Prologue:

After a disappointing season, where not only John Sherman but us Royals fans were looking for something more than being 4th place in the division. They were expected to make the next big step, but there was massive stagnation. They have chosen to fire Mike Matheny and Dayton Moore, officially cleaning house for the club. It was for the best and I respect what they did for this club. 

Manager Hiring Search/Outcome:

In Dayton Moore’s role, JJ Piccolo will be promoted; this is a fan-favorite pick and was the best decision. Mike Matheny’s place is a little more competitive. There were multiple candidates including Alec Zumwalt, Pedro Grifol, Ron Washington, Clayton McCullough, and Matt Quatraro; all of the candidates either had high pedigrees, good reputations, or had been in the organization. They chose Matt Quatraro, the risky but also high-potential candidate. He was in Tampa Bay for the past few seasons and helped them get to a world series in 2020 and was the bench coach of the team. Personally, I didn’t expect this since the last managerial hiring was in the organization, but I’m very excited to see him manage and see what he can do with this roster of young talent.

Growth in 2022 showing signs of hope:

Let’s face the facts, 2022 was a disaster but there was a bunch of hope and promise. Bobby Witt Jr, MJ Melendez, and Vinny Pasquantino showed that they could be core contributors and star players in the future. Brady Singer had a career year and could be really good in the starting rotation. Most of the prospects coming up show significant signs of a better future on the horizon. 

2023 and what next year may bring to the table:

For 2023, there’s still work to be done in the offseason and coach searches. There will be new players joining the club in the following year as well. Royals fans are excited about next year with the new personnel coming to the club. There are going to be ups and downs just like a regular season, but also some big moments that might happen for the club, like Bobby Witt potentially taking the next step in becoming a star player. If we could get some help in pitching we could shock people. It will be very intriguing to watch and I will be paying attention to this team next year.