Royals bring back former manager Ned Yost as a senior adviser to general manager J.J. Picollo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have hired Ned Yost as a senior adviser to general manager J.J. Picollo, bringing back the manager who led them to back-to-back American League pennants and a World Series title in 2015.

The club announced the move Tuesday, one day before pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report to spring training.

“My deep love for the Royals, for Kansas City, and for the people there never left,” said the 69-year-old Yost, who retired after the 2019 season. “I just want to help, because I know I can help. I know what it takes to build a world championship club, and I think we’re getting close. I think we’re getting really close.”

The Royals, who lost 106 games just two years ago, went 86-76 last season, when Bobby Witt Jr. emerged as one of the bright young talents in the game and a rebuilt rotation produced a pair of All-Star pitchers. They wound up earning one of the AL wild cards and advanced to the divisional round, where they lost in four games to the New York Yankees.

Yost was hired as the Royals’ manager on May 13, 2010, and went on to win a club-record 746 games. He was inducted into the franchise Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony on Sept. 2, 2023.

“Our fans remember Ned’s leadership helping produce some of the best moments in Royals history,” Picollo said. “He knows what winning a World Series here takes because he’s helped make it happen, and his experience both as a leader and with young players will help us make better decisions and keep pushing toward another championship.”

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