Kansas City Royals Anticipate Coaching Staff Changes After Playoff Miss

The Kansas City Royals experienced a disappointing 2025 season, finishing with an 82-80 record and missing the playoffs after a promising 2024 campaign. General Manager J.J. Picollo acknowledged the need for adjustments, particularly on the offensive side, where the team struggled with situational hitting and overall production. While hitting coach Alec Zumwalt will remain with the team, Picollo indicated potential tweaks to the coaching staff to better support the offense, possibly involving changes among assistant hitting coaches. Additionally, longtime third base coach Vance Wilson, respected in the league and with managerial experience, may depart if a managerial opportunity arises elsewhere, signaling possible coaching staff turnover. Despite underperforming, Royals leadership remains optimistic about the team's core and favors iterative improvements rather than major transformations. The focus now is on analyzing the shortcomings of the past season and making strategic improvements to return to playoff contention.