Kansas City Royals Strikeouts Leaders

Career totals with the Royals and the best single seasons in club history. Records run through the 2025 season.

Kevin Appier holds the Royals career record with 1,458 strikeouts. The single-season record is 244, by Dennis Leonard in 1977.

All-time Royals leaders

Career totals with the club

#	Player	With the club	SO	G
1	Kevin Appier	1989–2004	1,458	287
2	Mark Gubicza	1984–1996	1,366	382
3	Dennis Leonard	1974–1986	1,323	312
4	Zack Greinke	2004–2023	1,101	266
5	Bret Saberhagen	1984–1991	1,093	252
6	Paul Splittorff	1970–1984	1,057	429
7	Danny Duffy	2011–2021	1,048	234
8	Tom Gordon	1988–1995	999	274
9	Jeff Montgomery	1988–1999	720	686
10	Luke Hochevar	2007–2016	702	279
11	Steve Busby	1972–1980	659	167
12	Brady Singer	2020–2024	645	127
13	Larry Gura	1976–1985	633	310
14	Charlie Leibrandt	1984–1989	618	194
15	Dick Drago	1969–1973	577	182
16	Greg Holland	2010–2021	514	394
17	Buddy Black	1982–1988	508	216
17	Ian Kennedy	2016–2020	508	163
19	Brad Keller	2018–2023	506	150
20	Kris Bubic	2020–2026	495	126
21	Bruce Chen	2009–2014	494	156
22	Jose Rosado	1996–2000	484	125
23	Gil Meche	2007–2010	475	111
24	Joakim Soria	2007–2017	473	427
25	Jeff Suppan	1998–2002	472	138

Best seasons in club history

#	Player	Season	SO	G
1	Dennis Leonard	1977	244	38
2	Zack Greinke	2009	242	33
3	Cole Ragans	2024	223	32
4	Kevin Appier	1996	207	32
5	Bob Johnson	1970	206	40
6	Steve Busby	1974	198	38
7	Kevin Appier	1997	196	34
7	James Shields	2013	196	34
9	Bret Saberhagen	1989	193	36
10	David Cone	1993	191	34
11	Danny Duffy	2016	188	42
12	Kevin Appier	1993	186	34
13	Kevin Appier	1995	185	31
14	Ian Kennedy	2016	184	33
15	Zack Greinke	2008	183	32
15	Mark Gubicza	1988	183	35
15	Dennis Leonard	1978	183	40
15	Gil Meche	2008	183	34
19	Zack Greinke	2010	181	33
19	Seth Lugo	2024	181	33
21	James Shields	2014	180	34
22	Tom Gordon	1990	175	32
23	Steve Busby	1973	174	37
24	Mark Gubicza	1989	173	36
25	Bret Saberhagen	1988	171	35