Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals players: who played for both
Who played for both the Tigers and Royals?
95 players played for both the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals between 1969 and 2025, including Kirk Gibson, Joe Randa, Al Cowens and Omar Infante. 41 of them played for the Tigers first and 51 for the Royals first; 3 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Dave Wickersham is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Tigers first, then the Royals from 1969.
- Mark Canha is the most recent: Tigers first, then the Royals from 2025.
- Kirk Gibson played the most games across the two: 1,177 for the Tigers and 132 for the Royals.
- 13 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Kirk Gibson.
- Most common positions on this list: P (46), OF (20), 3B (8), C (8).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Tigers and the Royals. The surname is enough. 0 / 95
All 95 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Tigers | Royals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Gibson | OF | 1979–1987, 1993–1995 (1177 g) | 1991 (132 g) |
| Joe Randa | 3B | 1998 (138 g) | 1995–1996, 1999–2004 (1019 g) |
| Al Cowens | OF | 1980–1981 (193 g) | 1974–1979 (812 g) |
| Omar Infante | 2B | 2002–2007, 2012–2013 (676 g) | 2014–2016 (298 g) |
| Johnny Damon | OF | 2010 (145 g) | 1995–2000 (803 g) |
| Pat Sheridan | OF | 1986–1989 (416 g) | 1981, 1983–1985 (328 g) |
| Shane Halter | 3B | 2000–2003 (477 g) | 1997–1998 (160 g) |
| Dean Palmer | 3B | 1999–2003 (382 g) | 1997–1998 (201 g) |
| Lynn Jones | OF | 1979–1983 (303 g) | 1984–1986 (224 g) |
| Joakim Soria | P | 2014–2015 (56 g) | 2007–2011, 2016–2017 (427 g) |
| Carlos Peña | 1B | 2002–2005 (427 g) | 2013 (4 g) |
| Gary Thurman | OF | 1993 (75 g) | 1987–1992 (325 g) |
| Bob Hamelin | DH | 1997 (110 g) | 1993–1996 (278 g) |
| Jamie Walker | P | 2002–2006 (327 g) | 1997–1998 (56 g) |
| Mike Aviles | SS | 2016 (68 g) | 2008–2011 (301 g) |
| Aurelio Lopez | P | 1979–1985 (355 g) | 1974 (8 g) |
| Chad Kreuter | C | 1992–1994 (251 g) | 1999 (107 g) |
| Matt Stairs | OF | 2006 (14 g) | 2004–2006 (330 g) |
| Brayan Peña | C | 2013 (71 g) | 2009–2012 (264 g) |
| Craig Paquette | 3B | 2002–2003 (83 g) | 1996–1997 (195 g) |
| Gregg Jefferies | 1B | 1999–2000 (111 g) | 1992 (152 g) |
| Leon Roberts | OF | 1974–1975 (146 g) | 1983–1984 (113 g) |
| Robbie Grossman | OF | 2021–2022 (239 g) | 2024 (16 g) |
| Al Alburquerque | P | 2011–2015 (241 g) | 2017 (11 g) |
| Neifi Perez | SS | 2006–2007 (54 g) | 2001–2002 (194 g) |
| Rondell White | OF | 2004–2005 (218 g) | 2003 (22 g) |
| Tommy Matchick | SS | 1967–1969 (182 g) | 1970 (55 g) |
| Bip Roberts | 2B | 1998 (34 g) | 1996–1997 (187 g) |
| Jorge Bonifacio | OF | 2020 (30 g) | 2017–2019 (187 g) |
| Jerry Don Gleaton | P | 1990–1991 (104 g) | 1987–1989 (105 g) |
| Louis Coleman | P | 2018 (51 g) | 2011–2015 (152 g) |
| Vince Coleman | OF | 1997 (6 g) | 1994–1995 (179 g) |
| Dave Wickersham | P | 1964–1967 (148 g) | 1969 (34 g) |
| Wilson Betemit | 3B | 2011 (40 g) | 2010–2011 (141 g) |
| Juan Samuel | 2B | 1994–1995 (135 g) | 1992, 1995 (44 g) |
| Rusty Meacham | P | 1991 (10 g) | 1992–1995 (164 g) |
| Hal Morris | 1B | 2000 (40 g) | 1998 (127 g) |
| Carlos Hernandez | P | 2025 (11 g) | 2020–2024 (150 g) |
| John Schreiber | P | 2019–2020 (28 g) | 2024–2025 (133 g) |
| Paul Bako | C | 1998 (96 g) | 2006 (56 g) |
| Jason Smith | 2B | 2004–2005 (88 g) | 2007–2008 (62 g) |
| Juan Gonzalez | OF | 2000 (115 g) | 2004 (33 g) |
