Zack Greinke: A Royals Legend in The Making

Sure, this '09 Major League Baseball season has been very disappointing for the Kansas City Royals. However, there are two words that bring hope and promise for the future: Zack Greinke.

That's right, I'm talking about none other than the Royals stud right-handed ace that could be KC's first Cy Young winner since David Cone took the award in 1994. The Royals haven't had a talent like this in years, and are very fortunate in what they do have in Mr. Greinke.

Greinke has been so dominant this season, its not even funny. He has stifled AL batters to the tune of a 2.06 ERA for the year, while confusing them even more by holding his opposition to a .229 batting average during that span. There has been times during this season that Greinke has looked pretty much un-hitable.

ZG started off the season by not allowing a single earned run in any of his first four starts, and he went on to finish the month of April with a 5-0 record, while compiling a microscopic ERA of 0.50.

At this time, the Zack Greinke bandwagon was growing enormously, and no one could stop it, including Zach himself. It wasn't until June 5th vs. Toronto when Greinke finally began to flounder as he surrendered five runs to the Blue Jays.

People began to drop off of the Greinke bandwagon as he gave up four earned runs against Arizona just two starts later. We all heard the murmurs that were going on at the time. Many media outlets were soon saying that Greinke was going to "come back to earth".

Too bad for them, he never did.

"The Zach Attack" as he was known to some in the local media, just kept rolling through lineups almost like it was routine in this age of baseball. Since the Arizona game, Grienke's ERA has risen only 0.10 during that span, a span which stretches for 18 starts, and he has looked flat out nasty on the mound. Just like the beginning of the season, he has time and time again made hitters look foolish at the plate trying to figure out his strong collection of pitches.

What's even more amazing about Zack Greinke is the story behind this great pitcher and what he has gone through to get here today, on the verge of winning his first Cy Young in his brief ML career.

Donald Zachary Greinke was a huge High School prospect from the state of Florida when the Royals organization discovered him in 2002. Later that year, they drafted him 1st overall in the '02 MLB Draft. Funny thing was Zach was drafted as a shortstop.

Who would have known he would have turned out to be this good of a pitcher? Apparently the Royals had that idea.

After a brief stay in the minor leagues, Greinke was pushed on the big league club, and made his debut in 2004. Greinke had a solid rookie season, posting eight wins and recording a 3.97 ERA.

It was the next year, 2005, that the wheels started to come off for Mr. Greinke. He had an awful season as he posted a 5-17 record with a 5.80 ERA.

Even worse, it was revealed not long after the season that Grienke had been dealing with a form or depression. In a year's time, the former Royals first-rounder went from potential star to potential bust.

After not playing very much during the 2006 season, Greinke was able to turn in two solid years in a row in '07 and '08, while coming out of the pen at first, and then becoming a full-time starter again for the club.

However, it was this year when Grienke started to show his abilities and really shine. He has taken it to another level this year while really challenging and taking on his opposing hitter that he has faced.

The best part about it is that Zack Greinke well never tell you he's that good. Heck, his Sports Illustrated Cover picture had to be an action picture of him, because he didn't want to have a separate picture due to feeling he would be taking up too much spotlight.

This is a special guy, and a more special talent. If he continues to pitch he has this year, he could be punching his ticket to Cooperstown in no time.

Zack Greinke makes it look easy out there. He eats, drinks and breathes competition. He loves to win and he backs it up on the mound.

This is what makes him a Royals legend in the making. Stay tuned folks, we have a potential star with this kid after all.