading the Royals to a World Series championship in 1985, earning the Series MVP award. Over his career, Saberhagen accumulated 167 wins (career high of 23 in 1989), more than 1,700 strikeouts, and maintained a strong 3.34 career ERA.
His no-hitter in 1991 and three All-Star appearances further underscore his noteworthy career in the Major Leagues.
Hideo Nomo
Hideo Nomo was a trailblazing pitcher who played from 1995 to 2008. Best known for his time with the Dodgers, he also played for one year each with the Royals, Rays, Mets, Red Sox, Tigers and Brewers.
Nomo was the first Japanese player in the MLB in the modern era and he immediately made a splash, earning the Rookie of the Year award in 1995.
Known for his distinctive “tornado” delivery, Nomo racked up over 120 wins and more than 1,900 strikeouts during his career including a National League leading 236 in his rookie season.
He also threw two no-hitters, one of them in the notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas, a left-handed pitcher, enjoyed a lengthy career in the Major Leagues from 2005 to 2019. He played for six different teams but spent the majority of his time with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals.
Vargas had a career year in 2017 when he led the American League with 18 wins and earned an All-Star selection while with the Royals. His career statistics include a 99-99 win-loss record, a 4.29 ERA, and 1147 strikeouts.
