Check out the Kansas City Royals’ minor-league coaching staffs for 2024 season
The Kansas City Royals continue to prepare for the upcoming 2024 season. On Wednesday they announced their minor-league coaching staffs.
The Royals’ minor league affiliates include the Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple-A), Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A), Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A), Columbia Fireflies (Low-A), Surprise Royals (Arizona Complex League) and two Dominican Summer League teams.
Here is a look at the Royals’ affiliates this season.
Omaha Storm Chasers
The Storm Chasers are led by manager Mike Jirschele. He returns for his 33rd season in the Royals organization and his 16th year with the Storm Chasers.
Jirschele led the Storm Chasers to a 68-77 record last season. He is club’s the all-time leader in team wins — 1,063-1,096.
The Storm Chasers will also bring back his coaching staff this season.
Dane Johnson returns as the team’s pitching coach and Bijan Rademacher will continue as the hitting coach. The Storm Chasers also feature assistant coaches David Noworyta (hitting), Dave Lundquist (pitching) and Tripp Keister.
“Omaha is like a second home for me and my family, so it felt good to hear that I’d be coming back to manage the Storm Chasers another season,” Jirschele said in a news release. “I’m happy to go wherever the Royals want me to, but I’m obviously excited to come back to Werner Park. It’ll be good to have a mix of returners to the staff and some new additions, too.”
The Storm Chasers feature multiple players with major-league experience. The Royals called up catchers Logan Porter and Tyler Cropley last season. Nate Eaton, Samad Taylor and Austin Cox also saw time in the big leagues.
The Royals could option additional players to Omaha after spring training.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Naturals manager Tommy Shields returns for his second season in Springdale, Ark. He led Northwest Arkansas to a 64-74 record last year.
Shields has 29 years of experience in player development. Before becoming the Naturals’ manager, he served as the Storm Chasers’ bench coach in 2022.
The Naturals also brought back Shields’ staff. Larry Carter and Andy LaRoche return in their 2023 roles: Carter serves as the pitching coach while LaRoche is the hitting coach.
Shields has three additional assistants. Kevin Kuntz returns to his role alongside newcomers Sam Eades and Chris Nelson.
Eades previously worked for Tread Athletics training facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. That’s the facility where Royals star Cole Ragans regained his form after Tommy John surgery.
Nelson is back for a second stint with the Naturals. He was the team’s bench coach during the 2018 season. Eades will serve as assistant pitching coach and Nelson as an assistant hitting coach.
Multiple Royals prospects played for the Naturals last season, including Cayden Wallace (No. 2), Gavin Cross (No. 6) and Chandler Champlain (No. 11). The Naturals also feature 2023 organizational award winners Mason Barnett, Tyler Tolbert and Javier Vaz.
The Royals will play an exhibition game against the Naturals at Arvest Ballpark on March 25 at 6:05 p.m. Central Time.
Quad Cities River Bandits
Brooks Conrad returns as the River Bandits ‘ manager this season. Conrad is entering his third year at the helm after leading KC’s High-A club to a 55-77 campaign in 2023.
Conrad will be joined by pitching coach Derrick Lewis, hitting coach Ryan Powers, assistant pitching coach Taylor Bloye and assistant hitting coach Chris Corbett.
Last season, Quad Cities was home to multiple intriguing prospects. Ben Kdurna (No. 3), Frank Mozzicato (No. 4) and Carter Jensen (No. 7) headlined the team.
Kdurna and Jensen are Kansas City natives. Kurdna played at Blue Valley Southwest High, Jensen at Park Hill.
Jensen hit .211 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs last season. He will get an extended look in spring training as a non-roster invitee to big-league camp. Kurdna posted a 4.22 ERA across two minor-league levels in 2023.
Columbia Fireflies
The Fireflies will have a new manager this season: Columbia tabbed Jesus Azuaje as the fifth skipper in team history.
Azuaje will replace Tony Pena Jr., who moved to a minor-league coordinator role in the Royals organization.
The Fireflies return pitching coach John Habyan and hitting coach Ari Adut to the coaching staff, and Sam Freeman will join the group as an assistant pitching coach. He brings a wealth of MLB experience. Kyle MacKinnon will be the assistant hitting.
The Fireflies were headlined last season by top prospects Austin Charles and Carson Roccaforte. And outfielders Jared Dickey and Spencer Nivens spent time with the team after being drafted last year.
Surprise Royals
Manager Larry Sutton enters his first season with the Surprise Royals in the Arizona Complex League.
Sutton’s staff will include pitching coaches Julio Pimentel and Jesus Delgado and rehab pitching coach Ken Knutson. Miguel Bernard will return as the bench coach.
Ramon Castro, Alejandro Gomez are the hitting coaches and Joel Rivera returns as assistant hitting coach.
Last season, Royals first-round pick Blake Mitchell spent time in Surprise. He hit .147 as he adjusted to the professional level. The team also featured right-handed pitcher Blake Wolters (No. 9).
Dominican Summer League Royals
The Royals’ two Dominican Summer League teams will be managed by Ramon Martinez and Sergio De Luna.
The DSL Royals’ bench coaches include Quilvio Veras Sr. and Onil Joseph. Christopher Marte and Jose Veras will be the pitching coaches and Wilson Betemit Sr. and Fernando Martinez the hitting coaches.
The Royals recently announced the signing of 18 international free agents, headlined by Cuban infielder Yandel Ricardo.
This story was originally published January 24, 2024 at 3:40 PM.
