Editing Kansas City Royals (section)

===2009–2012: Kauffman Renovations and Further Rebuilding===

[[File:NewKauffman.jpg|thumb|Kauffman Stadium underwent renovations in 2009, including the addition of a [[high-definition television|high-definition]] scoreboard.|left]]

[[File:Zack Greinke on July 29, 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Zack Greinke]] did not allow an earned run in the first 24 innings of the 2009 season as a starter.]]

Prior to the 2009 season, the Royals renovated Kauffman Stadium, and after the season began, the Royals ended April at the top of the AL Central, both of which raised excitement levels among fans. However, the team faded as the season progressed and finished the year with a final record of 65–97, in a tie for fourth place in the AL Central. The season was highlighted by starter [[Zack Greinke]], who did not allow an earned run in the first 24 innings of the season, went on to finish the year with a Major League-leading 2.16 [[earned run average]], and won the American League Cy Young Award. Greinke joined Bret Saberhagen (in 1985 and 1989) and David Cone (in 1994) as only the third player in Royals history to receive the award.

The Royals began the [[2010 Kansas City Royals season|2010 season]] with a rocky start, and after the team's record fell to 12–23, manager Trey Hillman was fired. Former [[Milwaukee Brewers]] skipper [[Ned Yost]] took over as the 16th manager in franchise history, At the end of the 2010 season, the Royals finished with a 67–95 record, in last place in the division for the sixth time in seven years. The Royals also set a dubious franchise record during the season, allowing 42 runs in a three-day span from July 25 to 27. The Royals began 2011 with a hot start, compiling 10–4 record after 14 games, but success faded as the season progressed. The Royals last had a .500 record at 22–22, and by the All-Star break, the Royals had a record of 37–54, the worst in the American League. Almost all of the Royals' bullpen was made up of 2011 minor league call ups, in addition to the infielders [[Eric Hosmer]], [[Mike Moustakas]], [[Johnny Giavotella]], and catchers [[Salvador Pérez]] and [[Manny Piña]]. Hosmer won the AL [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Month Award|Rookie of the Month]] award in July and September and finished the season with 19 home runs. Moustakas collected a fifteen-game hitting streak, which tied the longest such streak by a Royals rookie. The Royals finished the [[2011 Kansas City Royals season|2011 season]] with a 71–91 record, in fourth place in the AL Central. The [[2012 Kansas City Royals season|2012 team]] saw more of the same, as they improved by one game to 72–90, but finished one spot better in the division.

The [[2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] was hosted by the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 10, 2012 (in addition to the 2012 [[Home Run Derby (Major League Baseball)|Home Run Derby]], [[All-Star Futures Game]] and [[Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game]] during the All-Star break), which the National League won 8–0. The [[2012 Kansas City Royals season|2012 season]] marked the third time the "[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Midsummer Classic]]" was held in Kansas City.