Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals players: who played for both
Who played for both the Guardians and Royals?
101 players played for both the Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals between 1969 and 2025, including Carlos Santana, Pat Tabler, Johnny Damon and Kevin Seitzer. 54 of them played for the Guardians first and 46 for the Royals first; 1 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Billy Harris is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Guardians first, then the Royals from 1969.
- Rich Hill is the most recent: Guardians first, then the Royals from 2025.
- Carlos Santana played the most games across the two: 1,450 for the Guardians and 210 for the Royals.
- 16 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Carlos Santana.
- Most common positions on this list: P (53), OF (18), C (10), 2B (8).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Guardians and the Royals. The surname is enough. 0 / 101
All 101 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Guardians | Royals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Santana | 1B | 2010–2017, 2019–2020, 2025 (1450 g) | 2021–2022 (210 g) |
| Pat Tabler | 1B | 1983–1988 (707 g) | 1988–1990 (287 g) |
| Johnny Damon | OF | 2012 (64 g) | 1995–2000 (803 g) |
| Kevin Seitzer | 3B | 1996–1997 (86 g) | 1986–1991 (741 g) |
| Lou Piniella | OF | 1968 (6 g) | 1969–1973 (700 g) |
| Mike Aviles | SS | 2013–2015 (335 g) | 2008–2011 (301 g) |
| Jamie Quirk | C | 1984 (1 g) | 1975–1976, 1978–1982, 1985–1988 (582 g) |
| Jorge Orta | 2B | 1980–1981 (217 g) | 1984–1987 (359 g) |
| Vada Pinson | OF | 1970–1971 (294 g) | 1974–1975 (218 g) |
| Coco Crisp | OF | 2002–2005, 2016 (435 g) | 2009 (49 g) |
| Steve Mingori | P | 1970–1973 (122 g) | 1973–1979 (264 g) |
| Mark Grudzielanek | 2B | 2010 (30 g) | 2006–2008 (336 g) |
| David Riske | P | 1999, 2001–2005 (287 g) | 2007 (65 g) |
| Scott Barlow | P | 2024 (63 g) | 2018–2023 (277 g) |
| Steve Farr | P | 1984, 1994 (50 g) | 1985–1990 (289 g) |
| Jose Cardenal | OF | 1968–1969 (303 g) | 1980 (25 g) |
| Franmil Reyes | DH | 2019–2022 (295 g) | 2023 (19 g) |
| Richie Scheinblum | OF | 1965, 1967–1969 (143 g) | 1972, 1974 (170 g) |
| Buddy Black | P | 1988–1990, 1995 (89 g) | 1982–1988 (217 g) |
| Pat Kelly | OF | 1981 (48 g) | 1969–1970 (248 g) |
| Melky Cabrera | OF | 2018 (78 g) | 2011, 2017 (213 g) |
| Jason Grimsley | P | 1993–1995 (39 g) | 2001–2004 (251 g) |
| Al Fitzmorris | P | 1977–1978 (36 g) | 1969–1976 (248 g) |
| Rusty Torres | OF | 1973–1974 (231 g) | 1980 (51 g) |
| Chris James | OF | 1990–1991 (255 g) | 1995 (26 g) |
| Jay Bell | SS | 1986–1988 (116 g) | 1997 (153 g) |
| Dave Nelson | 2B | 1968–1969 (140 g) | 1976–1977 (105 g) |
| Ted Abernathy | P | 1963–1964 (96 g) | 1970–1972 (144 g) |
| Abraham Almonte | OF | 2015–2017 (187 g) | 2018 (50 g) |
| Cam Gallagher | C | 2023 (56 g) | 2017–2022 (171 g) |
| Dave Clark | OF | 1986–1989 (212 g) | 1991 (11 g) |
| Jamey Carroll | 2B | 2008–2009 (206 g) | 2013 (14 g) |
| Don Hood | P | 1975–1979 (160 g) | 1982–1983 (57 g) |
| Brandon Moss | OF | 2015 (94 g) | 2017 (118 g) |
| Kurt Bevacqua | 3B | 1971–1972 (74 g) | 1973–1974 (138 g) |
| Bip Roberts | 2B | 1997 (23 g) | 1996–1997 (187 g) |
| Tony Graffanino | 2B | 2009 (7 g) | 2004–2006 (203 g) |
| Sal Fasano | C | 2008 (15 g) | 1996–1999, 2001 (164 g) |
| Juan Gonzalez | OF | 2001, 2005 (141 g) | 2004 (33 g) |
| Nick Wittgren | P | 2019–2021 (140 g) | 2023 (27 g) |
| Pat Borders | C | 1997–1999 (115 g) | 1995 (52 g) |
| Neal Heaton | P | 1982–1986 (133 g) | 1992 (31 g) |
| Jakob Junis | P | 2025 (57 g) | 2017–2021 (105 g) |
| Bruce Chen | P | 2015 (2 g) | 2009–2014 (157 g) |
| Carlos Hernandez | P | 2025 (5 g) | 2020–2024 (150 g) |
| Gaylord Perry | P | 1972–1975 (134 g) | 1983 (14 g) |
| Roberto Hernandez | P | 2007 (28 g) | 2001–2002 (116 g) |
| Chris Haney | P | 1999–2000 (14 g) | 1992–1998 (128 g) |
| Paul Byrd | P | 2006–2008 (84 g) | 2001–2002 (49 g) |
| Jose Santiago | P | 2003 (25 g) | 1997–2001 (105 g) |
