KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The royals have fired hitting coach Terry Bradshaw and promoted Alec Zumwalt to take his role Monday in a coaching staff reshuffle they hope will spark one of the worst offenses in the majors this season will.
The Royals have 118 runs in their first 32 games, only better than the Tigers, Orioles and White Sox, and their 21 homers are behind only the Tigers and Red Sox for the worst total in the major leagues.
The Royals started the day 12-20 and 6½ games behind the Twins in the AL Central.
“Baseball is ever-changing and we must continue to evaluate ourselves and make sure we’re giving our players everything they need to succeed at the highest level,” Royals general manager JJ Picollo said in a statement. “Our results so far do not match our capabilities and we are all responsible for that.”
Zumwalt was hired as a scout in 2011 but has more recently spearheaded a shift in batting development within the Royals’ minor league program. Last season’s results were evident when Bobby Witt Jr. received Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award and MJ Melendez received the Joe Bauman Award for Minor League Home Run Champion.
Both players are with the big league club this season.
Keoni DeRenne remains the assistant hitting coach and Mike Tosar the special assignment hitting coach.
“Changes like this are never easy and I’m grateful to Terry for his friendship and everything he’s done for me personally and for our team,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said ahead of a four-day, five-game set against the White Sox opened . “We can all do better and that includes me. I’m confident that better days are ahead and that Alec, Keoni and Mike will help us get there.”
Bradshaw has been in the Royals system since 2000 and helped guide majors Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, two of the key players on their 2015 championship team. He also helped Whit Merrifield lead the American League twice, and Jorge Soler broke the club’s single-season home run record set by Salvador Perez last year.
“Terry is one of the best men I know in baseball,” said Royals President Dayton Moore. “The Royals are a better franchise with and because of men like Terry. We thank him and his family for everything they have done.”