Yost returns to Royals as senior advisor to GM

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals are bringing a familiar face back to their organization.

Ned Yost, the winningest manager in Royals history and a Royals Hall of Famer, was hired as senior advisor to the general manager, the team announced Tuesday on the eve of pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. He will be part of general manager J.J. Picollo¡¯s front office and help make decisions with all aspects of the organization.

¡°My deep love for the Royals, for Kansas City and for the people there never left,¡± Yost said in a statement. ¡°So I just want to help, because I know I can help. I know what it takes to build a world championship club, and I think we¡¯re getting close. I think we¡¯re getting really close.¡±

Yost was the Royals manager when they won the 2014 American League pennant and the 2015 World Series. He led the Royals to a 22-9 postseason record for a .710 wining percentage, setting a Major League record (min. 20 games).

¡°Our fans remember Ned¡¯s leadership helping produce some of the best moments in Royals history,¡± Picollo said in the Royals¡¯ announcement. ¡°He knows what winning a World Series here takes because he¡¯s helped make it happen, and his experience both as a leader and with young players will help us make better decisions and keep pushing toward another championship.¡±

Yost will be in Surprise at the Royals¡¯ spring facility later this week.

Yost was named the Royals manager on May 13, 2010, and retired after the 2019 season as the club's all-time leader in managerial wins (746). In 2015, he guided the Royals through another deep postseason run, beating Houston in the AL Division Series (3-2), Toronto in the AL Championship Series (4-2) and the Mets in the World Series (4-1) for the Royals' second World Series title.

Including six seasons with Milwaukee from 2003-08, Yost finished his career 32nd all-time in games managed with 2,544, three more than Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver.