"The Royals are hiring former big league outfielder and veteran coach Marcus Thames as a hitting coach, reports Anne Rogers of MLB.com. He'll join recently hired Connor Dawson, 32, as a second hitting coach under senior director of hitting Alec Zumwalt. Kansas City did not renew the contracts of now-former assistant hitting coaches Joe Dillon and Keoni DeRenne at season's end."
"Thames, 48, enjoyed a decade-long career in the big leagues as an outfielder and designated hitter from 2002-2011. Shortly after his playing career ended, he took a job as a minor league hitting coach in the Yankees' system. Within a three years, he'd been promoted to the major league staff in the Bronx. From 2016-21, Thames was an assistant hitting coach or hitting coach with the Yankees' big league staff."
"Thames played in 640 major league games and totaled 2016 plate appearances as a big leaguer. In that time, the former 30th-round pick slashed .246/.309/.485 with 115 home runs, 83 doubles, four triples, a 7.9% walk rate and a 25.3% strikeout rate. Thames' bat was particularly potent against left-handed pitching in his playing days, as evidenced by a .260/.328/.496 line in his career."
Marcus Thames will join Kansas City as a hitting coach alongside recently hired Connor Dawson and under senior director of hitting Alec Zumwalt. The Royals did not renew assistant hitting coaches Joe Dillon and Keoni DeRenne. Thames played in the major leagues from 2002–2011, appearing in 640 games and totaling 2,016 plate appearances with a .246/.309/.485 slash and 115 home runs. He transitioned into coaching immediately, advancing from the Yankees' minor league system to their major league staff and later holding hitting coach roles with the Marlins, Angels and White Sox. The 2026 season will be his eleventh consecutive year on a major league coaching staff.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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