Mike Moustakas arrived in Kansas City as the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, carrying the heavy expectations of a franchise desperate for a turnaround. While his traditional numbers often sparked debate among evaluators, he became the emotional heartbeat of the team's championship era.
In the middle of the 2010s, “Moose” was the man in the Royals baseball. Moustakas first demonstrated a specialized ability to deliver in the clutch during the historic 2014 postseason run. After a regular season where he struggled with consistency, he evolved into a tactical legend in October, belting five home runs during the playoffs and making an iconic diving catch into the dugout during the ALCS. The year after, he carried that momentum into the 2015 championship campaign, where he earned his first All-Star selection, hit 22 home runs, and provided the veteran-like poise needed to secure the franchise's first World Series title in thirty years.
In 2017, he surged into the record books by belting a franchise-record 38 home runs, finally eclipsing Steve Balboni’s long-standing mark. He showed the organization he was a foundational star by earning his second All-Star nod and finishing the year with a career-high .521 slugging percentage. While he would record another 20-home run season in 2018, his overall rank remains hindered by a .306 career on-base percentage as a Royal.
Moustakas was traded to Milwaukee during the 2018 season, and left behind 139 home runs and 858 hits.
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