Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees players: who played for both
Who played for both the Royals and Yankees?
109 players played for both the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees between 1969 and 2025, including Lou Piniella, Johnny Damon, Billy Butler and Carlos Beltran. 52 of them played for the Royals first and 53 for the Yankees first; 4 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Ellie Rodriguez is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Yankees first, then the Royals from 1969.
- Ryan Yarbrough is the most recent: Royals first, then the Yankees from 2025.
- Lou Piniella played the most games across the two: 700 for the Royals and 1,037 for the Yankees.
- 12 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Steve Balboni.
- Most common positions on this list: P (56), OF (20), C (10), 1B (8).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Royals and the Yankees. The surname is enough. 0 / 109
All 109 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Royals | Yankees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lou Piniella | OF | 1969–1973 (700 g) | 1974–1984 (1037 g) |
| Johnny Damon | OF | 1995–2000 (803 g) | 2006–2009 (576 g) |
| Billy Butler | DH | 2007–2014 (1166 g) | 2016 (12 g) |
| Carlos Beltran | OF | 1998–2004 (795 g) | 2014–2016 (341 g) |
| Danny Tartabull | OF | 1987–1991 (657 g) | 1992–1995 (424 g) |
| John Mayberry | 1B | 1972–1977 (897 g) | 1982 (69 g) |
| Steve Balboni | 1B | 1984–1988 (566 g) | 1981–1983, 1989–1990 (295 g) |
| Melky Cabrera | OF | 2011, 2017 (213 g) | 2005–2009 (569 g) |
| Bucky Dent | SS | 1984 (11 g) | 1977–1982 (695 g) |
| Angel Berroa | SS | 2001–2007 (627 g) | 2009 (21 g) |
| Chuck Knoblauch | 2B | 2002 (80 g) | 1998–2001 (539 g) |
| Jamie Quirk | C | 1975–1976, 1978–1982, 1985–1988 (582 g) | 1989 (13 g) |
| Raul Ibanez | OF | 2001–2003, 2014 (431 g) | 2012 (130 g) |
| Don Slaught | C | 1982–1984 (250 g) | 1988–1989 (214 g) |
| Steve Farr | P | 1985–1990 (289 g) | 1991–1993 (159 g) |
| Bob Oliver | 1B | 1969–1972 (422 g) | 1975 (18 g) |
| Rey Sanchez | SS | 1999–2001 (377 g) | 1997, 2005 (61 g) |
| Tom Gordon | P | 1988–1995 (277 g) | 2004–2005 (159 g) |
| Pat Sheridan | OF | 1981, 1983–1985 (328 g) | 1991 (62 g) |
| Fran Healy | C | 1969, 1973–1976 (304 g) | 1976–1978 (74 g) |
| Jason Grimsley | P | 2001–2004 (251 g) | 1999–2000 (118 g) |
| Aroldis Chapman | P | 2023 (31 g) | 2016–2022 (315 g) |
| Larry Gura | P | 1976–1985 (311 g) | 1974–1975 (34 g) |
| Lindy McDaniel | P | 1974–1975 (78 g) | 1968–1973 (265 g) |
| Doug Bird | P | 1973–1978 (292 g) | 1980–1981 (39 g) |
| Kendrys Morales | DH | 2015–2016 (312 g) | 2019 (19 g) |
| Chili Davis | OF | 1997 (140 g) | 1998–1999 (181 g) |
| Aaron Guiel | OF | 2002–2006 (263 g) | 2006 (44 g) |
| Felix Jose | OF | 1993–1995 (257 g) | 2000 (20 g) |
| Joba Chamberlain | P | 2015 (6 g) | 2007–2013 (260 g) |
| Wilson Betemit | 3B | 2010–2011 (141 g) | 2007–2008 (124 g) |
| Andrew Benintendi | OF | 2021–2022 (227 g) | 2022 (33 g) |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | 2009–2010 (78 g) | 2006–2008 (181 g) |
| Omar Moreno | OF | 1985 (24 g) | 1983–1985 (199 g) |
| Tim Hill | P | 2018–2019 (116 g) | 2024–2025 (105 g) |
| Tony Solaita | 1B | 1974–1976 (220 g) | 1968 (1 g) |
| David Cone | P | 1986, 1993–1994 (68 g) | 1995–2000 (145 g) |
| Greg Cadaret | P | 1993 (13 g) | 1989–1992 (188 g) |
| Sal Fasano | C | 1996–1999, 2001 (164 g) | 2006 (28 g) |
| Scott Pose | OF | 1999–2000 (133 g) | 1997 (54 g) |
| Ellie Rodriguez | C | 1969–1970 (175 g) | 1968 (9 g) |
| Ian Kennedy | P | 2016–2020 (163 g) | 2007–2009 (14 g) |
| John Habyan | P | 1993 (12 g) | 1990–1993 (164 g) |
| Bob Shirley | P | 1987 (3 g) | 1983–1987 (165 g) |
| Jayson Nix | 3B | 2014 (7 g) | 2012–2013 (161 g) |
| Doug Mientkiewicz | 1B | 2006 (91 g) | 2007 (72 g) |
| Mike Armstrong | P | 1982–1983 (111 g) | 1984–1986 (52 g) |
| Hal Morris | 1B | 1998 (127 g) | 1988–1989 (30 g) |
| Ken Phelps | DH | 1980–1981 (24 g) | 1988–1989 (131 g) |
| Terrence Long | OF | 2005 (137 g) | 2006 (12 g) |
| Billy Brewer | P | 1993–1995 (144 g) | 1996 (4 g) |
| Rondell White | OF | 2003 (22 g) | 2002 (126 g) |
