This former Royals coach joined new team. But KC still holds place in his heart
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Zach Bove joined the Chicago White Sox as their newest pitching coach.
- Bove helped develop Royals pitchers Cole Ragans, Lucas Erceg and Kris Bubic.
- Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney said Bove was a huge part of their pitching system.
Zach Bove met his family on the first floor of Kauffman Stadium.
A long day’s work was done. Hours of arduous game prep was finished. And the satisfaction of another victory — followed by a celebratory hug from his daughters — made it all worthwhile.
Bove looked forward to those little moments. For three years, he experienced the joys of coaching with the Kansas City Royals. The organization welcomed him with open arms and became his extended family.
The Royals gave him a shot as a pitching coach. He served alongside Brian Sweeney and helped develop a talented group of young arms. Bove was instrumental in helping to develop the likes of Cole Ragans, Lucas Erceg, and Kris Bubic, among others.
He even helped big-league veterans Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo learn a few tricks to add to their respective arsenals.
Zach Bove returns to The K
On Thursday, Bove was back in Royals country. Only this time, he was wearing a Chicago White Sox uniform as their new pitching coach.
It was a weird but good change from what was his status quo for so long.
“I was talking to them last night and my daughters were like it’s kind of weird wearing the black and white and seeing all the Royals people,” Bove told The Star. “It’s a lot of relationships and stuff like that, but they are getting adjusted to it.”
Bove is excited about his new role with the White Sox. He admitted it was a difficult choice to leave the Royals organization, but he said he knew it was an opportunity he had to take.
The White Sox had an opening and felt Bove fit the bill. He was lauded for his analytical mind and ability to relate to players. Chicago has a wealth of young starters and Bove — who will turn 38 this month — was the right man for the job.
“It’s been good,” Bove said. “The people over here are great. The staff’s great and the players (are) great. This is different for (me), being in this role, and I’m probably still not 100% comfortable with it.
“I think it’s going to take time (from just) talking to people who’ve been in it. I feel like I’ve got a ton of support and I think it’s a good opportunity to build something cool over here.”
Bove the builder appealed to White Sox
Bove is regarded as a builder. He helped form the Royals’ current pitching foundation alongside Sweeney and bullpen coach Mitch Stetter.
The Royals went from a franchise-record 106 losses to a playoff berth in 2024. Bove also had a major role in helping Ragans, Bubic and Seth Lugo earn their first All-Star nominations.
In many ways, Bove couldn’t have done it without Sweeney. He called the Royals’ pitching coach his mentor and a longtime supporter.
“I guess it gives me confidence,” Bove said. “He has trust in me and believes. We were around each other for three years and he knows what it takes.”
That appreciation meant a lot to Sweeney.
“It’s humbling because we had a really strong relationship together,” Sweeney said. “He is a close friend and we were able to go through a lot. Starting with 2023, we got to see the start from the bottom and then get to the playoffs. (We built) together with Stetter and the rest of the pitching team.
“We built a process and a system that can help these players be the best version of themselves out there.”
Sweeney loved having Bove in the clubhouse. His energy and passion for the game resonated with the Royals’ players and coaching staff.
This offseason, the Royals added Mike McFerran as a new assistant pitching coach. Sweeney believes that Bove helped pave the way for what comes next in Kansas City.
Now, McFerran and others will get the same opportunity to live out their dreams.
“We certainly do miss him here,” Sweeney said of Bove. “We got another good guy that we were able to bring in. What (Bove) has brought to the table helped build the foundation for what this pitching team is supposed to be all about. And I’m proud of that, and he was a huge part.”
The Royals will see a lot more of Bove. The White Sox are an American League Central divisional opponent, of course, but beyond that there are a lot of connections between the clubs. And it starts at the top: Chicago general manager Chris Getz once played second base for the Royals.
‘This place gave me a chance’
Bove said he will always remember what he learned under Sweeney’s tutelage.
“You have a new appreciation of how he handled situations,” Bove said. “Maybe when I’m faced with a situation now, I think, ‘Hey what would Sweeney do here?’ He’s a great kind of mentor and very even-keeled. … I owe Sweeney a lot and still have a good relationship with him.”
Baseball has a way of bringing people together. Bove is wearing a White Sox uniform now, but the Royals will always hold a special place in his heart.
His love for the game — and his former club — will never change.
“When (the White Sox job) became an option, I guess you can say it was very hard,” Bove said of leaving the Royals. “This place (Kansas City) gave me a chance, and I owe a lot of people a lot of things over here.”
