Jump to content
Royals Keep

  • Major League Notes

    Notes about the team are posted here.

    100 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the Kansas City Royals on the verge of officially being eliminated from postseason contention, you have to give credit to Maikel Garcia for coming back for the final 13 days of the regular season.

      The Royals activated their third baseman from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and sent outfielder Matthew Lugo down to Triple-A Omaha.

      Garcia has been on the IL since Aug. 21 with a strained left hamstring. That was just a few days after returning from another IL stint for a muscle strain in his left hand that kept him out nearly two months. Garcia is slashing .269/.324/.385 with three homers and 32 RBIs in 73 games.

      Lugo, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on June 2 and optioned to the minors, was called up when Garcia went on the IL. He appeared in just nine games and went 2-for-14 (.143/.200/.143).

      The Royals entered play Tuesday at 66-84, last in the AL Central, with a tragic number of three.

       

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have recalled RHP Lucas Erceg to the major leagues. The corresponding move to make room on the 26-man roster was to option RHP Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha.

      Erceg pitched in 47 games in the majors prior to being optioned to Triple-A in mid-August. In those 47 games, he threw 43 1/3 innings while striking out 31 and had a 4-4 record with a 6.23 ERA. His peripheral numbers were slightly better, with a 5.60 FIP.

      McGee was recently called up on September 1 and has bounced back and forth between the major league squad and Triple-A. He was acquired by the Royals in mid-July after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.

      In nine appearances (seven with the Royals), he has a 7.15 ERA with nine strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings pitched. Between Milwaukee's Triple-A team and the Royals Triple-A team, he has thrown 55 2/3 innings at Triple-A with 60 strikeouts and a 6.95 ERA, while walking 21.

      Erceg has looked much better with Triple-A Omaha, throwing 10 1/3 innings in nine appearances. In that time, he has 13 strikeouts with three walks. He has a 1.74 ERA in that time and a 1.258 WHIP, which shows there have been some improvements made. He will hope to continue that improvement out of the Royals bullpen for the remainder of the season. 

      Cory Moen

      Infielder Michael Massey was reinstated from the 7-day concussion injured list. To make room on the active roster, outfielder Drew Waters was designated for assignment. 

      Massey has played in 110 games this year with the Royals, with a .276/.310/.444 slash line, which is good for a .755 OPS (112 OPS+). He has made the vast majority of his appearances at second base, but has also played some in the corner outfield and at third base. 

      Waters had his contract selected on September 1, but has not made an appearance with the Royals this season. He had appeared in major league contests every year from 2022-2025. With Triple-A Omaha, he has played in 98 games this season, with a .731 OPS, 12 home runs, and 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He has played all three outfield positions with some appearances as designated hitter as well. 

      Massey will likely continue to get most of the starts at second base for the remainder of this season.

      Cory Moen

      The New York Yankees have claimed RHP John Schreiber off waivers. Schreiber was placed on waivers a few days ago. This year with the Royals, Schreiber has pitched to a 3.65 ERA with a less stellar-looking 4.87 FIP. Over three seasons in Kansas City, he has pitched to a 3.71 ERA and 4.02 FIP.  

      The Yankees will take on the remaining salary of the $3.715 million deal Schreiber had with the Royals.

      In 49 1/3 innings pitched this year, he struck out 36 along with 22 walks. The 17.7% strikeout rate is a significant drop from the near-24 % rate he maintained earlier in his career. His walk rate has ticked up this year compared to his career average, now at 10.8% from 8.8%. 

      Schreiber will get an opportunity in the Yankees bullpen, giving them another major league-caliber arm for a team looking to make a run in the playoffs. 

      Steve Drumwright

       

      As the Kansas City Royals try to hang around in the AL wild-card race, injuries can hit a little bit harder.

      Second baseman Michael Massey was placed on the seven-day concussion list Thursday by the Kansas City Royals. The Royals also optioned right-handed reliever Mason Black to Triple-A Omaha, while selecting the contract of left-handed reliever Anthony Gose and recalled infielder Josh Rojas, both coming up from Triple-A. Also, the Royals pulled right-hander Beck Way from his rehab assignment.

