Kansas City Royals Hire New Manager

The Kansas City Royals have become the latest team to fill their managerial vacancy, naming Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as their new field boss.

We’ve named Matt Quatraro the 18th full-time manager in franchise history.#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/RhOOgYktb1

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 30,

The @Royals got their guy! 👀#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/GDm57Hbgxk

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 31, 2022

The Royals feel they've been left behind on the analytics revolution and hope that bringing in Quatraro from the Rays—a team that's been at the forefront of the movement—helps lead them in that direction. 

"I do think the managerial position has changed," said GM JJ Picollo. "You talk to players around the league, executives -- there are things teams are doing that are pretty advanced. Our goal is to find out what those things are and implement them here."

Quatraro has been with the Rays for five years, and had also interviewed for the New York Mets and Oakland A's managerial positions last season. He now takes over a team with a plethora of young talent on the offensive side of the ball, with the likes of  third baseman Bobby Witt Jr., catcher MJ Melendez and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. 

Mike Matheny was fired as part of an overall front office shakeup in Kansas City that also saw longtime baseball operations head Dayton Moore cut loose. 

The Royals finished another disappointing season in 2022 with another last-place finish, at 65-97.

Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports