Thorman and Widger promoted to top managerial posts in Kansas City Royals’ farm system
The Kansas City Royals have promoted Scott Thorman to manage their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers, after stints with the Low-A, High-A and Double-A affiliates in successive seasons.
Thorman, 40, replaces Brian Poldberg, who retired at the end of last season.
The Royals on Friday unveiled the 2022 coaching staffs for their seven minor-league clubs, including two Dominican Summer League teams, a team based out of their training complex in Surprise, Arizona and their four full-season affiliates.
The managers of the four full-season affiliated teams will be Thorman, Chris Widger (Double-A), Brooks Conrad (High-A) and Tony Peña Jr. (Low-A).
Triple-A
Thorman, a former first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves (No. 30 in 2000), was at the helm of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ Double-A Central championship run in 2021. He’d also guided High-A Wilmington to a Carolina League championship in 2019 and Low-A Lexington to a South Atlantic League championship in 2018.
The Storm Chasers’ coaching staff will include pitching coach Dane Johnson, hitting coach Brian Buchanan and bench Tommy Shields, who has re-joined the organization. Shields previously managed in the Royals’ farm system from 2012-14 before joining the Washington Nationals organization. Ryan Powers, who previously served as a video intern for Low-A Quad Cities in 2021, joins Thorman’s staff as his assistant hitting coach.
James Stone returns as Omaha’s athletic trainer and Yannick Plante returns as the Storm Chasers’ strength and conditioning coach. Mike Brown will serve as coordinator of clubhouse operations.
Double-A
Baseball America’s Minor League Manager of the Year, Widger has been promoted to manager of the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The former major-league catcher led Quad Cities to the High-A Central championship in 2021. He also led Burlington to an appearance in the Appalachian League (Rookie Level) finals in 2019.
The Naturals’ coaching staff will include pitching coach Derrick Lewis, hitting coach Abraham Nunez and assistant hitting coach and recently retired Royals World Series champion Christian Colón. Mike Jirschele, the former Royals third base coach and Storm Chasers manager, will be the bench coach.
Danny Accola will be the team’s athletic trainer. CJ Mikkelsen returns as strength and conditioning coach, and Danny Helmer returns as coordinator of clubhouse operations.
High-A
Conrad will manage the Quad Cities River Bandits after having previously managed Columbia (2021), Lexington (2019-20) and Burlington (2018). The 2019 Lexington club won the South Atlantic League championship.
The River Bandits’ coaching staff will include pitching coach Steve Luebber, hitting coach Andy LaRoche, assistant hitting coach David Noworyta and assistant coach Kevin Kuntz, who spent last season with Surprise following a five-year stint in the front office. Kuntz is the son of longtime Royals coach Rusty Kuntz.
Brad Groleau is the athletic trainer and Matt Resar will be the coordinator of clubhouse operations.
Low-A
Tony Peña Jr. will manage the Columbia Fireflies after having been part of KC’s major-league staff under Mike Matheny last season. The Fireflies’ staff also includes pitching coach John Habyan, hitting coach Jesus Azuaje, assistant hitting coach Chris Nelson and bench coach Glenn Hubbard.
Nevan Dominguez will be the athletic trainer and Christian Andreas is returning for his second season as coordinator of clubhouse operations.
Surprise Complex
Omar Ramirez returns for his second season as manager of the Surprise Royals.
Carlos Martinez and Mark Davis will serve as co-pitching coaches, while Julio Pimentel returns as Surprise’s rehab pitching coach. Ramon Castro is the hitting coach for a second year and will work with assistant hitting coaches Miguel Bernard and Alex Liddi. Andre David will be the bench coach and Matt Schmidt an assistant coach.
Joey Manana returns as the strength and conditioning coach. Kazuma Fukuzimi joins the staff as athletic trainer, and Todd Jansen returns as coordinator of clubhouse operations.
Dominican Academy
Ramón Martínez and Sergio De Luna return as managers of the Royals’ two Dominican Summer League clubs. Rafael Feliz and José Veras return as pitching coaches. Wilson Betemit and Fernando Martínez will serve as the hitting coaches. Onil Joseph and Quilvio Veras are first-time bench coaches.
Marcos Sierra will return for his fourth season as strength and conditioning coach. David Archer returns for a second year as a certified athletic trainer, and he’ll be joined by athletic trainers Alessandro Bertozzo, Martin Berroa and Manuel Plaza.