      Massey was injured in Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. He fielded a grounder from Nathan Lukes as he ranged to his right and made an off-balance throw for the out at first base for the second out in the fifth inning. But he hit his head as he crashed to the ground. He was removed from the game. Massey is a key part of the Royals' offense, putting up a .276/.310/.444 slash line with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. Massey also started the season on the injured list with a strained left calf.

      Rojas is up for the third time this season. In his previous stints, he had a .224/.253/.303 slash line with one homer and nine RBIs in 30 games.

      Black pitched two perfect innings in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Jays. His demotion is all about getting a fresh arm in the bullpen and Gose, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2024, got the call. Gose intended to start the season in the Mexican League, but then signed a minor-league deal with the Royals on April 28. In 39 games and 46 innings for Omaha, he has a 4.89 ERA with 29 walks and 58 strikeouts. He last appeared in the majors with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, pitching in just three games.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The return of Maikel Garcia to the Kansas City Royals lasted just three games plus one at-bat.

      The third baseman was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday by the Royals due to a strained left hamstring. Right-handed reliever Carlos Duran was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, while taking their spots on the 26-man roster are outfielder Matthew Lugo and right-handed reliever Jose Cuas, who were called up from Omaha.

      Garcia was injured during the first inning Thursday after taking a big turn around third base following a misplay on a grounder to short. Nic Loftin took over at third base as Garcia exited the game. Garcia had just returned to the Royals' lineup Monday following a muscle strain in his left hand from the last week in June.

      Garcia is slashing .269/.324/.385 in 73 games, hitting three homers and driving in 32.

      The 25-year-old Lugo will be making his Royals debut. He has only appeared in the majors for 31 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a .232/.243/.464 with four homers and nine RBIs. The Royals claimed Lugo off waivers from the Angels on June 2. Between the Angels and Royals in the minors this season, he has a .265/.350/.473 slash line with 14 homers and 65 RBIs, along with 14 steals, in 100 games.

      Cuas has a 1.64 ERA in 10 games and 11 innings, with four walks and 13 strikeouts.

      Duran has appeared in two games with the Royals this year, allowing two runs in 1⅓ innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The struggles of Lucas Erceg have resulted in a demotion.

      The right-handed reliever was optioned to Triple-A Omaha as right-hander Carlos Duran was called up from Omaha. The Royals are hoping Erceg can figure some things out in a less-pressurized environment.

      In Monday's 9-5 loss to the A's, Erceg gave up a run on a hit and two walks without getting an out in the ninth inning. That leaves him with a 5.57 FIP (6.23 ERA) in 43⅓ innings over 47 appearances with a 13.9% walk rate and 14.9% strikeout rate. Those are not only below last year's marks of 7.2% and 19.3%, but off his career rates of 10.3% and 22.8%. Erceg, formerly the Royals' closer, has 12 saves in 18 chances this season.

      Duran will be making his season debut for the Royals after having his MLB debut with the A's last year with one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit and three walks. He signed in the offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was added to the 40-man roster in early July before being acquired by the Royals in the Kris Bubic trade at the deadline. In 40 games at Triple-A between the Dodgers and Royals, he has a 3.15 ERA with a 13.9% walk rate and 30.8% strikeout rate.

       

      Philip Ruo

      The Royals have reinstated both Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia from the injured list after their respective rehab assignments. The Royals have also called up left-handed reliever Connor Thomas to the major league roster.

      To make room on the active roster, the Royals optioned infielder Josh Rojas and right-handed reliever Jose Cuas to triple-A and designated veteran outfielder Starling Marte for assignment.

      Pasquantino has been out of the lineup since July 28 with a wrist injury. Garcia had been sidelined for a longer time with a muscle strain, not appearing since June 22. 

      Thomas was claimed off waivers from the Athletics on August 4 and made three appearances in Omaha before his callup to the Royals. In those three appearances, Thomas threw 2 ⅔ innings with a 6.75 ERA.

