Royals Announce Minor League Coaching Assignments for 2015

By Hunter Samuels |

Photo courtesy of Minda Haas

On Friday afternoon, the Royals announced their minor league coaching staffs for the 2015 season, and they’re maintaining some semblance of consistency following a strong organizational year in 2014.

Brian Poldberg will be the manager of the National Champion Omaha Storm Chasers once again, and he’ll be rejoined by hitting coach Tommy Gregg. Larry Carter, who was named the Royals Minor League pitching coordinator, will be replaced by Al Nipper as the Chasers’ pitching coach. Nipper was the Royals’ pitching coach in 2001 and 2002, although he’s been a part of the Tigers’ organization for the last three seasons.

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At Double-A, Vance Wilson will return as manager, with new hitting coach Brandon Moore set to replace Andre David, who was reassigned to Idaho Falls. Moore has been a coach in the White Sox system since 2012. The Naturals’ pitching coach, Jim Brower, will be back for another season.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks will welcome a new manager, as Brian Buchanan is in to replace Darryl Kennedy. Buchanan spent the last two seasons as the skipper for Low-A Lexington. Kennedy, meanwhile, is moving to Arizona to manage the Royals’ rookie club in Surprise.

Replacing Buchanan in the Legends’ dugout is Omar Ramirez, who moved up from the same position in Idaho Falls. That move left a vacancy for the Chukars, which is being filled by Justin Gemoll, who was the bench coach in Wilmington last season. It will be Gemoll’s first season as a manager.

Hopefully all that shuffling makes sense to you, because reading through it made my head spin for a few minutes.

Other notable additions to the coaching staffs include former Royal Jeff Suppan as the new pitching coach for Idaho Falls, Abraham Nunez as the hitting coach for Wilmington, and Scott Thorman as the manager for rookie-level Burlington.

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