Is this the most MLB Debuts in Royals History?

With the promotion of Johnny Giovatella, the Royals have now had ten players make their Major League debut this year - Gio, Nathan Adcock, Louis Coleman, Tim Collins, Aaron Crow, Danny Duffy,  Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Manny Pina, and Everett Teaford. Is this the most MLB debuts in one season in Royals history?

In terms of sheer numbers, not yet.

The 2004 team that employed the strategy of "let’s throw as much stuff at the wall and see what stick" had a staggering fourteen players make their Major League debut that season, probably a reason why they lost 104 games that year. Even more staggering was twelve of those fourteen players failed to register at least 1.0 WAR in their Major League careers, with only Zack Greinke (22.8 WAR) and John Buck (3.5) providing value.

The 1995 club also had fourteen players make their MLB debut. This was in large part because the 1994 club had zero players make their MLB debut as teams were anticipating a lockout. They did not want to do their part to add membership to the Player’s Union, plus there was no September baseball, and thus no minor league promotions that month. That 1995 club actually produced four players that would go on to lengthy MLB careers – Mike Sweeney, Johnny Damon, Joe Randa and Michael Tucker, creating 37.9 WAR for their Royals careers.

The 2002 team enjoyed thirteen debuts, although only Jeremy Affeldt would enjoy much of a career. Runelvys Hernandez, Aaron Guiel and Miguel Asencio were the best of the rest.

The inaugural 1969 club understandably had a large number of debuts – eleven. Dick Drago turned out to be one of their best pitchers, Bill Butler turned into a serviceable starter for a few seasons, Al Fitzmorris was a valuable swingman and Fran Healy and Buck Martinez were backup catchers who had decent careers.

The 1990 club also produced eleven debuts, although most were just organizational guys. Brian McRae and Jeff Conine each emerged from that class to have lengthy careers, and Sean Berry and Terry Shumpert were expected to be future starters, but instead became role players in the league.

The 1997 club also had eleven debuts, but they were such a sorry cast of misfits and cast-offs, that collectively they produced -1.2 WAR for their MLB careers. Glendon Rusch was the best of the bunch, becoming a back-of-the-rotation starter, while Jamie Walker, Jose Santiago, Shane Halter and Jed Hansen bounced around the league as organizational filler.

2005 saw eleven debuts as well including Royals Review favorite Justin Huber. Mark Teahen would also make his debut after spending a month in Omaha. Leo Nunez and JP Howell also emerged from that class to become effective relievers, while Ambiorix Burgos emerged from that class to go to jail.

In terms of quality of debut class, the best class hands down was 1973. George Brett AND Frank White both made their debut that year, generating 120 WAR for their careers. Not only that, but Tom Poqutte, Doug Bird, and Mark Littell all became decent role players as well.

Another great class was 1984 when Bret Saberhagen and Mark Gubicza made their debuts, creating 73.1 WAR for their Royals careers.

Willie Wilson and John Wathan broke into the league in 1976, along with two others, for a 38 WAR in their careers.

1974 saw the debuts of Dennis Leonard and Al Cowens, as well as journeyman Aurelio Lopez - good for 34.5 WAR.

The least amount of MLB debuts in a season, aside from the debut-less 1994 lockout season, was two, which happened twice. In 1971, just Monty Montgomery and Lance Clemons, two replacement level players, debuted. In 2009, Dayton Moore avoided any clubhouse confusion by only allowing two players to make their MLB debuts – Dusty Hughes and Victor Marte.

With September callups, we could still see the MLB debut for David Lough, Salvador Perez, Clint Robinson and perhaps Mike Montgomery. Will the Royals break the franchise record for most debuts this year? Even if they fall short, the number of promising young players called up in one year suggests this may be the greatest class of quality debuts in one season in Royals history.

Excel Chart - Season-by-Season Royals MLB Debuts and WAR