Former Legends mgr. Buchanan joins Royals staff

Former Lexington Legends manager Brian Buchanan will join the major league coaching staff of the Kansas City Royals in 2017. The Royals announced today (Dec. 19) that Buchanan has been named assistant hitting coach for the major league team. 

                Buchanan served as the Lexington manager in 2013 and 2014. He joined the Royals' minor league coaching ranks in 2010. He was the manager at Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League in 2010 and 2011 and at Kane County of the class A Midwest League in 2012. The Legends, who are in the South Atlantic League, became the Royals' class A affiliate after the 2012 season.

                Buchanan moved on from Lexington to manage the advanced-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League in 2015, and was the hitting coach at double-A Northwest Arkansas of the Texas League in 2016.

        Buchanan, an All-American at the University of Virginia, was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 1994 first-year player draft and played in the major leagues with Minnesota (2000-02), San Diego (2002-04) and the New York Mets (2004).