6 Baseball Players who Played for Royals and Pirates
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 Pittsburgh Pirates.
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 on both the Royals and the Pirates.
Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana is a first baseman from the Dominican Republic who also plays a little third base and catcher. He’s best known for his power-hitting ability, particularly his home run and walks totals.
Santana started his MLB career with the Cleveland Indians in 2010, where he became a reliable power source in the lineup. He had a standout season in 2019 (with Cleveland) when he was selected as an All-Star for the first time and won the Silver Slugger award. His batting patience also led the American League in walks multiple times.
After his tenure with the Indians, Santana has bounced around the league a bit playing for the Phillies, Royals, Mariners, Pirates and Brewers over the course of just a couple of years.
*Santana has previously been the most popular pick for this square (Grid 122)
Jay Bell
Jay Bell, who played from 1986 to 2003, spent most of his career as a shortstop with the Pirates and Diamondbacks. Bell was a solid all-around player, accumulating over 1,900 hits, 195 home runs, and 860 RBIs in his career.
Bell made All-Star games with both the Pirates and Diamondbacks (1 each). He was also a part of the Diamondbacks’ World Series championship team in 2001.
Bell was known for his dependable glove, winning a Gold Glove in 1993, and his consistency at the plate made him a valuable contributor in Major League lineups for nearly two decades.
Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall is highly regarded for his role as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1996 to 2010. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Kansas City Royals.
A three-time All-Star (Pirates), Kendall had a .288 lifetime batting average (.327 in ’98 with Pittsburgh), 75 home runs, and 744 RBIs. He also accumulated 189 stolen bases, an impressive number for a catcher.
His reputation for toughness and durability resulted in him catching over 2000 games, one of only a few catchers to reach this milestone.
Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs had a lengthy Major League career that spanned from 1992 to 2011, during which he played for 12 different teams, essentially making him an Immaculate Grid Hall-of-Famer.
Known for his power-hitting abilities, primarily as a pinch-hitter, he hit 265 home runs over his career and holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs in MLB history with 23. Stairs had a career batting average of .262 with an OPS of .832, and recorded 899 RBIs.
Notably, in the 2008 postseason with the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit one of the most famous home runs in Phillies history, helping the team move onto the World Series that year.
Benito Santiago
As a young catcher growing up, I remember seeing Benito Santiago throwing players out from his knees and thought it was the coolest thing ever and something I remember imitating in Little League games.
But, that’s not what matters here. What matters is that 5-time All-Star Benito Santiago played for 9 different teams throughout this 20-year career which makes him an absolute force on the Immaculate Grid.
Santiago played for Padres, Giants, Reds, (Florida) Marlins, Blue Jays, Royals, Pirates, Phillies and Cubs.
Jeff Suppan
Jeff Suppan played for 7 different teams (Royals, Cardinals, Red Sox, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Padres) over his 17-year career. Suppan was known for his consistent performance on the mound, amassing over 140 wins in his career.
His most successful stint came with the Cardinals, where he played a crucial role in their 2006 World Series run, earning the NLCS MVP for his stellar performance.
Despite not being a big strikeout pitcher, Suppan was a dependable arm in the rotation, providing valuable innings for his teams over a lengthy career.
