2007 – The Kansas City Royals hire Trey Hillman as their new manager, replacing Buddy Bell. Hillman, a veteran minor league manager, has been the skipper of the Nippon Ham Fighters since 2003 and has never managed in the major leagues.

On October 19, 2007 — Trey Hillman, a successful skipper in the minors and in Japan, is hired by the Royals to manage their club,replacing Buddy Bell.

The 44 year-old current Nippon Ham Fighters manager since 2003, who has never played, coached or managed in the big leagues, spent 13 years in the dugout in the Yankees’ minor leagues and was named manager of the year three times.