A dismal start leaves the Royals seeking answers. Can their offense ignite, or will coaching changes be the only path forward?
Is it too early to make a change in Royals staff?
The Kansas City Royals have started the season way worse than anyone could have predicted.
They currently have a record of 8-17 (worst record in baseball) with an -35 run differential (second worst in baseball) and just ended a eight-game losing streak which is their longest since their ten-game losing streak in 2023.
So, the question remains — can they turn this around?
With 137 games left in the season that leaves the Royals plenty of time, it also helps that they are in a weak American League Central division where even with being nine games under .500 they are only 5.5 games back of the division and only 4.5 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot.
But where does turning it around start? That question may just be answered within the coaching staff, specifically hitting coach Alec Zumwalt.
Since being hired in 2022, the Royals offense has posted a .246 AVG, .307 OBP, .395 SLG, and .702 OPS with 672 home runs and 2,577 RBIs. Removing Kansas City's outlier 2024 season, those numbers drop to a .245 AVG, .307 OBP, .392 SLG, .699 OPS, with 457 home runs and 1,866 RBIs.
The poor performance thus far has led to speculation among fans of major changes in Kansas City, but it does not seem any are coming — at least not soon. The season is young, and the Royals believe this will turn around.
As of now, Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has maintained full confidence in Matt Quatraro and the Royals' coaching staff. He appears nowhere near ready to make major changes.
“I think [Quatraro’s] steadiness is what allows us to do things well and right the ship,” Picollo said (via Anne Rogers of MLB.com).
One the coaching staff, he added, "[We have] belief and confidence in their planning, their preparation. I think they put the hitters in a really good spot, the pitchers in a really good spot to go compete, In the end, I think the players will tell you, they’re the ones that have to go out and execute. I don’t see any problems with our processes. I think there’s some signs that our processes are good, we just haven’t gotten the results yet.”
Even with the belief Royals' GM has, it's hard to believe if this continues for even another month that there won't be changes made to the Royals' coaching staff. But for now, the backing is there from up top.