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Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Steve Otto used his stuff to see 3 pro seasons with Royals

Steve Otto 1990 Baseball City Royals card

Appleton's Steve Otto took the win in this August 1989 game, despite hitting a couple batters and giving up some hits, The Appleton Post-Crescent wrote.

"I didn't have overpowering stuff, but my location was very good," Otto told The Post-Crescent afterward. "Getting that early lead really helped. I was able to relax and go after the hitters."

Otto had that outing near the end of his second pro season. He saw just one more. He topped out at high-A.

Otto's career began in 1988, taken by the Royals in the 12th round of the draft out of St. Xavier University in Illinois.

Otto started with the Royals at short-season Eugene. He saw 21 outings, two starts and went 1-3, with a 5.03 ERA. 

He moved to single-A Appleton for 1989. He saw 43 outings, seven starts there. That May, he ran into some trouble in relief, but then got it together, The Post-Crescent wrote.

"I was getting everything up," Otto told The Post-Crescent of his troubles that game. "Later on, I got into a groove, and we came back to get the two runs."

Otto went 6-7 overall in 43 outings, seven starts at Appleton, with a 3.42 ERA. He then moved to high-A Baseball City. He also got quoted in a story about low fan support there - averaging 117 fans for the Florida State League entry.

"They never have those 'guess-the-attendance' nights because everyone would just go out and count them," Otto told a reporter. "Wouldn't be any fun."

Otto saw 24 outings, 16 starts. He went 5-6, with a 3.83 ERA to end his career.

Steve Otto 1990 Baseball City Royals card

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,281
Made the Majors:1,390-32.5%
Never Made Majors:2,891-67.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:565
10+ Seasons in the Minors:347

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