KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are making a change to their hitting staff, reassigning Alec Zumwalt from his role as hitting coach while keeping him in the organization as senior director of hitting performance, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Zumwalt has spent nine years with the Royals and had served as both hitting coach and senior director of hitting performance since 2022.
Kansas City averaged 4.26 runs per game this season, ranking 21st in Major League Baseball. That was an improvement from 2025, when the Royals averaged 4.02 runs and finished 26th.
The Royals did see several offensive positives during the season. Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone emerged as two of the club’s most productive hitters, while Michael Massey put together the best season of his career.
Still, Kansas City again struggled to find consistency at the plate. The Royals averaged 4.06 runs per game in April while getting off to a slow start, and several key hitters had uneven seasons.
Vinnie Pasquantino battled inconsistency for much of the year, Salvador Perez saw his production decline, Isaac Collins struggled late in the season and Kyle Isbel turned in his least productive offensive season.
It is not yet known whether assistant hitting coaches Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames will remain on staff. Both joined the Royals this season.
Additional coaching changes also remain possible. Royals general manager J.J. Picollo is scheduled to meet with reporters Wednesday.