KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As fans of the Kansas City Royals look to the future during MLB’s opening week, KSHB 41 News is taking a look back.
Here’s an update on where members of the Royals' 2015 World Series team, the last time the franchise won the championship, are today.
Catcher Salvador Perez remains with the team — he’s the only starter from the 2015 team still with the Royals. The 2023 season will be his 13th in blue. In 2019, he missed the entire season due to an injury.
Outfielder Alex Gordon remained with the Royals until he retired after the 2020 season. He played his entire career for KC.
Outfielder Lorenzo Cain signed with the Milwaukee Brewers after the 2017 season. This year, he announced he’s done playing in the MLB and will return to Kauffman Stadium this season to officially retire as a Royal.
Outfielder Alex Rios went out with a bang in 2015, his 12th and final season in the major leagues.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas played with Cain in Milwaukee after the Royals traded him during the 2018 season. He then played with the Cincinnati Reds and will play for the Colorado Rockies this season.
Shortstop Alcides Escobar stayed with the Royals through 2018. He then spent a couple of years in the minors before signing with the Washington Nationals in 2021. This March, he signed with Leones de Yucatán, a professional team in the Mexican League.
Second baseman Ben Zobrist joined the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and won back-to-back World Series. He retired in 2020. Zobrist named his daughter Blaise Royal after the Kansas City team.
First baseman Eric Hosmer signed with the San Diego Padres before the 2018 season. The Padres traded him to Boston in 2022, and he’ll play the 2023 season for the Chicago Cubs.
Pitcher Danny Duffy remained with the team until the Royals traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, although he hasn’t played in the MLB since the trade.
Pitcher Yordano Ventura died in a car crash in his home country of the Dominican Republic after the 2016 season.
Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie will return to the Royals as a member of the broadcast team this season. He last played in 2017 for the Washington Nationals.
Relief pitchers Greg Holland and Wade Davis both returned to the Royals for second stints after leaving in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Davis retired after the 2021 season. Holland is a free agent after spending time with the Texas Rangers organization in 2022.
Manager Ned Yost retired from the Royals in 2019. The team will induct him into the Royals Hall of Fame this year.
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