Truman State University Athletics

Royster played basball for the Bulldogs from 1991-1994 and still holds many of the team's offensive records. Royster averaged .370 for his career peaking with a .444 mark during his senior season in which he earned first-team all-MIAA honors for the therd consecutive season. Also in 1994, Royster was named first-team all-Central redion and was a GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-American. Royster is still tops on the club with a .645 slugging percentage, 33 home runs, 122 runs batted in, and 305 total bases. Following his Truman career, Royster was drafted in the 35th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Royster spent sex years in the minor leagues spending most of his time with the Double-A Reading Phillies from 1996-2001. In 1998, he led the Phillies in doubles with 27 and runs scored with 67. He is a two-time recipient of the Eugene Shirk award, given to players who go beyond the call of duty int their commitment to the community. He worked on a baseball and education program that reached kids in over 100 schools. Royster had two stints at Triple-A Scranton before ending his minor league career with an injury. He hit .270 in 760 minor league games and had 746 hits, 140 doubles, and 75 home runs. His 49 career home runs in Reading is third most in franchise history.