When we think of the coaching staff of a Major League Baseball team it seems that a certain coach is sometimes overlooked. The manager, the third base coach, along with the pitching and hitting coaches are usually the guys that get talked about on the broadcast and mentioned when the team is on a winning or losing streak. The first base coach is very much part of the decisions, and the Kansas City Royals have had the same man in place for the last four seasons.
Damon Hollis Is One Of The Best In The Business
Damon Hollins is in virtually every camera angle and is on the field for every at bat.
“Paying attention to the game, looking at the scoreboard, and seeing who’s coming up” Hollins told MLBbro.com, are some of the general duties of his position. “Making sure you know what speed is out there as well and helping guys make good decisions out of the batters box,” he elaborated.
Hollins is from the Bay Area of California and grew up playing baseball at a very early age.
“In the early 80’s into the 90’s baseball was everything. If we weren’t playing little league, we were playing in front of the house,” said Hollins, who explained how his love of the game came from experiences with his childhood friends. “It was deep within our community. We played other sports, but baseball is what we gravitated to,” he shared.
Damon Hollis Went From MLB To Japan To First Base Coach For KC Royals
Hollins played four seasons in the Major Leagues and spent a season in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. He has seen a lot of baseball and the passion he has for this game has dripped down to his players.
“I tried to pick up things wherever I go. I have these young guys take baby steps to understand the game better. I’ve been blessed to play in the big leagues and go overseas to play. I’m still a kid at heart and trying to learn as much as I can” Hollins told MLBbrocom about his philosophy towards the game.
Hollins is certainly dedicated to the young men who play this game and has been in the Kansas City organization since 2010. I started off at the lowest level and have seen these teenagers develop into young men that are helping the major league team” said the 51-year-old about his early days of minor league coaching.
Hollins shared what he said to young MLBbro Tyler Tolbert on June 10 when he got his first Major League hit.
“That’s our job to continue to help them develop and win some ballgames” he added. One of the perks of being a first base coach is usually being the first individual to acknowledge a player on their first hit. “Congratulations is what I told him. It’s fun for me to be part of it and that moment.”
Like so many players who grew up near Oakland, California, Rickey Henderson was a favorite of Hollins’.
“We both threw left-handed and batted right-handed. There were a lot of similarities except for the play on the field” he chuckled with MLBbro.com. “I was a fan of a lot of those guys but Rickey’s play on the field and his aggressiveness stood out to me. His impact on the community in Oakland was special” Hollins concluded.
