The Kansas City Royals didn’t wait for too long to shake things up after wrapping up another disappointing campaign. Just several hours after playing their last game of 2022 MLB season, 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, the Royals fired manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred.
The Royals, which finished the regular season at the bottom of AL Central with 65-97 record, confirmed the decision late on Wednesday night on their official social media.
Matheny joined the Royals in 2020 with the goal to return the team to playoffs for the first time since World Series-winning run in 2015. However, the former St. Louis Cardinals catcher failed to turn things around during his three years with the franchise.
Matheny finishes his managerial stint in Kansas City with 165-219 overall record.
“Managing the Royals has been a true privilege,” Matheny said in a statement. ” … I came to the Royals knowing it was an organization of excellence and care, and was shown that care every single day. Royals fans should be excited about this group of players, and I look forward to watching them continue to grow.”
Before joining the Royals, Mike Matheny managed the Cardinals for six and a half years. He made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons in charge, with the run including three NL Central titles and a World Series appearance in 2013. Matheny was fired by St. Louis midway through 2018 season after 47–46 start of the season.
