Kevin Seitzer joined the Kansas City organization as an 11th-round selection in 1983, a polished hitter from Eastern Illinois who became an immediate fixture at the hot corner. After a brief cup of coffee in late 1986, he took over the starting job in 1987.
That summer, he evolved into the most prolific hit-maker in the American League, leading the circuit with 207 hits and a league-best 151 singles. He batted .323 and earned an All-Star selection, eventually finishing as the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award behind the record-breaking Mark McGwire. His specialized dominance was never clearer than on August 2 of that year, when he tied a franchise record with six hits and drove in seven runs in a single game against Boston.
While he remained a model of steady-state reliability with three additional seasons of at least 165 hits and a stellar .380 on-base percentage in Kansas City, his offensive output gradually dipped as the organization moved toward a new era. The Royals eventually released the veteran third baseman during spring training in 1992, an exit that led to a long and successful second act with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cleveland Indians.
Seitzer compiled 809 hits and a .380 OBP as a Royal.
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