| Chien-Ming Wang | P | 2016 (38 g) | 2005–2009 (109 g) |
| Luke Weaver | P | 2022 (14 g) | 2023–2025 (129 g) |
| Rusty Torres | OF | 1980 (51 g) | 1971–1972 (89 g) |
| Ron Hansen | SS | 1972 (16 g) | 1970–1971 (120 g) |
| Graeme Lloyd | P | 2003 (16 g) | 1996–1998 (109 g) |
| Dennis Rasmussen | P | 1992–1993, 1995 (19 g) | 1984–1987 (103 g) |
| Juan Beniquez | OF | 1987 (57 g) | 1979 (62 g) |
| Dennis Werth | 1B | 1982 (41 g) | 1979–1981 (76 g) |
| Ken Wright | P | 1970–1973 (110 g) | 1974 (3 g) |
| Ruppert Jones | OF | 1976 (28 g) | 1980 (83 g) |
| Albert Abreu | P | 2022 (4 g) | 2020–2023 (97 g) |
| Kyle Davies | P | 2007–2011 (99 g) | 2015 (1 g) |
| Darrell May | P | 2002–2004 (96 g) | 2005 (2 g) |
| Melido Perez | P | 1987 (3 g) | 1992–1995 (93 g) |
| Kris Wilson | P | 2000–2003 (90 g) | 2006 (5 g) |
| Jay Witasick | P | 1999–2000 (54 g) | 2001 (32 g) |
| Don Hood | P | 1982–1983 (57 g) | 1979 (27 g) |
| Alberto Castillo | C | 2004–2005 (63 g) | 2002 (15 g) |
| Wilson Delgado | SS | 2000–2001 (47 g) | 2000 (31 g) |
| Fernando Gonzalez | 2B | 1974 (9 g) | 1974 (51 g) |
| George Scott | 1B | 1979 (44 g) | 1979 (16 g) |
| Jim York | P | 1970–1971 (57 g) | 1976 (3 g) |
| Ricky Bones | P | 1997–1998 (54 g) | 1996 (4 g) |
| Rodney Scott | 2B | 1975 (48 g) | 1982 (10 g) |
| Kelly Stinnett | C | 2004 (20 g) | 2006 (34 g) |
| Richard Dotson | P | 1990 (8 g) | 1988–1989 (43 g) |
| Bill Castro | P | 1982–1983 (39 g) | 1981 (11 g) |
| Neal Heaton | P | 1992 (31 g) | 1993 (18 g) |
| Scott Bankhead | P | 1986 (24 g) | 1995 (20 g) |
| Steve Shields | P | 1986 (3 g) | 1988 (39 g) |
| Bob Melvin | C | 1992 (32 g) | 1994 (9 g) |
| Chris Turner | C | 1998 (4 g) | 2000 (37 g) |
| Grant Jackson | P | 1982 (20 g) | 1976 (21 g) |
| Franchy Cordero | OF | 2020 (16 g) | 2023 (24 g) |
| Erik Kratz | C | 2014–2015 (17 g) | 2017, 2020 (22 g) |
| Octavio Dotel | P | 2007 (24 g) | 2006 (14 g) |
| Paul Zuvella | SS | 1991 (2 g) | 1986–1987 (35 g) |
| Sidney Ponson | P | 2009 (14 g) | 2006, 2008 (21 g) |
| Anthony Swarzak | P | 2021 (7 g) | 2016 (26 g) |
| Jeff Francis | P | 2011 (31 g) | 2014 (2 g) |
| Ryan Yarbrough | P | 2023 (14 g) | 2025 (19 g) |
| Ken Brett | P | 1980–1981 (30 g) | 1976 (2 g) |
| Brett Tomko | P | 2008 (16 g) | 2009 (15 g) |
| Andy McGaffigan | P | 1990–1991 (28 g) | 1981 (2 g) |
| Gaylord Perry | P | 1983 (14 g) | 1980 (10 g) |
| Curt Young | P | 1992 (10 g) | 1992 (13 g) |
| Chance Adams | P | 2020 (6 g) | 2018–2019 (16 g) |
| Rawly Eastwick | P | 1980 (14 g) | 1978 (8 g) |
| Anthony Misiewicz | P | 2022 (15 g) | 2023–2024 (4 g) |
| Brooks Kriske | P | 2023 (4 g) | 2020–2021 (12 g) |
| Jacob Barnes | P | 2019 (15 g) | 2022 (1 g) |
| Rich Hill | P | 2025 (2 g) | 2014 (14 g) |
| Donzell McDonald | OF | 2002 (10 g) | 2001 (5 g) |
| Pete Filson | P | 1990 (8 g) | 1987 (7 g) |
| Mike McCormick | P | 1971 (4 g) | 1970 (9 g) |
| Tucker Ashford | 3B | 1984 (9 g) | 1981 (3 g) |
| Danny Rios | P | 1998 (5 g) | 1997 (2 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.Yankees seasons include the Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902) and New York Highlanders (1903–1912).
What next? Play today's MLB Grid
Fill a 3×3 board of team pairs like this one, with nine guesses and a rarity score. New board every day.
Play the MLB GridMLB career pathRoyals historyYankees history
More “played for both” lists
Kansas City Royals and…
Angels 128Mets 128Pirates 121Reds 120Red Sox 119Athletics 118Cubs 118Braves 117Padres 114Rangers 114
Questions
How many players have played for both the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees?
109 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1969 to 2025, including Lou Piniella, Johnny Damon, Billy Butler and Carlos Beltran. 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?
Ellie Rodriguez: New York Yankees first, then the Kansas City Royals from 1969.
Who has played for both recently?
Tim Hill, Luke Weaver, Ryan Yarbrough, Anthony Misiewicz and Rich Hill, 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. Yankees seasons include the Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902) and New York Highlanders (1903–1912).
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