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Pittsburgh Pirates: Building a Team of One-Season Wonders

By Noah Wright

Catcher Ronny Paulino of the Pirates waits in the dugout prior to action between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on June 20, 2006. The Royals won 10-6. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)
Catcher Ronny Paulino of the Pirates waits in the dugout prior to action between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on June 20, 2006. The Royals won 10-6. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – CIRCA 1991: Jeff King #7 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. King played for the Pirates in 1989-96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1991: Jeff King #7 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. King played for the Pirates in 1989-96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Second Base – 1996 Jeff King

Not every first-overall pick in the Major League draft is destined to become a superstar. That was the case for infielder Jeff King. King had an 11-year major league career after the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him first overall in 1986. Although King didn’t live up to the first-overall pick status, he did have a few solid seasons. However, his 1996 campaign stands out.

In 1996, King batted .271/.346/.497 with a .361 wOBA, and 117 wRC+. While overall, King’s offensive output wasn’t over-the-top outstanding, he hit 30 home runs with a .227 isolated slugging percentage. He’s the only Pirate in history to start at least 50 games at second base and have 30+ home runs.

King actually saw more time at first base than second base. But overall, he still racked up 554.2 innings, which isn’t a tiny amount. He wasn’t much of a defender at second base, though, with -6 total zone runs. But he did have a whopping +13 total zone runs at first base.

Although King did have some solid years before and after 1996, he never came close to being this productive. From 1989 through 1995, he batted just .256/.314/.399 with a 92 wRC+. After ’96, King would play three seasons with the Kansas City Royals, slashing .249/.334/.447 with a 99 wRC+.

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