1996 Omaha Royals Roster
Team Record: 79-65
Finished 1st in the AA's West Division
Manager: Mike Jirschele (79-65)
Affiliation: Kansas City Royals
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Ballpark: Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Attendance: 422,481, Avg. 6,401 in 66 home dates
Playoffs - Oklahoma City 89ers 3 games, Omaha Royals 1
The Omaha Royals of the American Association ended the 1996 season with a record of 79 wins and 65 losses, finishing first in the league's West Division.
The Royals scored 712 runs and conceded 668 runs. Jon Nunnally led Omaha with 25 home runs, while Darren Burton and Rod Myers walloped 15 or more also. Jon Nunnally drove in 77 runs. Rod Myers topped all regular batters with a .292 average. Glendon Rusch paced the squad with 11 wins and a team-best 3.99 ERA, best among regular hurlers.
Members of the 1996 Omaha Royals who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Mike Magnante, Dilson Torres, Andy Stewart, Jed Hansen, Kevin Young, Sal Fasano, Glendon Rusch, Jeff Granger, Brian Bevil, Bob Scanlan, Craig Paquette, Doug Linton, Allen McDill, Ken Robinson, Rick Huisman, Joe Vitiello, Félix Martínez, Les Norman, Shane Halter, José Rosado, Mark Kiefer, Julio Valera, Chris Stynes, Mike Sweeney, Jaime Bluma, Bob Zupcic, Jim Pittsley, Terry Clark, Bob Hamelin, José Mota, Melvin Bunch, Ken Patterson, Eddie Tucker, Jon Nunnally, Ramón Martínez, Rod Myers, Joe Randa, Jeff Grotewold, Henry Mercedes, Rusty Meacham and Rich Rodriguez.
Mike Jirschele served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bevil | R | R | September 5, 1971 | 6'3" | 190 | Houston, TX US |
| Jaime Bluma | R | R | May 18, 1972 | 5'11" | 195 | Beaufort, SC US |
| Melvin Bunch | R | R | November 4, 1971 | 6'1" | 165 | Texarkana, TX US |
| Darren Burton | S | R | September 16, 1972 | 6'1" | 185 | Somerset, KY US |
| Terry Clark | R | R | October 18, 1960 | 6'2" | 195 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Lino Diaz | R | R | July 22, 1970 | 5'11" | 190 | Panama, Panama PA |
| Sal Fasano | R | R | August 10, 1971 | 6'2" | 220 | Chicago, IL US |
| Jeff Granger | R | L | December 16, 1971 | 6'4" | 200 | San Pedro, CA US |
| Jeff Grotewold | L | R | December 8, 1965 | 6'0" | 215 | Madera, CA US |
| Shane Halter | R | R | November 8, 1969 | 5'10" | 160 | La Plata, MD US |
| Bob Hamelin | L | L | November 29, 1967 | 6'1" | 240 | Elizabeth, NJ US |
| Jed Hansen | R | R | August 19, 1972 | 6'1" | 195 | Tacoma, WA US |
| Rick Huisman | R | R | May 17, 1969 | 6'3" | 200 | Oak Park, IL US |
| Mark Kiefer | R | R | November 13, 1968 | 6'4" | 175 | Orange, CA US |
| Doug Linton | R | R | February 9, 1965 | 6'1" | 185 | Santa Ana, CA US |
| Mike Magnante | L | L | June 17, 1965 | 6'1" | 180 | Glendale, CA US |
| Félix Martínez | S | R | May 18, 1974 | 6'0" | 170 | Nagua, Maria Trinidad Sanchez DO |
| Ramón Martínez | R | R | October 10, 1972 | 6'1" | 170 | Philadelphia, PA US |
| Allen McDill | L | L | August 23, 1971 | 6'0" | 155 | Greenville, MS US |
| Rusty Meacham | R | R | January 27, 1968 | 6'3" | 155 | Stuart, FL US |
| Henry Mercedes | R | R | July 23, 1969 | 5'11" | 185 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Mark Merchant | S | R | January 23, 1969 | 6'2" | 220 | Dunkirk, NY US |
| José Mota | S | R | March 16, 1965 | 5'9" | 155 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Rod Myers | L | L | January 14, 1973 | 6'0" | 190 | Conroe, TX US |
| Les Norman | R | R | February 25, 1969 | 6'1" | 185 | Warren, MI US |
| Jon Nunnally | L | R | November 9, 1971 | 5'10" | 190 | Pelham, NC US |
| Steve Olsen | R | R | November 2, 1969 | 6'4" | 225 | Louisville, KY US |
| Craig Paquette | R | R | March 28, 1969 | 6'0" | 190 | Long Beach, CA US |
| Ken Patterson | L | L | July 8, 1964 | 6'4" | 210 | Costa Mesa, CA US |
| Jim Pittsley | R | R | April 3, 1974 | 6'7" | 215 | Du Bois, PA US |
| Kris Ralston | R | R | August 8, 1971 | 6'2" | 200 | Carthage, MO US |
| Joe Randa | R | R | December 18, 1969 | 5'11" | 190 | Milwaukee, WI US |
| Ken Robinson | R | R | November 3, 1969 | 5'9" | 175 | Barberton, OH US |
| Rich Rodriguez | L | L | March 1, 1963 | 5'10" | 185 | Downey, CA US |
| José Rosado | L | L | November 9, 1974 | 6'0" | 175 | Newark, NJ US |
| Glendon Rusch | L | L | November 7, 1974 | 6'2" | 170 | Seattle, WA US |
| Bob Scanlan | R | R | August 9, 1966 | 6'7" | 215 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Andy Stewart | R | R | December 5, 1970 | 5'11" | 205 | Oshawa, ON CA |
| Chris Stynes | R | R | January 19, 1973 | 5'9" | 175 | Queens, NY US |
| Mike Sweeney | R | R | July 22, 1973 | 6'1" | 195 | Orange, CA US |
| Dilson Torres | R | R | May 31, 1970 | 6'3" | 200 | Sur Edo Aragua, VE |
| Robert Toth | R | R | July 30, 1972 | 6'2" | 180 | Gardena, CA US |
| Eddie Tucker | R | R | November 18, 1966 | 6'2" | 205 | Greenville, MS US |
| Julio Valera | R | R | October 13, 1968 | 6'2" | 185 | Aguadilla, PR |
| Joe Vitiello | R | R | April 11, 1970 | 6'2" | 215 | Cambridge, MA US |
| Kevin Young | R | R | June 16, 1969 | 6'3" | 210 | Alpena, MI US |
| Bob Zupcic | R | R | August 18, 1966 | 6'4" | 220 | Pittsburgh, PA US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
