WIZARD OF KOZ IS IN KANSAS
The Kansas City Monarchs added a proven shortstop to their 2022 team with the signing of Pete Kozma. Kozma has played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and the Oakland Athletics. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the first round (18th pick overall) of the 2007 MLB draft out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma.
After the signing, 2021 American Association Manager of the Year Joe Calfapietra said “We are adding to an already strong clubhouse by brining in a major league player the caliber of Pete Kozma to the Monarchs. We are very excited as an organization to have Pete with us for the 2022 season. His experience and leadership at baseball’s highest level helps us in the clubhouse and on the field.”
Kozma was on the 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals team and played with the Yankees, Rangers, Tigers and Braves and his latest team the Oakland A’s in 2021.
In 2021 Kozma spent the majority of the season at AAA Las Vegas before being called up to the big-league Oakland A’s. He hit .244 with 24 doubles, 3 triples and 4 home runs with 40 runs batted in in 113 games as the Aviators regular shortstop.
“It’s a very easy drive up from Oklahoma” said Kozma – “I hope that a lot of friends and family can make it up on a regular basis. It’s really cool that way. From what I heard there is nothing but great things about the Monarchs and this ball club. I wanted to keep on playing and joining a top-notch team makes it an easy transition – I feel right at home”
