Kansas City Royals pitching coach Cal Eldred among three staff members not in Toronto
Two members of the Kansas City Royals coaching staff and one member of the support staff did not travel with the team for their four-game series in Canada. This comes on top of the 10 players who were placed on the restricted list due to federal restrictions that require proof of vaccination to enter Canada.
Royals pitching coach Cal Eldred, first-year assistant hitting coach Keoni De Renne and bullpen catcher/lead strategist Parker Morin are not with the club in Toronto, where they began a four-game series Thursday night against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
In the past when Eldred has been away from the team, bullpen coach Larry Carter has filled in for him.
Scott Thorman, manager of the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers, has joined the team in Toronto to assist Royals manager Mike Matheny during the series. Thorman is a native of Canada. Storm Chasers bench coach Tommy Shields will serve as the Storm Chasers’ acting manager while Thorman is with the major-league club.
Prior to the series opener in Toronto, the Royals placed outfielder Andrew Benintendi, relief pitcher Dylan Coleman, first baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier, catcher Cam Gallagher, outfielder Kyle Isbel, starting pitcher Brad Keller, rookie catcher MJ Melendez, infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield, starting pitcher Brady Singer and center fielder Michael A. Taylor on the restricted list.
The Royals promoted eight players from the minors to fill in holes on their roster. They recalled former first-round draft pick and highly-regarded prospect Nick Pratto from Omaha, and they also selected the contracts of infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton, catcher Freddy Fermin, outfielder Brewer Hicklen and infielder Michael Massey from Thorman’s Omaha club.
Infielder Maikel Garcia, catcher Sebastian Rivero and pitcher Angel Zerpa were also recalled from Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
This story was originally published July 14, 2022 at 6:16 PM.
