KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals today announced their minor league coordinators and support staff for the 2022 season.
Four longtime members of the organization will return in 2022, including Rafael Belliard (special assistant, president of baseball operations/GM), Chino Cadahia (senior coordinator, player development), Harry Spilman (special assistant, player development) and John Wathan (special assistant, player development). Belliard is entering his 44th season in baseball and ninth with the organization, which included a year as the Major League infield coach in 2020. Cadahia is in his 46th season in professional baseball and his 12th with the Royals. Spilman enters his 50th season in baseball and eighth season with the Royals. Wathan is in his 51st season in baseball and 47th with the Royals.
John Wagle is the director of performance science/player development, and is entering his fourth season with the Royals, third in his current role. Justin Hahn, in his 10th season in the organization, will be the director of medical services/physical therapy. Erika Wincheski is in her fifth season with the Royals and first as director of sports nutrition.
The Royals will staff eight minor league coordinators. Jason Simontacchi, in his fifth season with the organization, will return as the pitching coordinator. Drew Saylor enters his third season with the Royals as the hitting coordinator. Victor Baez will return for his 15th season in the Royals organization as the Dominican Academy field coordinator. Eddie Rodriguez is entering his sixth consecutive season with the Royals and third as an infield coordinator. J.C. Boscan will return for his sixth season with the Royals as the catching coordinator. Justin Kemp enters his ninth season with the Royals and his first as the minor league medical coordinator. Jarret Abell, in his ninth season with the organization, will be the strength and conditioning/rehab strength and conditioning coordinator. Jason Nicols returns for his fourth year and second as the minor league video coordinator.
Mitch Stetter is in his eighth season with the Royals and third as the manager of pitching performance/strategist. Jeff Suppan enters his fourth season as the roving pitching coach. Nic Jackson joins the Royals for his first season as the assistant hitting coordinator. Mike Tosar returns for his third season as the special assignment hitting coach. Derrick Robinson is in his fourth year with the Royals and first as the minor league outfield, base running and bunting instructor. Tony Medina returns for his 11th season as the minor league/Latin America medical coordinator. Phil Falco is in his sixth season with the Royals and third as the assistant strength and conditioning coordinator.
Fourteen others will round out the minor league support staff. Will Simon enters his 16th season as the minor league clubhouse and equipment operations manager. Monica Ramirez is in her seventh full season as the education/ESL and Latin America initiatives coordinator. Melissa Lambert returns for her third season with the Royals as the assistant director of behavioral science. Jorge Guzman is in his fourth season in the organization and first as the Arizona complex assistant/life skills coach. Sebastian Cambo is new to the organization as the behavioral science coordinator, and Logan Gudde joins the Royals for his first season as the physical therapist. Fabio Herrera is in his eighth season with the organization and fifth as the manager of international operations. Massiel Rodriguez enters her fifth year as the assistant to Dominican operations. Joel Rivera is entering his second season with the Club and first as assistant to Dominican operations. Susana Richardson is in her fifth season as the Dominican Academy administrative assistant. Eddy Abad, in his third season with the Royals, is now the Dominican video coordinator. Hugo Aguero, Quilvio Veras Jr. and Ivan Tio are entering their third, second and first years, respectively, as the Club video assistants.