| A. J. Hinch | C | 2003 (27 g) | 2001–2002 (117 g) |
| Jose Lima | P | 1994–1996, 2001–2002 (95 g) | 2003, 2005 (46 g) |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | 2005, 2008 (62 g) | 2009–2010 (78 g) |
| Phil Hiatt | 3B | 1996 (7 g) | 1993, 1995 (133 g) |
| Mark Canha | OF | 2024 (93 g) | 2025 (46 g) |
| Storm Davis | P | 1993–1994 (59 g) | 1990–1991 (72 g) |
| Juan Berenguer | P | 1982–1985 (101 g) | 1981, 1992 (27 g) |
| Tim Belcher | P | 1994 (25 g) | 1996–1998 (101 g) |
| Wily Peralta | P | 2021–2022 (47 g) | 2018–2019 (79 g) |
| Josh Anderson | OF | 2009 (74 g) | 2009 (44 g) |
| Jim Rooker | P | 1968 (2 g) | 1969–1972 (115 g) |
| Ruppert Jones | OF | 1984 (79 g) | 1976 (28 g) |
| Joba Chamberlain | P | 2014–2015 (99 g) | 2015 (6 g) |
| Gregg Olson | P | 1996 (43 g) | 1995, 1997 (54 g) |
| Damian Jackson | 2B | 2002 (81 g) | 2004 (14 g) |
| Alexis Gomez | OF | 2005–2006 (71 g) | 2002, 2004 (18 g) |
| Chad Durbin | P | 2006–2007 (39 g) | 1999–2002 (48 g) |
| Octavio Dotel | P | 2012–2013 (63 g) | 2007 (24 g) |
| Tim Byrdak | P | 2007 (39 g) | 1998–2000 (48 g) |
| Al Levine | P | 2004 (65 g) | 2003 (18 g) |
| Roman Colon | P | 2005–2006 (32 g) | 2009–2010, 2012 (51 g) |
| Brian Johnson | C | 1997 (45 g) | 2000 (37 g) |
| Mark Huismann | P | 1988 (5 g) | 1983–1986 (70 g) |
| Mike Difelice | C | 2004 (13 g) | 2003 (62 g) |
| Bob Melvin | C | 1985 (41 g) | 1992 (32 g) |
| Steve Foucault | P | 1977–1978 (68 g) | 1978 (3 g) |
| Matt Treanor | C | 2009 (4 g) | 2011 (65 g) |
| Adam Bernero | P | 2000–2003 (64 g) | 2006 (3 g) |
| Mark Redman | P | 2001–2002 (32 g) | 2006 (29 g) |
| Dan Schatzeder | P | 1980–1981 (49 g) | 1991 (8 g) |
| Doug Bochtler | P | 1998 (51 g) | 2000 (6 g) |
| Luis de los Santos | 1B | 1991 (16 g) | 1988–1989 (39 g) |
| Jim Nettles | OF | 1974 (43 g) | 1979 (11 g) |
| Michael Lorenzen | P | 2023 (18 g) | 2024–2025 (34 g) |
| Neftali Feliz | P | 2015 (30 g) | 2017 (20 g) |
| Randy Veres | P | 1996 (25 g) | 1997 (24 g) |
| Dave Gumpert | P | 1982–1983 (31 g) | 1987 (8 g) |
| Jacob Barnes | P | 2022 (22 g) | 2019 (15 g) |
| Denny Bautista | P | 2008 (16 g) | 2004–2006 (20 g) |
| Hideo Nomo | P | 2000 (32 g) | 2008 (3 g) |
| Chris Zachary | P | 1972 (25 g) | 1969 (8 g) |
| Scotti Madison | 3B | 1985–1986 (8 g) | 1987–1988 (23 g) |
| Ernie Young | OF | 2003 (5 g) | 1998 (25 g) |
| Greg Cadaret | P | 1994 (17 g) | 1993 (13 g) |
| Jarrod Patterson | 3B | 2001 (13 g) | 2003 (13 g) |
| Ted Power | P | 1988 (4 g) | 1988 (22 g) |
| Bob Stoddard | P | 1985 (8 g) | 1987 (17 g) |
| Trevor Rosenthal | P | 2019 (10 g) | 2020 (14 g) |
| Allen McDill | P | 2000 (13 g) | 1997–1998 (10 g) |
| Tim Pugh | P | 1997 (2 g) | 1996 (19 g) |
| Bob Scanlan | P | 1996 (8 g) | 1996 (9 g) |
| Anthony Misiewicz | P | 2023 (1 g) | 2022 (15 g) |
| Brewer Hicklen | OF | 2025 (1 g) | 2022 (6 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.
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals?
95 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1969 to 2025, including Kirk Gibson, Joe Randa, Al Cowens and Omar Infante. 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?
Dave Wickersham: Detroit Tigers first, then the Kansas City Royals from 1969.
Who has played for both recently?
Robbie Grossman, Carlos Hernandez, John Schreiber, Mark Canha, Michael Lorenzen and Brewer Hicklen, 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. Neither of these teams has moved or changed its name.
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