Mike Jirschele se aposenta após 38 anos na organização Royals

Mike Jirschele, a longtime coach in the Kansas City Royals organization, on Friday announced his retirement from baseball after 38 seasons.

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The Royals said Jirschele is stepping down from his position as manager of their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers. He managed the Class AAA team for a combined 17 seasons.

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“People who know me know I don’t love the attention that comes from an announcement like this,” Jirschele, 66, said in a news release. “All I’ve wanted is to do my job. I’m grateful for a career in baseball, all these years with the Royals, and the friendships that have come along the way. I hope the people I’ve worked with think I’ve done my job, worked hard for them, and helped.”

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Jirschele managed a total of 20 seasons within the Royals’ system. He occupied multiple roles — including as the third base coach for the Royals’ 2014 and 2015 World Series teams.

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In total, Jirschele spent 48 years in professional baseball. He played the game for 12 years and was a coach/manager for more than three decades.

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A Wisconsin native, his first Kansas City venture came as a player in 1988. He joined the team after spending 10 years in the Texas Rangers organization. The Rangers selected him in the fifth round of the 1977 MLB Draft.

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In his coaching roles, the Royals raved about Jirschele’s ability to connect with players. He played an instrumental part in the arrival and big-league success of such former KC stars as Zack Greinke, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, among others.

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Then, Jirschele helped prepare the Royals’ next generation of marquee contributors, such as outfielder Jac Caglianone, pitcher Noah Cameron and catcher Carter Jensen.

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Jirschele managed the Storm Chasers on multiple occasions. In his latest stint, he guided them to their first International League Championship in 2024. He is the Storm Chasers’ all-time wins leader, too, with 1,214 career victories.

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“It’s been an absolute honor to work alongside of Jirsch,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “He’s done just about everything in player development and was obviously a big part of our World Series championship. And he did all of it with class and dignity. Very few people can connect with players the way he has throughout his career. He’s truly a Royals legend and we will miss him dearly.”

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The Royals haven’t announced a potential replacement for Jirschele.

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But he leaves behind a legacy that few have reached in Kansas City. From being on manager Ned Yost’s staff (2014-19) to his time as a special assistant to the general manager, Jirschele’s baseball roots run deep within the Royals organization.

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Highlight moments for Jirschele include his 10 playoff appearances and five league championships — not to mention managing alongside his son, Justin, during spring training.

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Entering retirement, the three-time manager of the year leaves behind a long list of accomplishments.

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“I’m grateful for every day I was in Omaha, Omaha was my second home,” he said. “I enjoyed working with all the kids that came through and all the different staffs I’ve had. I got to meet a lot of really nice, really good people in Omaha, both in the clubhouse and front office.”