MLB players who played for Kansas City and Cleveland are Cam Gallagher, Nick Wittgren, Anthony Swarzak, Meibrys Viloria and Blake Wood.
A total of 143 players have played for both MLB franchises in history so far. Among them, 95 have batted, and 48 have pitched for the two teams.
In addition to that, both Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians are member clubs of the MLB American League (AL) Central Division.
The Royals was founded in 1969, while the Guardians have a rich history of official major league attendance in 1894. Meanwhile, both clubs stand in the same position as having won the World Series twice.
Royals lifted the Commissioner's Trophy in 1985 and 2015, while the Guardians did the same, way before them in 1920 and 1948. With the eminent popularity of these franchises and similar stances in the league, both have appeared as fine choices for a player.
Meanwhile, the June 28 game between the two has brought Cleveland 1st place in the AL Central since they beat the Royals in a 3-game series.
The following list includes the name of the players that played for Kansas City and Cleveland.
Cam Gallagher
Cam Gallagher joined the Guardians' main roster on March 30, 2023. He had been on a minor-league contract with the club since Jan 4, 2023.
Kansas City Royals had drafted him in the second round of the 2011 MLB draft while he was still at Manheim Township High School. Gallagher only joined his MLB team in the 2016 season and later debuted on August 6, 2017.
For the 2021 season, Cam batted one home run and 7 RBIs in 112 at-bats. He was traded to San Diego Padres in August 2022 and again traded off to the Orioles the next month.
Gallagher played five games for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and became a free agent before grasping a deal with the Cleveland Guardians.
Thus, his MLB history makes him one of only six players that played for the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians exclusively.
The following list includes the names of the other Royals-Guardians players:
- Billy Harris
- Mike Hedlund
- Steve Mingori
- Chan Perry
- Jason Rakers
Note: Mike, Steve, and Jason play as pitchers, while the remaining specializes in batting.
Nick Wittgren
Miami Marlins had drafted Nick Wittgren in the ninth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He played with them until the 2018 season.
Wittgren was then traded to the Guardians in 2019. The right-handed pitcher made 25 appearances for Cleveland in 2020 and 60 more in 2021.
Wittgren played with the Guardians until the 2021 season and became a free agent. He was with St. Louis Cardinals only for the 2022 MLB season.
Nick started in the minor league of the Royals in December 2022. As of May 23, he secured an active contract with the Kansas City main roster.
Anthony Swarzak
Anthony Swarzak is currently a free agent. However, his playing portfolio in MLB includes his time with the Twins, Guardians, Yankees, White Sox, Brewers, Mets, Mariners, Braves, Diamondbacks, and Royals.
Swarzak was selected by Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He entered free agency after the 2014 season and started out as a minor-league player with the Guardians in 2015.
However, Anthony was released by the team in June 2015. The Kansas City Royals are his latest team, which the pitcher joined in May 2021.
He initially played with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers. He was selected for the main roster in June but waived off in July.
Meibrys Viloria
The Colombian pride, Meibrys Viloria, started his MLB career with the Royals. Kansas had drafted him as an international free agent in July 2013.
However, Viloria played in other international leagues until his MLB debut in September 2018. After spending much time with minor league teams, he claimed free agency in 2021.
Viloria spent significant time with Texas Rangers in the 2022 season before striking a deal with the Guardians for the 2023 season. He appeared in 10 games for them.
In May, Meibrys played with the Los Angeles Angels minor league team, Salt Lake Bees. He has signed a minor league contract with the Orioles as of June 26, 2023.
Blake Wood
The 37-year-old pitcher Blake Wood started his MLB career with Kansas. He was drafted by the Royals in the third round of the 2006 MLB draft.
Wood had initially spent years playing for the Royals' minor league team and other leagues. Then, he made his MLB debut on May 12, 2010, and parted ways with the franchise in 2012.
Blake officially joined the Guardians roster in 2012 but played with minor league teams till 2014. Then he returned to Kansas and was designated for assignment on September 1, 2014.
Wood then elected free agency and later represented Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Angeles before retiring in 2018.
Bryan Bullington
Bryan Bullington was the 1st overall selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2002 MLB Draft. He then played with Cleveland in the 2008 season.
Bryan then moved to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. He was with the Royals the following season and moved to the Nippon Professional Baseball.
Bullington last played with the Orix Buffaloes in 2015. The prominent pitched then bid adieu to the game after a shoulder injury in 2015.
Prior to the MLB days, Bryan attended Madison Consolidated High School. He was also named the 1999 Mr. Baseball for the state of Indiana.
Bruce Chen
Bruce Chen signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent on July 1, 1993. He was traded to the Phillies in 2000 and the NY Jets in 2001.
From 2002 to 2007, Chen played with the Reds, Astros, Boston Red Sox, Orioles, and Texas Rangers. In 2009, he joined the Kansas City Royals roster and stayed with them till 2014.
Bruce then played for the Cleveland Guardians in 2015 but retired in May of that year. However, he had come out of his retirement in 2017 to play for Team China at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Jerry Spradlin
Jerry Spradlin was born in Fullerton, California, on June 14, 1967. He attended Katella High School and Fullerton College and played baseball.
Cincinnati Reds drafted Spradlin in the 19th round of the 1988 MLB draft. However, he played with them from 1993 to 1994 and later in 1996.
Jerry represented Philadelphia Phillies from 1997 to 1998, Guardians and San Francisco Giants in 1999, and the Royals and Chicago Cubs in 2000.
He then embarked on the coaching role with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League and later at Vanguard University in 2011.
Tony Graffanino
Tony Graffanino played in three positions; second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. Tony made his MLB debut on 19 April 1996 for the Atlanta Braves after spending many years in minor league teams.
After the 1998 season, Graffanino played with Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1999 to 2000 and then with Chicago White Sox from 2000 to 2003.
Tony only played as a second base for the City Royals in 2004. After a brief stint with Red Sox in 2005, he again returned to the Royals in 2006.
The following season, Graffanino played with the Brewers and later with the Guardians. His last MLB appearance was on April 26, 2009 with them.
Jeremy Guthrie
Cleveland picked pitcher Jeremy Guthrie 22nd overall in 2002. He made his MLB debut in 2004 but mostly played in the minor league system.
Guthrie then became a part of the Orioles from 2007 to 2011, the Rockies in 2012, the Royals from 2012 to 2015, and the Nationals in 2017.
His last MLB appearance was recorded on April 8, 2017. Meanwhile, Jeremy continued to play with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League.
He then officially retired on July 31, 2017. Moreover, the MLB star player came out of his retirement to play for the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the Constellation Energy League.
