Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals players: who played for both
Who played for both the Astros and Royals?
77 players played for both the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals between 1969 and 2025, including Terry Puhl, Carlos Beltran, John Mayberry and Yuli Gurriel. 43 of them played for the Astros first and 32 for the Royals first; 2 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Chris Zachary is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Astros first, then the Royals from 1969.
- Yuli Gurriel is the most recent: Astros first, then the Royals from 2024.
- Terry Puhl played the most games across the two: 1,516 for the Astros and 15 for the Royals.
- 11 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Carlos Beltran.
- Most common positions on this list: P (38), OF (17), C (9), 1B (5).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Astros and the Royals. The surname is enough. 0 / 77
All 77 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Astros | Royals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Puhl | OF | 1977–1990 (1516 g) | 1991 (15 g) |
| Carlos Beltran | OF | 2004, 2017 (219 g) | 1998–2004 (795 g) |
| John Mayberry | 1B | 1968–1971 (105 g) | 1972–1977 (897 g) |
| Yuli Gurriel | 1B | 2016–2022 (801 g) | 2024 (18 g) |
| Martin Maldonado | C | 2018–2023 (470 g) | 2019 (74 g) |
| Lee May | 1B | 1972–1974 (448 g) | 1981–1982 (68 g) |
| Humberto Quintero | C | 2005–2011 (344 g) | 2012 (43 g) |
| Miguel Tejada | SS | 2008–2009 (316 g) | 2013 (53 g) |
| Sean Berry | 3B | 1996–1998 (330 g) | 1990–1991 (39 g) |
| Chuck Harrison | 1B | 1965–1967 (204 g) | 1969, 1971 (124 g) |
| Octavio Dotel | P | 2000–2004 (302 g) | 2007 (24 g) |
| Cesar Geronimo | OF | 1969–1971 (169 g) | 1981–1983 (150 g) |
| Zack Greinke | P | 2019–2021 (52 g) | 2004–2010, 2022–2023 (266 g) |
| Luis Pujols | C | 1977–1983 (311 g) | 1984 (4 g) |
| Buddy Biancalana | SS | 1987 (18 g) | 1982–1987 (293 g) |
| Jeff Keppinger | 2B | 2009–2011 (287 g) | 2006 (22 g) |
| Tom Gordon | P | 2002 (15 g) | 1988–1995 (277 g) |
| Hipolito Pichardo | P | 2002 (1 g) | 1992–1998 (281 g) |
| Mike Magnante | P | 1997–1998 (88 g) | 1991–1996 (191 g) |
| Gregg Zaun | C | 2002–2003 (135 g) | 2000–2001 (122 g) |
| Tim Byrdak | P | 2008–2010 (199 g) | 1998–2000 (48 g) |
| Justin Maxwell | OF | 2012–2013 (164 g) | 2013–2014 (55 g) |
| Leon Roberts | OF | 1976–1977 (106 g) | 1983–1984 (113 g) |
| Jose Lima | P | 1997–2001 (168 g) | 2003, 2005 (46 g) |
| Frank DiPino | P | 1982–1986 (201 g) | 1993 (11 g) |
| Robbie Grossman | OF | 2013–2015 (190 g) | 2024 (16 g) |
| Nori Aoki | OF | 2017 (71 g) | 2014 (132 g) |
| Doug Henry | P | 1998–2000 (139 g) | 2001 (53 g) |
| Jason Bourgeois | OF | 2010–2011 (162 g) | 2012 (30 g) |
| Angel Sanchez | SS | 2010–2011 (175 g) | 2006 (8 g) |
| Jim York | P | 1972–1975 (114 g) | 1970–1971 (57 g) |
| Bob Stinson | C | 1972 (27 g) | 1975–1976 (142 g) |
| Rusty Meacham | P | 2000 (5 g) | 1992–1995 (164 g) |
| Bruce Chen | P | 2003 (11 g) | 2009–2014 (157 g) |
