KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rusty Kuntz will return to coach first base for the 2021 Kansas City Royals.
He sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but the club announced his return Friday along with the rest of second-year Mike Matheny’s staff.
Tony Peña Jr., a former player and the son of former Royals manager Tony Peña Sr., has been added to Matheny’s staff.
Peña, a former shortstop, had planned to serve as the Class AAA Omaha ben coach and manage the Royals’ Rookie affiliate in Burlington, North Carolina, last season before minor league baseball was shut down.
This will be his first season on a major league staff.
Hitting coach Terry Bradshaw, bullpen coach Larry Carter, pitching coach Cal Eldred, bench coach Pedro Grifol, third-base coach Vance Wilson and Major League coach John Mabry will return to Matheny’s staff in the same roles as the 2020 season.
After serving as an infield coach last season, Rafael Belliard will return to his role as a special assistant to General Manager Dayton Moore.
Damon Hollins, who filled in for Kuntz last season, will revert to his role as a minor league instructor, per a release from the Royals.
Kuntz, a beloved fan favorite, previously served as Kansas City’s first base coach from 2008-10 and 2012-17. He’s been an assistant to Moore in charge of quality control the last three seasons and served as outfield/baserunning coordinator in the Royals’ farm system from 2010-12.
