Picollo Shakes Up Royals Hitting Staff After 69-93 Season

The Kansas City Royals concluded the 2026 season with a disappointing 69-93 record, marking their first losing season since 2023. The team finished at the bottom of the AL Central and failed to reach the postseason for the second straight year. General Manager J.J. Picollo expressed disappointment during a press conference, stating that the team's expectations were not met.

Piculos acknowledged that the Royals felt they could win it all before the first pitch. However, their performance did not match their expectations. The offense struggled from the start, recording a league-low 221 runs and 726 total bases by May. Key players such as Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez had difficulty hitting early in the season, significantly below their career averages.

Injuries to players like Maikel Garcia exacerbated the situation, deepening the team's struggles. The Royals announced changes to their coaching staff, with hitting instructor Alec Zumwalt being reassigned internally. Zumwalt, who joined the team in 2022 after a long tenure as a scout, would retain his title as senior director of hitting performance but would no longer coach from the dugout.

Picollo explained that this move was anticipated from the beginning, as Zumwalt had been a valuable asset in helping the team's core players.

The organization is focused on finding long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. Marcus Thames and Connor Dawson joined the coaching staff last offseason, and the team plans to add another assistant hitting coach soon. Picollo emphasized the importance of getting the current roster to perform to its full potential to secure better results in the future and build a winning team for the next decade.