The Kansas City Royals have been able to develop several promising young hitters in the past two years: Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, MJ Melendez, and Nick Pratto are part of the core that will compete for a playoff spot within a couple of seasons.
Their ability to develop pitching, however, has been completely lacking outside of young ace Brady Singer.
That’s in part the young hurlers’ fault, but former pitching coach Cal Eldred also failed to help them gain any consistency.
He was fired this year alongside manager Mike Matheny.
A new era is starting for the Royals: they hired young manager Matt Quatraro, and the team is making a huge addition to his coaching staff.
“Royals hiring Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach, sources tell @TheAthletic. Sweeney, a former major-league pitcher with the Padres and Mariners, had been a coach with the Guardians since 2018, and their bullpen coach since ‘20,” insider Ken Rosenthal tweeted.
Royals hiring Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach, sources tell @TheAthletic. Sweeney, a former major-league pitcher with the Padres and Mariners, had been a coach with the Guardians since 2018, and their bullpen coach since ‘20.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 1, 2022
He Deserves A Shot
The Royals need people with the right tools, mindset, and resources to use technology to their own benefit when it comes to pitching and player development.
Coming from one of the most forward-thinking organizations when it comes to nurturing and developing pitchers, Sweeney represents a step in the right direction for the stagnant Royals.
They do have talented young pitchers in Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, Kris Bubic, and others: they just need the right guidance.
Eldred wasn’t the man for them: Sweeney might be, and he is more than worth a shot.
It will be his first stint as an MLB pitching coach, and he will get a chance to show how much he knows about the art of pitching.
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