 After he and left-fielder Darryl Motley struggled to begin the 1985 season, the Royals acquired Lonnie Smith on May 17 and moved Motley, a right-handed hitter, to right field to platoon with Sheridan, the left-handed hitter.Sheridan was a member of the Kansas City Royals' 1985 World Series champion team that defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.In 1986, Sheridan battled Motley for the starting right field spot in spring training; this time, the Royals chose to make Motley their everyday right fielder and released Sheridan at the end of spring training on March 28.