Kansas City Royals hire Mike McFerran as new assistant pitching coach
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals hire Mike McFerran as assistant pitching coach to join Brian Sweeney.
- McFerran brings analytics and development history from Wake Forest, MLB’s Athletics.
- Club has overflowing rotation depth and shifts focus to free agency, outfield bat.
The Kansas City Royals added to their coaching staff Monday, with Mike McFerran joining the organization’s pitching department.
McFerran will serve as an assistant pitching coach. He will work alongside Brian Sweeney — the Royals’ lead pitching coach — and bullpen coach Mitch Stetter.
This offseason, the Royals lost Zach Bove to the Chicago White Sox. Bove, who served as Royals assistant pitching coach for three seasons, will lead the White Sox pitching staff during the 2026 campaign.
McFerran, 32, arrives from the Athletics organization. He operated as the pitching performance coach in 2024 before becoming the minor league pitching coordinator last season.
The Royals have found success with their pitching development in recent years. Bove worked with Sweeney to dive deeper into analytics. Several players added the sweeper to their arsenal and others fine-tuned their top pitches.
McFerran could bring a similar analytical approach. He served as the pitching lab coordinator at Wake Forest from 2021-2023. His role included using data and technology to maximize performance and minimize the risk of injury.
Some of the pitchers he worked with include Rhett Lowder (Cincinnati Reds) and Shane Smith (White Sox) collegiately and former KC prospect Mason Burnett (Athletics).
The Royals have quality depth within their starting rotation. Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron and Kris Bubic make up the projected rotation. Other starter options include Ryan Bergert, Bailey Falter, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila and Ben Kudrna.
It’s possible the Royals trade from their starting depth. However, McFerran will have a chance to work with a strong collection of pitchers and a bullpen that includes All-Star closer Carlos Estévez and fireman Lucas Erceg — who played for the Athletics.
With McFerran’s addition, the Royals have filled their coaching staff holes. He follows Marcus Thames and Connor Dawson — the club’s new hitting coaches — on Matt Quatraro’s staff in 2026.
The Royals will now shift their focus to free agency and the trade market. It’s expected the club will search for an outfield bat to support an offensive core that includes Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia, Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Kansas City Royals hire Mike McFerran as new assistant pitching coach."