| Jeremy Guthrie | P | 2004–2006 (16 g) | 2012–2015 (110 g) |
| Mike Armstrong | P | 1987 (14 g) | 1982–1983 (111 g) |
| Chad Durbin | P | 2003–2004, 2011 (76 g) | 1999–2002 (48 g) |
| Blake Wood | P | 2013–2014 (9 g) | 2010–2011 (106 g) |
| Alvin Morman | P | 1997–1998 (65 g) | 1999 (49 g) |
| Mike Hedlund | P | 1965, 1968 (9 g) | 1969–1972 (104 g) |
| Ted Power | P | 1992–1993 (84 g) | 1988 (22 g) |
| Luke Maile | C | 2022 (76 g) | 2025 (25 g) |
| Brian Anderson | P | 1996–1997, 2003 (45 g) | 2003–2005 (48 g) |
| Jason Jacome | P | 1997–1998 (22 g) | 1995–1997 (71 g) |
| Mark Huismann | P | 1987 (20 g) | 1983–1986 (70 g) |
| Scott Elarton | P | 2004–2005, 2008 (60 g) | 2006–2007 (29 g) |
| Jamey Wright | P | 2010 (18 g) | 2003, 2009 (69 g) |
| Elliot Johnson | SS | 2014 (7 g) | 2013 (79 g) |
| Jayson Nix | 3B | 2010 (78 g) | 2014 (7 g) |
| Albie Lopez | P | 1993–1997 (69 g) | 2003 (15 g) |
| Scott Leius | 3B | 1996 (27 g) | 1998–1999 (54 g) |
| Bill Butler | P | 1972 (6 g) | 1969–1971 (73 g) |
| Meibrys Viloria | C | 2023 (10 g) | 2018–2020 (67 g) |
| Paul Zuvella | SS | 1988–1989 (75 g) | 1991 (2 g) |
| Rich Hill | P | 2013 (63 g) | 2025 (2 g) |
| Todd Dunwoody | OF | 2002 (2 g) | 2000 (61 g) |
| Gregg Olson | P | 1995 (3 g) | 1995, 1997 (54 g) |
| George Kottaras | C | 2014 (10 g) | 2013 (46 g) |
| Bob Johnson | P | 1974 (14 g) | 1970 (40 g) |
| Jerry Spradlin | P | 1999 (4 g) | 2000 (50 g) |
| Rudy Seanez | P | 1989–1991 (34 g) | 2004 (16 g) |
| Keith Creel | P | 1985 (15 g) | 1982–1983 (34 g) |
| Frank Wills | P | 1986–1987 (32 g) | 1983–1984 (16 g) |
| Ken Phelps | DH | 1990 (24 g) | 1980–1981 (24 g) |
| Brett Hayes | C | 2015 (14 g) | 2013–2014 (32 g) |
| Ben Lively | P | 2024–2025 (38 g) | 2018–2019 (6 g) |
| Billy Harris | 2B | 1968 (38 g) | 1969 (5 g) |
| Larry Casian | P | 1994 (7 g) | 1997 (32 g) |
| Ernie Young | OF | 2004 (3 g) | 1998 (25 g) |
| Damian Jackson | 2B | 1996–1997 (13 g) | 2004 (14 g) |
| Ken Sanders | P | 1973–1974 (24 g) | 1976 (3 g) |
| Joba Chamberlain | P | 2016 (20 g) | 2015 (6 g) |
| Dan Schatzeder | P | 1988 (15 g) | 1991 (8 g) |
| Chris Codiroli | P | 1988 (14 g) | 1990 (6 g) |
| Adam Moore | C | 2015–2016 (10 g) | 2012–2013 (9 g) |
| Chan Perry | OF | 2000 (13 g) | 2002 (5 g) |
| Anthony Swarzak | P | 2015 (10 g) | 2021 (7 g) |
| Mike Jackson | P | 1973 (1 g) | 1972–1973 (16 g) |
| Bryan Bullington | P | 2008 (3 g) | 2010 (13 g) |
| Chris Turner | C | 1999 (12 g) | 1998 (4 g) |
| Terry Clark | P | 1997 (4 g) | 1996 (12 g) |
| Bob Milacki | P | 1993 (5 g) | 1994 (10 g) |
| Paul Abbott | P | 1993 (5 g) | 2003 (10 g) |
| Jason Rakers | P | 1998–1999 (2 g) | 2000 (11 g) |
| Trent Hubbard | OF | 1997 (7 g) | 2001 (5 g) |
From the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0), 1876–2025. A season counts when the player played at least one regular-season game for the franchise.Guardians seasons include the Cleveland Blues (1901), Cleveland Bronchos (1902), Cleveland Naps (1903–1914) and Cleveland Indians (1915–2021).
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals?
101 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1969 to 2025, including Carlos Santana, Pat Tabler, Johnny Damon and Kevin Seitzer. A player counts when he played at least one regular-season game for each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Billy Harris: Cleveland Guardians first, then the Kansas City Royals from 1969.
Who has played for both recently?
Carlos Santana, Scott Barlow, Jakob Junis, Carlos Hernandez, Luke Maile and Rich Hill and 1 more, with a season for one of the two in 2024 or 2025.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise, the way the Lahman database links every team-season to a franchise. Guardians seasons include the Cleveland Blues (1901), Cleveland Bronchos (1902), Cleveland Naps (1903–1914) and Cleveland Indians (1915–2021).
Careers from the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams (logos via TheSportsDB). Independent and not affiliated with MLB or any team. Credits