| Mendy Lopez | SS | 2001 (10 g) | 1998–1999, 2003–2004 (151 g) |
| Jeff Fulchino | P | 2009–2011 (147 g) | 2008 (12 g) |
| Scott Elarton | P | 1998–2001 (121 g) | 2006–2007 (29 g) |
| Mike LaCoss | P | 1982–1984 (118 g) | 1985 (21 g) |
| Paul Bako | C | 1999–2000 (74 g) | 2006 (56 g) |
| Jimmy Paredes | OF | 2011–2013 (118 g) | 2014 (9 g) |
| Jerry Grote | C | 1963–1964 (103 g) | 1981 (22 g) |
| Omar Moreno | OF | 1983 (97 g) | 1985 (24 g) |
| Jordan Lyles | P | 2011–2013 (73 g) | 2023–2024 (36 g) |
| Dave Clark | OF | 1998 (93 g) | 1991 (11 g) |
| Will Smith | P | 2022 (24 g) | 2012–2013, 2024 (80 g) |
| Alvin Morman | P | 1996 (53 g) | 1999 (49 g) |
| Dylan Coleman | P | 2024 (1 g) | 2021–2023 (96 g) |
| Floyd Bannister | P | 1977–1978 (52 g) | 1988–1989 (45 g) |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | 2014 (16 g) | 2009–2010 (78 g) |
| Chris James | OF | 1993 (65 g) | 1995 (26 g) |
| Joe McEwing | OF | 2006 (7 g) | 2005 (83 g) |
| Carlos Peña | 1B | 2013 (85 g) | 2013 (4 g) |
| Dan Schatzeder | P | 1989–1990 (81 g) | 1991 (8 g) |
| Tommy Davis | OF | 1969–1970 (81 g) | 1976 (8 g) |
| Jason Smith | 2B | 2009 (21 g) | 2007–2008 (62 g) |
| Runelvys Hernandez | P | 2008 (4 g) | 2002–2003, 2005–2006 (78 g) |
| Aurelio Lopez | P | 1986–1987 (71 g) | 1974 (8 g) |
| Felipe Paulino | P | 2007, 2009–2010 (47 g) | 2011–2012 (28 g) |
| Brandon Duckworth | P | 2004–2005 (26 g) | 2006–2008 (43 g) |
| Josh Anderson | OF | 2007 (21 g) | 2009 (44 g) |
| Gregg Olson | P | 1996 (9 g) | 1995, 1997 (54 g) |
| Pat Borders | C | 1995 (11 g) | 1995 (52 g) |
| Joe Hoerner | P | 1963–1964 (8 g) | 1973–1974 (52 g) |
| Sandy Valdespino | OF | 1969 (42 g) | 1971 (18 g) |
| Chris Zachary | P | 1963–1967 (47 g) | 1969 (8 g) |
| Rick Ankiel | OF | 2013 (25 g) | 2010 (27 g) |
| Luis Rivera | SS | 1997 (7 g) | 1998 (42 g) |
| Jake Odorizzi | P | 2021–2022 (36 g) | 2012 (2 g) |
| Bob Scanlan | P | 1998 (27 g) | 1996 (9 g) |
| Mike Williams | P | 2001 (25 g) | 1997 (10 g) |
| Erik Kratz | C | 2016 (15 g) | 2014–2015 (17 g) |
| J. C. Gutierrez | P | 2007 (7 g) | 2013 (25 g) |
| Mitch Williams | P | 1994 (25 g) | 1997 (7 g) |
| Aurelio Monteagudo | P | 1966 (10 g) | 1970 (21 g) |
| George Throop | P | 1979 (14 g) | 1975, 1977–1979 (16 g) |
| Philip Humber | P | 2013 (17 g) | 2010 (8 g) |
| Terry Clark | P | 1990, 1996 (6 g) | 1996 (12 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.Astros seasons include the Houston Colt .45's (1962–1964).
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals?
77 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1969 to 2025, including Terry Puhl, Carlos Beltran, John Mayberry and Yuli Gurriel. 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?
Chris Zachary: Houston Astros first, then the Kansas City Royals from 1969.
Who has played for both recently?
Yuli Gurriel, Robbie Grossman, Jordan Lyles, Will Smith and Dylan Coleman, 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. Astros seasons include the Houston Colt .45's (1962–1964).
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