KANSAS CITY -- The Royals on Monday announced several staff changes, the most prominent of which was the promotion of Double-A Northwest Arkansas hitting coach Brian Buchanan to the Major League level.
Buchanan will assist hitting coach Dale Sveum.
Other changes: Luis Perez has been added as assistant Major League strength and conditioning coach/Latin American strength and conditioning coordinator. Perez had the same role at the Minor League level in 2016.
Also, Ryan Eigsti will replace Cody Clark as the team's bullpen catcher. Eigsti was a 15th-round pick by the Royals in the 2007 Draft.
Clark will become a professional/advance scout.
Additionally, Sean Bardenett will be the club's manual (soft) tissue specialist while Austin Driggers, who was the strength and conditioning coach at Northwest Arkansas the past three seasons, will join the front office in a newly formed sports science coordinator position.
The rest of the Royals' Major League coaching staff remains the same.