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Kansas City Royals Bringing Back Entire Coaching Staff For 2015

By Phil Watson

May 18, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (center) stands with his coaches, wearing 1920's Kansas City Monarchs uniforms during the National Anthem before the game against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (center) stands with his coaches, wearing 1920's Kansas City Monarchs uniforms during the National Anthem before the game against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Royals made a surprise run to the American League pennant and advanced to Game 7 of the World Series. The entire coaching staff will return for 2015.

The American League champion Kansas City Royals will bring back their entire coaching staff for 2015, according to a report.

Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reported, via Twitter:

Manager Ned Yost just completed his fourth full season as the skipper of the Royals. He replaced Trey Hillman in May 2010 and has managed the team to back-to-back winning records for the first time since Kansas City was 84-78 in 1993 and 64-51 in the strike-shortened 1994 campaign.

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The returnees include bench coach Don Wakamatsu, who joined Yost’s staff last season. He is a former manager of the Seattle Mariners and has coached for four different teams in the majors since 2003. A catcher as a player, he had one cup of coffee in the bigs with the Chicago White Sox in 1991.

Hitting coach Dale Sveum was also a member of Yost’s coaching staff with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was promoted to hitting coach in late May after coming on board as third base coach for the 2014 season, replacing Pedro Grifol. Sveum was interim manager in Milwaukee to close the 2008 season after Yost was fired and managed the Chicago Cubs from 2012-13. He has been in the majors as a coach or manager since 2004, also working for the Boston Red Sox. He played for seven teams in a 12-year major league career from 1986-88, 1990-94 and 1996-99, primarily as a shortstop.

Pitching coach Dave Eiland has been with the Royals since the 2012 season after previously serving as pitching coach for the New York Yankees. A former major league pitcher, Eiland was 12-27 in a 10-year career with the Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Diego Padres.

Third base coach Mike Jirschele joined the coaching staff this season after 17 seasons in the Kansas City organization as a minor-league manager. An infielder, Jirschele spent 13 years playing in the minors, but never got a call to the bigs.

Rusty Kuntz, the first base coach with one of baseball’s greatest names, has had two stints as first-base coach for Kansas City and has been with the organization since 2007, also working as the baserunning and outfield instructor. After a seven-year career with the White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins, Kuntz has been a coach or instructor since 1987.

Bullpen coach Doug Henry and Grifol, the catching instructor, were also retained.

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