Kevin Kuntz is the son of Kansas City Royals first base coach Rusty Kuntz and currently serves as an infielder for KC’s Class A affiliate (the Lexington Legends). A former John Trombold Gold Glove winner as a KU Jayhawk, Kuntz was selected in the 28th round of the 2013 draft, and recently joined Dave O to talk about growing up with Rusty around MLB clubhouses, his love for ping pong, playing at KU, getting a professional save this spring and tons more! (Photo Courtesy Burlington Royals)
Jeff Grotewold played for the Royals during the 1995 season when he hit .278/.422/.389 in 46 at bats. However, Grotewold is most remembered for setting a major league record during the 1992 season with Philadelphia, when the C/1B/OF hit three pinch hit home runs in three consecutive days for the Phillies at San Francisco. Grotewold recently joined Dave O to talk about the magical three days in San Francisco, his time with the Royals organization, being a replacement player and tons more! (Photo Courtesy Jeff Grotewold)
Marten Gasparini was the first European baseball player to sign a contract in excess of $1 million dollars when the Royals inked him to such a deal in 2013 (for $1.3 million). A shortstop that Baseball America called “quite possibly Europe’s best prospect ever,” Gasparini hails from Northern Italy and the Italian Baseball Academy, with numerous international competition under his belt. The 17 year old switch hitting shortstop currently plays for the Burlington Royals and recently joined Dave O to talk about TRUE Italian food (not the Americanized version), the cool gift he purchased for his family with his signing bonus, being a Royals fan himself, where the Royals see him position wise and gobs more! (Photo Courtesy Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball)
Mike Armstrong pitched for the Royals in 1982 and 1983, compiling a 15-12 record with a 3.51 ERA in 110 games. Armstrong is remembered both as a very dependable reliever and also, as the pitcher who notched the victory in the infamous “Pine Tar Game.” Overall, the 6-3 right hander spent parts of eight years at the major league level for the Padres, Royals, Yankees and Indians. Armstrong recently joined Dave O to talk about how dangerously close his career was to being over in the minor leagues, how much he LOVED pitching in Kansas City, Pine Tar game memories, his friendship with Dan Quisenberry, frustrations upon being traded to the Yankees and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Luke Hudson pitched for the Royals from 2006-2007, compiling a 7-7 KC mark. Overall, the 6-3 righty pitched parts of five years at the major league level, both with KC and Cincinnati, before shoulder injuries tragically cut his career short (he finished 17-18 with a 5.11 ERA). Hudson is most remembered by Royals fans for his stretch during the 2006 season in which he was twice Royals Pitcher of the Month and finished 6-3 with a 4.79 ERA as a starter. Luke recently joined Dave O to talk about a number of topics, including how Sean Casey once stopped the Reds team bus to rib Cubs fans in a bar, his respect for Dayton Moore (both as a GM and family man), being a good hitting pitcher, all the shoulder issues and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
J.C. Sulbaran was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 30th round of the 2008 June Amateur Draft out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida. Sulbaran, a high school teammate of Eric Hosmer, came over to the Royals with Donnie Joseph in exchange for Jonathan Broxton in July of 2012. J.C.has spent the last two years between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas, where he currently anchors the rotation with a 3.13 ERA for the Naturals in 20 starts and 112 innings. The 24 year old right hander recently joined Dave O to discuss how Eric Hosmer predicted his trade to KC the day before it happened, pitching in the World Baseball Classic for his home country of The Netherlands, the evolution of his curveball in 2014 and much more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Andy McGaffigan pitched for the Royals from 1990-1991 and in total, spent parts of 11 seasons at the major league level. A 6-3 right hander, McGaffigan pitched as both a starter and reliever, compiling a career record of 38-33 with 24 saves and a 3.38 ERA between his times with the Yankees, Giants, Expos, Reds and Royals. McGaffigan recently joined Dave O to talk very openly and candidly about the 1990 Royals, the disappointing way his career in KC ended, his favorite memories of other stops along the way and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Whit Merrifield was a 9th round selection of the Royals in 2010 and is a former College World Series champion at South Carolina. In fact, Merrifield drove in the winning run for the Gamecocks, making him an instant legend. Whit signed with the Royals shortly after and has played parts of five seasons at the minor league level, appearing at every position but catcher. Merrifield is currently hitting .401/.505/.906 for Omaha and recently joined Dave O to talk about that college World Series at bat, moment by moment, being surprised at his Royals selection, what positions he’s most comfortable, a woman being held hostage next door to his apartment in Burlington!!??!! and much more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Monty Montgomery pitched at the major league level and for the Royals from 1971-1972, finishing with a lifetime mark of 6-3 and an impressive 2.78 ERA. Montgomery, a 6-3 right hander, was the 9th round selection of Kansas City in the 1968 amateur draft. He recently joined Dave O to go back in time and reminisce about his days with the Royals, from High Point-Thomasville to Elimira, Omaha to Kansas City. A charming southern gentleman with a great story – one you won’t soon forget. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Ian Tompkins was Kansas City’s 14th round selection in the 2014 June Amateur Draft out of Western Kentucky University, and currently pitches out of the Burlington Royals bullpen. Tompkins finished up his final collegiate season among the nation’s leader in saves (14), as well as striking out 46 hitters in 26 innings. In fact, for his career, the 6-0 lefty finished third among active college pitchers in career strikeouts, fanning an impressive 12.38 K/9. Tompkins recently joined Dave O to talk about his first summer of pro ball, scouting reports on himself and many of his teammates, the correct annunciation of Louisville, his love for music and lots more! *** NOTE *** Even the maid at the Kingsport Quality Inn makes a brief appearance – a Clubhouse Conversation first! (Photo Courtesy Burlington Royals)