The Royals announced two additions to their coaching staff last night. Keoni DeRenne is being hired as assistant hitting coach, while Damon Hollins will join the staff as first base coach. DeRenne, who previously spent time in the Pirates and Cubs organizations, has spent the past two seasons as Kansas City’s assistant hitting coordinator. Hollins, who appeared in parts of four big league seasons between 1998-2006, has been in the organization for more than a decade. He served as interim first base coach in 2020.
The latest on some other coaching situations around the game:
- The Cubs are expected to hire Johnny Washington as assistant hitting coach, reports Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic. He’ll replace Chris Valaika, who was hired as Guardians’ hitting coach last week. Washington spent a few seasons coaching with the Padres when current Cubs’ bench coach Andy Green was San Diego’s manager. Sharma notes that he spent the 2021 campaign as the hitting coach with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. Washington also garnered some consideration during the Angels’ 2019-20 managerial search, a job that eventually went to former Cubs’ skipper Joe Maddon.
- Former big league outfielder Peter Bourjos has moved into coaching, as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks have hired the 34-year-old as a minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator. Bourjos appeared in parts of ten major league seasons as a player, suiting up for the Angels, Cardinals, Phillies, Rays and Braves between 2010-19. He has spent the past two years doing advance scouting work with the Rockies.
Royals should have fired their pitching coach.
That won’t happen as long as Matheny is manager. They are best friends
Bjoe: Give the new (younger) rotation a chance to get their feet under them. Bubic & Singer held their own in ’20 despite that Bubic wasn’t to “be ready” until ’22, if then. Singer was “expected” to get a call up late ’20 w the hope of starting on the ’21 roster. Neither were terrible in ’21 but they were expected to have some growing pains. Even Hall of Famer’s don’t always come shooting lights out. Now let’s see what happens in ’22. Do they, as well as Lynch & Kowar, make the adjustments? If not, then your point may be valid.