4:20pm: Feinsand says Mense and Marcus Thames will serve as hitting coaches in Kansas City, with Connor Dawson as offensive coordinator. Could this trio finally spark a turnaround?
2:20pm: MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports the Royals have appointed Hunter Mense as an assistant hitting coach, after initial reports named him the club’s primary hitting coach.
Mense, 42, is making a swift career move. Less than a year ago he landed his first big‑league hitting coach role with the Giants, working under rookie manager Tony Vitello, who arrived only a month earlier from the college ranks. In my view, his rapid ascent is impressive, and now he’s packing his bags for Kansas City.
A single season in San Francisco offers limited data. The Giants posted a .245/.306/.400 slash line and a 97 wRC+, modest numbers hampered by injuries. In 2025 they fell to .235/.311/.386 with a 98 wRC+. The organization may have decided not to retain Mense amid a broader staff overhaul, and NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic predicts further changes for Vitello’s crew.
The Royals have struggled offensively for years. Their 2026 line read .248/.316/.402 with a 98 wRC+, and they hope Mense’s addition will shift the dial upward. Will his presence finally ignite the lineup?