The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have hired former big league manager and coach, Gene Lamont, as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. Lamont previously served as a minor league manager in the Royals’ organization, from 1978-85.
“We are delighted that Gene will be joining the Royals as a member of our baseball operations department” said Royals Senior Vice President-Baseball Operations/General Manager Dayton Moore. “He has a wealth of experience and will be a strong addition to our organization.”
Lamont, who returns to the organization where he served as a minor league manager in the late 70’s and early 80’s, spent the last 11 seasons on the Detroit Tigers’ coaching staff. He was the third base coach (2006-12) and bench coach (2013-17), under both Jim Leyland and Brad Ausmus.
His Major League career includes managerial stops with the Chicago White Sox (1992-95) and Pittsburgh (1997-2000), where he compiled a 553-562 overall record. He guided the White Sox to the American League West title in 1993 and was named the AL Manager of the Year following the season. Lamont’s other big league coaching experience includes stops in Pittsburgh (1986-91, 1996), Boston (2001) and Houston (2002-04), serving as the third base coach each place.
Lamont began his managerial career with the Class-A Fort Myers (Fla.) Royals in 1978, before managing four seasons with Double-A Jacksonville (1980-83) and two with the Triple-A Omaha Royals (1984-85).
A first-round selection by the Tigers in the 1965 First-Year Player Draft, Lamont played 13 seasons of professional baseball, including 12 in Detroit’s organization. The left-handed hitting catcher reached the big leagues with the Tigers in 1970 and played in parts of five Major League seasons (1970-72, 74-75). The 2018 season will mark Lamont’s 54th year in professional baseball.
Lamont and his wife, Melody, reside in Sarasota, Fla., during the offseason. The couple has two adult children, Melissa and Wade.
Photo credit – Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports / Detroit, MI