      Garcia’s return makes Rojas a surplus in the infield. Pasquantino’s return will allow Jac Caglianone to shift back to right field, making less room for Marte. Marte’s season in Kansas City has been underwhelming with a slash line of .242/.298/.314 with a 71 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR. Marte’s DFA leaves one spot open on the 40-man roster.

      Cuas’s recent stint on the major-league roster was strong with no earned runs in 4 ⅔ innings pitched over five appearances.

      The Royals return home for a seven-game home stand after a West Coast road trip. Both Pasquantino and Garcia return to the starting lineup to face the Athletics tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

      Cory Moen

      RHP Eli Morgan has elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha after being designated for Assignment on August 13.

      Morgan signed a minor league deal in the offseason with the Royals and has been up and down between the majors and Triple-A. In the majors, he has thrown 19 2/3 innings, with a 5.12 ERA and an even worse 6.49 FIP.  He's given up 24 hits, nine walks, and recorded 16 strikeouts in that time. 

      In 25 2/3 innings at Triple-A, he has a solid 1.40 ERA and struck out 35 batters in that time as well. 

      With many teams looking for more bullpen depth, Morgan could latch on with another team rather quickly, even with disappointing numbers at the major league level. 

      Philip Ruo

      On Thursday, the Phillies and Twins played in Dyersville, Iowa continuing MLB's Field of Dreams Game series. The day after MLB's return to the cornfields of Iowa, Major League Baseball announced that the Royals will play the Boston Red Sox in next year's edition. 

      The Royals will be listed as the home team, and the game will take place on Thursday, August 12 with NBC Sports providing coverage. Both teams will get a day off on the 13th before resuming the three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on August 14-15.

      This will be the fourth edition of the Field of Dreams Game. The series took a break following 2022 in order to renovate and expand the complex in Dyersville next to the original film site before resuming the series in 2026.

      Teams participating in the Field of Dreams Game have traditionally worn throwback uniforms. While the Royals have not changed their look drastically in their history, expect a look reminiscent from the early years of the franchise. The Royals are the first true expansion franchise to participate in the series, although the Twins previously wore the original uniforms from their first season in Minnesota after relocating from Washington.

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Thursday afternoon during the Royals' off day, Kansas City announced that they had signed free-agent pitcher Tony Gonsolin to a one-year deal for the remainder of 2026 with a club option for 2027. To make room on the 40-man roster for Gonsolin, the Royals designated reliever Eli Morgan for assignment.

      Gonsolin was an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 when he posted a 16-1 record, 2.14 ERA, 3.28 FIP, and 2.7 fWAR in 130.1 IP. However, the 32-year-old righty has struggled with injury the past few seasons, limiting him to just 139 innings of work since 2023. Gonsolin missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery in August of 2023, and he pitched only 36 innings in 2025, his season cut short by shoulder surgery.

      As a result, the Dodgers released him this past offseason, and he opted for free agency instead of an outright assignment to Triple-A. Due to his injury issues, no team picked him up this offseason or during the season.

      The Royals need pitching, especially after Luinder Avila and Stephen Kolek were the latest Royals pitchers to undergo Tommy John surgery. Avila and Kolek will be out all of 2027, and Cole Ragans, who underwent elbow surgery, won't return until the middle of 2027, at the earliest.

      Thus, Gonsolin gives the Royals some cheap upside, albeit with some significant injury risk.

      In 2025, Gonsolin struggled in seven outings, posting a 5.00 ERA and 6.02 FIP. That said, he did post a 24.2% K%, a 12.7% K-BB%, and sported an intriguing TJ Stuff+ summary profile, though his four-seamer rated as below average on a TJ Stuff+ end. 

      tjstats_season_summary - 2026-08-13T214313.912.png

      If the Royals can help Gonsolin get his four-seamer back to at least "average" post-surgery, then Kansas City may be getting an underrated starting pitcher in Gonsolin who can generate plenty of "swing and miss". In 2025, he posted a 30.3% K%, with strong whiff rates on his four-seamer (23.5%), slider (35.6%), and splitter (38%). 

