Royals promote new hitting coach

? The Kansas City Royals on Monday replaced hitting coach Andre David with Mike Barnett, the organization’s minor-league roving hitting instructor. Barnett, who was in his first year as roving hitting instructor, would take over for David today, Royals general manager Allard Baird said.

David, who has been hitting coach since May 2005, would take over Barnett’s position, Baird said.