Zack Greinke Was Given A Proper Sendoff By Royals Fans
It was a Sunday of farewells in MLB.
The Detroit Tigers said goodbye to future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera as he heads into retirement, the St. Louis Cardinals sent off Adam Wainwright with a concert, a puppy, and even an at-bat, and Terry Francona also managed his last game with the Cleveland Guardians.
Two players with mysterious futures, Joey Votto and Zack Greinke, will be free agents next year.
Both could retire, so just in case, their fans said goodbye to them on an emotional afternoon.
Votto was actually ejected from the Cincinnati Reds game, in which could have been his last.
Greinke, on the other hand, was sent off in style by Kansas City Royals fans.
“In what might be his final game, Zack Greinke walks off the mound at Kauffman Stadium to a standing ovation,” MLB tweeted.
In what might be his final game, Zack Greinke walks off the mound at Kauffman Stadium to a standing ovation. ? pic.twitter.com/fkK8ioTv6M
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2023
Greinke, a quirky veteran who has earned the affection of fans for his unique personality, pitched what could have been the last game of his career against the New York Yankees at home: Kauffman Stadium.
Fans gifted him a standing ovation and a curtain call, and the pitcher happily waved at them.
Greinke wasn’t around for the Royals’ brief, but effective contention window of 2013-15, but he is a homegrown talent who actually won a Cy Young with the franchise in 2009.
He has a rock-solid 3.49 ERA and 225 wins in his career, and has a case to be considered for Cooperstown eventually.
For a time in the 2010s, he was one of the most effective pitchers in the league and knew how to reinvent himself after losing velocity.
One of the brilliant pitching minds of our time is likely to retire.
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