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Kansas City Royals: Royals Draft Flashback, Part 4 (1983-87)

The creation of supplemental first round picks in the early 1980s was a security blanket for weaker teams. That in itself did not affect the Kansas City Royals much. Regardless, did that “safe” feeling have any effect on their MLB amateur draft picks?

1983

Gary Thurman was somewhat useful as a pinch-runner. His impressive 78.3% career stolen base percentage, however, has hampered by his inability to hit for power or average at the major league level. Otherwise, Thurman’s quadruple-A set of tools was better suited for coaching, and he seems to be doing well in DC.