Former Royals Player Joins Cardinals’ Coaching Staff for 2025

While things remain relatively quiet for the Kansas City Royals this offseason, the organization isn’t facing the major restructuring that’s underway across the state. The St. Louis Cardinals, once the Midwest’s baseball powerhouse, have hit a rough patch, contrasting with the Royals’ recent improvements. To address their struggles, the Cardinals have brought in a familiar face with Kansas City ties.

Jon Jay, a 12-year MLB veteran who briefly played with the Royals in 2018, joined the Cardinals’ coaching team earlier this month. Although his exact role hasn’t been formally titled, the team clarified aspects of his responsibilities.

“He’ll be responsible, obviously, for outfield defense, but there will be other aspects that he will get exposure to as well,” said Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak. “One of the things that he found attractive about this job was not being stuck in a single lane. So, he’ll have exposure to a lot of elements of the game.”

Jay was a reliable leadoff hitter during his time with Kansas City, maintaining a .307 batting average over 59 games and bringing stability to the lineup. Known for his patient approach at the plate and versatility in the outfield, Jay became a key player before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in June 2018, where he played 84 games that season.

Despite the Cardinals’ heavy investments in stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, the team has underperformed in recent years, and the 2024 season, though featuring a winning record, still fell short of expectations. With no room for stagnation, the Cardinals have made sweeping changes, bringing in a new hitting coach, Brant Brown, and preparing for Chaim Bloom’s transition to president of baseball operations, replacing long-time leader John Mozeliak. As the Cardinals look to turn things around in 2025, Jay’s addition is expected to enhance their on-field performance.