KC Royals News: New coaches, and a legend passes

Some KC Royals news items while wondering how many of its minor league free agents the club might bring back next season:

Legendary KC Royals scout and Hall of Famer Art Stewart has passed away.

Art Stewart, the Kansas City super scout who spent over 60 years in the game, has died. The club announced his passing this morning.

Stewart worked in several capacities for the Royals for over 50 years, including scout, Director of Scouting, Senior Special Assistant to the General Manager and, most recently, as Senior Advisor to the General Manager. Among other eventual stars he snared for Kansas City, he wrapped up Bo Jackson for the club when many believed Jackson would choose pro football over baseball.

Stewart, who was 94, was named to the Royals Hall of Fame in 2008.

The KC Royals are adding two coaches to Manager Mike Matheny’s staff.

Per mlb.com Kansas City beat writer Anne Rogers, Mike Matheny and the club will welcome two coaches to the club’s dugout in 2022.

One addition isn’t entirely “new.” Damon Hollins appeared on Matheny’s staff late in the season when he took over the first base coaching box from Rusty Kuntz, who remained on Matheny’s staff until moving to the front office after the campaign ended. Hollins now assumes the first base job full time.

Hollins hit .242 in a short major league career that covered parts of four seasons. He played for the Braves, Dodgers and Rays.

The true newcomer is assistant hitting coach Keoni De Renne. He’ll work with hitting coach Terry Bradshaw. De Renne previously helped the organization’s minor league hitters.

Drafted by Atlanta in Round 12 of the 2000 amateur draft, De Renne never made it to the big leagues but hit .263 with a .338 OBP in eight minor league seasons.

Three KC Royals players have been nominated for the 2021 All-MLB team.

Andrew Benintendi and Michael A. Taylor recently won Gold Gloves, and Salvador Perez won the Luis Aparicio Award. Now, three Kansas City players are up for the All-MLB Team sponsored by Cue Health.

Nominated for the honor are second baseman Whit Merrifield, shortstop Nicky Lopez and, of course, catcher Salvador Perez:

https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1458585450717663237

Fans can vote for the team here.

The three Royals find out Nov. 23 if they make the team. Winners will be announced on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET.

A former star reliever for the KC Royals has announced his retirement.

The baseball Internet was abuzz today with news of former Kansas City closer Joakim Soria’s retirement. Soria, 37, closed out his career this season with a 1-4, 5.06 ERA, six-save campaign split between Arizona and Toronto.

The first five seasons he pitched for the Royals were the best of his career. He saved 160 games and posted a 2.40 ERA from 2007-2011. He then pitched for Texas, Detroit and Pittsburgh before reuniting with Kansas City for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. No longer the closer, he went 9-11, 3.89 before stints with the White Sox, Brewers, A’s, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays.

Soria ends 14 years in the majors with a 36-45 record, a 3.11 ERA, and 229 saves. His 162 Kansas City saves are third best in team history behind Jeff Montgomery’s 304 and Dan Quisenberry’s 238.

With the loss of a legend, the addition of a pair of coaches, three All-MLB team nominations, and the retirement of a former star, it’s been a busy week so far for the Royals.