Joe Randa had two stints with the Royals, playing for Kansas City from 1995-1996 and 1999-2004. While with KC, Randa wore the jersey number 16, but eight seemed to be his lucky number, as Joe finished 8th in Royals history in games played, hits, doubles, RBI, hit by pitch and total bases. “The Joker,” who also played with the Pirates, Tigers, Reds and Padres, recently joined Dave O to discuss coming up through the Royals minor league system, being traded away, coming back, how Allard Baird got a raw deal, how he regrets not accepting a deal to play in 2007 and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Vance Wilson currently serves as manager of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals after playing parts of eight seasons at the major league level. Wilson, a former catcher, logged big league stints with the Mets and Tigers, finishing with 403 MLB games played. The fourth year Royals minor league manager recently joined Dave O to discuss both his playing and managing career; topics covered include undergoing two Tommy John surgeries; playing for Jim Leyland; retiring a Royal in his year round home of Springdale; the art of ejection; a typical day as manager; and some very detailed looks at prospects like Hunter Dozier, Christian Binford, Lane Adams, Whit Merrifield, Cheslor Cuthbert and Jason Adam. 30 minutes of pure awesomeness. (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Fernando Cortez played for the Royals during the 2007 season after coming over to Kansas City in Dayton Moore’s first ever player for player trade as Royals GM (J.P. Howell for Joey Gathright & Cortez). A middle infielder, Cortez also spent time at the major league level with Tampa, and finished his career logging major league playing time at second, third and short. Cortez recently joined Dave O to discuss his friendship with Tony Gwynn, predicting the trade to the Royals, rollin’ up to Kauffman Stadium in a Geo Metro, his George Brett memories and much more. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Nik Stephenson has turned heads all over the Royals organization in 2014, as in his third season of pro ball, the former undrafted pitcher has added 10 MPH to his pitching repertoire. Stephenson, a 6-2 right hander out of Encitas, California, currently anchors the Burlington Royals pitching staff and profiles as one of the favorites among minor league pundits to be the “sleeper of the system.” Nik recently joined Dave O to discuss the almost miracle turnaround, from fearing release in baseball to the weighted ball workouts that turned it all around. (Photo Courtesy Burlington Royals)
Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery pitched for KC from 1988-1999, finishing his career with a franchise record 304 saves and 686 appearances. Montgomery was a three-time All-Star (1992, 1993 & 1996) and had a career Royals ERA of 3.20, good for third in team history. Montgomery currently serves as a broadcaster for the Royals and Fox Sports Kansas City, and recently joined Dave O to talk about the entire journey with baseball, from a kid growing up in Wellston, Ohio to the Reds minor leagues, from the trade to KC to the Royals Hall of Fame. A must listen for even the most casual Royals fan. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Jeremy Guthrie is in his third season with the Royals, and was involved in perhaps the best trade in recent Royals memory, as KC sent Jonathan Sanchez to Colorado in exchange for Guthrie. Since coming over, Guthrie is 25-21 with a 3.77 ERA, including a 2013 season that saw him win a career high 15 games and toss a career high 211.2 innings. Guthrie joined Dave O ahead of the team’s nine game road trip which begins in Minnesota. Topics covered, in true A-D-D style, include Guthrie’s favorite MLB umpire, why he’s striking out more guys, climate change, quoting song lyrics and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Dwight Taylor played for the Royals during the 1986 season after coming over from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Keith Creel. Prior to his times in Kansas City, Taylor helped the Arizona Wildcats win the 1980 College World Series, providing the game winning triple in a win over Cal that took ‘Zona to the CWS title game. Taylor recently joined Dave O to talk about playing in Omaha, both collegiately and professionally, how he stole 95 bases in a season at the minor league level, his times in Kansas City and much, much more. (Photo Courtesy University Of Arizona Athletic Department)
Joey Gathright played for the Royals from 2006-2008 and overall, spent parts of seven years at the major league level. Gathright, who also played for the Rays, Cubs and Red Sox, stole 20+ bases three times in the big leagues and besides that, was known for his defense…. and for jumping over cars! Gathright recently joined Dave O to discuss more than just baseball and car jumping, though, as he opened up with testimony about his struggle with addiction and the amazing road to recovery, how former Royal Fernando Cortez predicted his trade to KC before it happened, his thoughts on breaking Bobby Jenks’ bid for MLB history and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Logan Moon was KC’s 6th round selection in the 2014 draft and a local kid, as the 6-2 centerfielder went to Blue Springs South High School and Missouri Southern University. Moon finished up his collegiate career on fire, hitting .386/.460/.527/.987 with 17 stolen bases for the Lions in his senior campaign. Moon, who will begin his professional career in the Appy League with Burlington, recently joined Dave O the night before his first professional game to talk about growing up a Royals fan, how exciting it is to be drafted by the hometown team and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Logan Moon)
Buddy Baumann has been a consistent performer in the Royals minor league system since signing with KC in 2009, as the 5-10 left hander owns a career ERA of 2.97 and 9.6 K/9 in 146 minor league appearances. Baumann has been especially impressive since joining Omaha last season, as the former 7th round draft pick has a combined 2.10 ERA at the AAA level to go along with 9.9 K/9. Baumann recently joined Dave O to talk about pitching for a loaded Missouri State club, baseball movies, all of his Royal minor league stops, being an underdog and much more! (Photo Courtesy Minda Haas)