The Kansas City Royals have announced the news that their manager Ned Yost will be retiring. Following the Royals game this sunday, Yost will be stepping down as manager. Even with the news just becoming available, there are already rumors circulating that Yost could be a candidate to manage the United States team during the upcoming World Baseball Classic. It is likely that Royals player development executive Mike Matheny will be taking over the managerial role with the Royals.
BREAKING: Ned Yost announces his retirement as @Royals manager. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 23, 2019
Mike Matheny, special advisor to #Royals in player development, is viewed as a strong candidate to manage in Kansas City next year, following Ned Yost’s retirement today — although the ownership change introduces some uncertainty to process. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 23, 2019
The Royals were under Yost’s management for the last ten years, with sixteen total years spent managing in total. Over the course of his career, Yost carried a .473 winning percentage in the form of a 1201-1338 record spanning 2539 games. He was 22-9 in the playoffs after taking the Royals to the postseason in back to back seasons, where they won the World Series in 2015 defeating the New York Mets.
Now rebuilding, the Royals are hoping their future talent will carry them into success in the future. Having the number two overall selection in the 2019 First Year Amateur Player Draft, they selected Bobby Witt Jr. who has since signed with the Royals. Yost will be stepping down before Witt Jr. reaches the big leagues, but the odds are that he will hand the reigns over to Mike Matheny who will get the Royals on track.
