The Kansas City Royals have officially former Miami Marlin and Colorado Rockies utility player Garrett Hampson to a one-year Major League contract. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed. This brings Kansas City’s Major League Reserve List to a total of 40 players.
Hampson, 29, achieved a career-best batting average of .276 in 98 games during the 2023 season with the Miami Marlins. Notably versatile, he played six different defensive positions, making starts at shortstop (26), center field (13), right field (8), second base (6), third base (4), and left field (2). Hampson demonstrated proficiency against right-handed pitchers, hitting .282 (42-for-149). He also earned a spot on the Marlins’ Wild Card roster and played in Game 1 at Philadelphia.
The infielder/outfielder spent the initial five seasons of his Major League career with the Colorado Rockies. In 2021, he set career highs in various categories, including games played (147), hits (106), doubles (21), triples (6), home runs (11), and stolen bases (17). Hampson tied for 1st in the Majors in 2021 with 7 bunt hits and established a Rockies single-season franchise record with 21 infield hits.
Throughout his six Major League seasons, Hampson consistently ranked in the 96th percentile or higher in Sprint Speed. In 2023, he maintained a ranking in the 98th percentile at 29.8 ft./second, according to Baseball Savant.
Hampson initially joined Colorado as a 3rd-round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft from Long Beach State University.
Photo credit – Jennifer Linnea / Flickr via Wikimedia Commons / Denver, CO