John Buck
Johnathan R. Buck (born July 7, 1980 in Kemmerer, Wyoming) is an LDS Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. He went to high school in Taylorsville, UT. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A catcher, Buck was acquired on 2004 from the Houston Astros as part of a trade for five-tool player Carlos Beltran, whom the Royals felt likely to lose to free agency at the end of the season. The Royals immediately put Buck in their starting lineup, replacing injured veteran Benito Santiago, and Buck made his major league debut on June 25. Although he initially appeared overmatched by major-league pitching—his batting average reached a low of .138 on July 7—he impressed the team with his defensive ability and his handling of pitchers. His hitting improved with time, and by September 25 he had raised his average to .243 and hit 12 home runs and driven in 30.