Mike Matheny’s first Royals staff features Rusty Kuntz’s return as first base coach
Mike Matheny’s coaching staff in his first season as Kansas City Royals manager was expected to feature a lot of faces, and it does. It also features a couple surprises.
Matheny will retain Pedro Grifol, who’ll become the new bench coach, Cal Eldred as pitching coach and Terry Bradshaw as hitting coach, while Rusty Kuntz returns for a third stint as first base coach and Vance Wilson moves to third base coach. Grifol will continue to work with the catchers on the major-league roster.
Larry Carter, who’ll be in his 23rd season in the organization, will take over Wilson’s previous post as bullpen coach. Carter most recently served as the Royals’ minor league pitching coordinator from 2015-19. Wilson, who managed at multiple levels in the Royals farm system, spent eight seasons in the majors as a catcher.
“We felt it was really important to get a pitching guy in the bullpen,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Vance obviously knows pitching, but he’s coming at it from a different angle, which is good, but I think it was time that we managed that role a little differently.
“Larry Carter is an extremely talented pitching coach, has meant a lot to this organization, and he has a comfort level not only with the current pitchers on the roster but also the pitchers that we expect to transition to the major leagues in the next one to two years. So it was about what’s best for the overall staff.”
Former St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach John Mabry will also join the major-league staff as a coach. Mabry, who spent 14 seasons in the majors as a player, served as Cardinals hitting coach under Matheny (2013-18). He was also the Cardinals’ assistant hitting coach during the 2012 season.
Moore said Mabry won’t likely have the same duties as the quality control coaching position Grifol previously held. Mabry may wear a lot of different hats on the staff.
Grifol, who’d been a candidate for the Royals’ as well as the San Francisco Giants’ managerial opening, takes over Dale Sveum’s previous position as bench coach. Wilson, who was also a candidate for the Royals’ opening, takes over as third base coach for Mike Jirschele.
Sveum and Jirschele will remain with the organization, but their new positions haven’t been announced. Jirschele will take on a role that could mix player development and scouting, he’ll report to Moore as well assistant general managers JJ Picollo and Scott Sharp.
Kuntz fills the vacant spot made by the promotion of former first base coach Mitch Maier to the front office earlier this week.
Kuntz served as first base coach from 2008-10 and 2012-17. He also held the title of minor-league outfield/baserunning coordinator from 2010-12. Since 2017, he’s been a special assistant to the general manager for quality control.
“I think Rusty is obviously not only a dear friend but is a highly-respected coach, maybe as good a coach as I’ve ever been around,” Moore said. “Our organization benefits greatly from his expertise and his enthusiasm. We’re excited he’s going to be back in that role.”
Rafael Belliard will move into Kuntz’s former role as a special assignment coach.
“I’m looking forward to working with this talented group of coaches,” Matheny said in a release from the club. “This group has a tremendous track record and all of these men have been dedicated to the game of baseball for a long time. We’re excited to get going.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 3:22 PM.
