Royals minor-league pitching coordinator Jason Simontacchi announces he will not return

The Kansas City Royals are parting ways with their minor-league pitching coordinator Jason Simontacchi after five years with the organization, the last three in that position.

He will not be retained by the Royals after the 2022 season.

Simontacchi posted the news via the social media site LinkedIn, writing, “My days with the KC Royals are finished. I was Blessed to work alongside great people for 5 years and very thankful for that opportunity. God is great, and I’m excited to see what He has in store for me in the future.”

Royals Farm Report first reported the move based upon Simontacchi’s post. The Royals typically announce their minor league staff and coaching assignments during the offseason.

A former big-league pitcher who spent parts of four seasons in the majors and played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals, Simontacchi joined the Royals as assistant pitching coordinator in 2018 after he worked as a pitching coach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

The inconsistency of the Royals pitching staff at the major-league level has been one of the overarching themes of this season, which has caused some speculation about the future of major league pitching coach Cal Eldred and director of pitching performance Paul Gibson.

As of Thursday, the Royals ranked among the bottom five in the majors in team ERA (4.70, 25th of 30), walks per 9 innings (3.81, 29th), strikeouts per 9 (7.49, 28th), batting average against (.266, 29th) and WHIP (1.47, 30th).

The Royals have featured a largely inexperienced pitching staff throughout the season, including a starting rotation that has featured homegrown pitchers Brady Singer, Kris Bubic, Daniel Lynch, Jonathan Heasley, Angel Zerpa and Carlos Hernández at various points this season. All were either drafted by the Royals or signed as international free agents while teenagers.

Of that group, Singer had the most experience in the majors entering this season with 192 2/3 innings and 39 starts through the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Last season’s Royals Organizational Pitcher of the Year, Jackson Kowar, has made seven appearances in the majors this season, exclusively in relief.