"he expected that "most of the [coaching] staff" (including hitting coach Alec Zumwait) will return to Kansas City in 2026. At the time, he acknowledged that there might be some "tweaks" to the staff in hopes of getting the most out of the club's players. Today, Picollo provided more details on those tweaks when he told Rogers that the Royals won't renew the contracts of assistant hitting coaches Keoni DeRenne and for the 2026 campaign."
"DeRenne has been in the Royals organization since 2020 and has spent the past four seasons as the club's assistant hitting coach. Dillon, meanwhile, has been an assistant hitting coach for the Royals in each of the past two seasons and has previously served as an assistant hitting coach for the Nationals and spent two years as the hitting coach for the Phillies in addition to time in the Nationals and Marlins organizations coaching at the minor league level."
"Picollo praised the pair's work in Kansas City, telling Rogers that both are "really good, tireless workers" who will "end up in a good spot somewhere in the game." The duo figure to have plenty of opportunities to catch on somewhere with so many teams changing managers this winter. Many of those new managers will look to make tweaks to their team's coaching staff, which could benefit coaches like DeRenne and Dillon."
Royals GM J.J. Picollo said most of the coaching staff is expected to return in 2026 while allowing for some adjustments. The Royals will not renew the contracts of assistant hitting coaches Keoni DeRenne and Dillon for the 2026 season. DeRenne spent four seasons as the club's assistant hitting coach after joining the organization in 2020, and Dillon served as an assistant hitting coach for the past two seasons with prior major- and minor-league coaching experience. Picollo praised both as hardworking and predicted they will find other opportunities amid many managerial changes this winter. The departures open chances to add new hitting voices as Kansas City seeks improved offense after a team wRC of 93.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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