Seitzer Named Hitting Coach

Isn't this the hire everyone was asking for?

From the release:

The Kansas City Royals today announced Major League coaching staff assignments for the 2009 season.  The Royals today named John Gibbons as bench coach and former Royal Kevin Seitzer as the hitting coach, to join the returning staff of Bob McClure (pitching coach), Rusty Kuntz (first base coach), John Mizerock (bullpen coach) and Dave Owen, who will move from bench coach to the role of third base coach.

The Royals also announced today that Luis Silverio, the club’s third base coach in 2008, has accepted the position of Special Assistant to Player Development.

“I’m very pleased with the amount of energy and overall baseball experience we’ve been able to add to our Major League staff with John Gibbons and Kevin Seitzer,” said Dayton Moore, Royals’ Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.  “John’s recent American League experience as the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays will be a tremendous asset to Trey and the rest of the coaching staff.

“I’m also excited to bring Kevin into our organization,” Moore continued.  “He was an exciting player and fan favorite during his days as a Royal, and possesses the same amount of passion and energy as a coach.  He too will be a great asset to our staff with his knowledge of hitting and the ability to communicate information to the players.”

In doing the research for the all-time Royals team for Mellinger's sim, I learned Seitzer is the Royals career OBP leader at .380 and ranks third on the BA list with a .294 career average in KC.  Hopefully, he'll be able to drill a patient approach into our hitters.

This is a good thing.  A very good thing.