      It's unlikely that Gonsolin will see any action this year, either at the Major or Minor League level. However, if Gonsolin shows progress in his development and rehab process, then the Royals will not just exercise Gonsolin's club option, but also give him a shot to earn a spot in the Royals' 2027 rotation, which is thin after Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, and Noah Cameron. If healthy, Gonsolin will likely be battling for a rotation spot with Daniel Lynch IV (who just transitioned back to the rotation) and possibly John Means, who's also recovering from surgery last season. 

      To make room, the Royals designated Morgan for assignment. Morgan struggled with Kansas City, posting a 5.12 ERA, 6.49 FIP, and -0.3 fWAR in 19.1 IP. Morgan signed a Minor League deal in Spring Training and impressed, but he failed to find success with the Royals. It's unlikely that Morgan will remain in the Kansas City organization after this latest move. 

       

      Cory Moen

      The Royals activated Craig Kimbrel after officially signing him earlier in the day. In a stint with each of the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets, Kimbrel has appeared in 33 games, throwing 33 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks. He has a .4.81 ERA with a 4.33 FIP. 

      Kimbrel has recorded 440 saves throughout his 17-year major league career, with most of that time (six years) spent with the Atlanta Braves.

      To make room for Kimbrel on the active roster, the Royals optioned RHP Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha. McGee has struggled in limited action in the major leagues this year, with an 8.59 ERA with a slightly better 6.36 FIP over 7 1/3 innings over six appearances, four being with the Royals and the previous two being with the Milwaukee Brewers.

      McGee will provide additional depth, and you could see him recalled and riding the shuttle back to Kansas City before the season is over. 

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have claimed LHP Connor Thomas off waivers from the Athletics. Thomas was previously DFAed on Aug 1, shortly after the A's claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on July 31.

      Thomas has struggled in the majors in his brief appearances with the Brewers in 2025 and the Braves in 2026. He's thrown 11 2/3 innings over four appearances, giving up 27 earned runs. He has struck out nine hitters and walked eight in that time as well.

      In Triple-A with the Braves this year, he has had much better results, pitching to a 1.98 ERA over 12 appearances and 27 1/3 innings. In those innings, he has struck out 20 and walked eight. He will provide the Royals with relief pitching depth.

      No 40-man roster move was needed, as LHP Matt Strahm was designated for assignment earlier in the day. 

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have acquired RHP Nolan Hoffman from the Phillies. The Royals sent RHP Manuel Colon to Philadelphia in return. 

      Hoffman has thrown 4 2/3 innings for the Phillies this year, striking out two and walking three. At the Triple-A level, Hoffman has thrown 34 1/3 innings, stirking out 40 and walking 18 with a 5.24 ERA over 30 relief appearances. He was designated for assignment earlier today.

      Colon has thrown in the Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Columbia, throwing 29 1/3 innings combined (27 in the Complex League). He has a combined 5.83 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 12 walks in that time. 

      Cory Moen

      The Royals placed RHP Luinder Avila on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness. He was taken out after 2 2/3 innings in Saturday's 12-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies. 

      Avila has struggled at points this year. In 21 appearances (12 starts), he has a 5.53 ERA with a better 4.54 FIP. He's recorded 60 strikeouts and 42 walks in 70 innings pitched at the major league level this year.

      To replace Avila on the active roster, the Royals selected the contract of LHP Aaron Bummer from Triple-A.  Bummer made 4 appearances, throwing 4 1/3 innings and recording seven strikeouts in that brief stint with the Storm Chasers. Earlier this year, Bummer pitched in 19 games for the Atlanta Braves before being designated for assignment, struggling to a 7.63 ERA over 15 1/3 innings. He also pitched with the Cubs Triple-A team prior to signing a minor league contract with the Royals on July 20. 

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The unfortunate 2026 of Vinnie Pasquantino has another chapter.

      The Kansas City Royals placed the slugging first baseman on the 10-day injured list with soreness in his right wrist and called up outfielder John Rave from Triple-A Omaha.

      Pasquantino had been back off the IL for about three weeks following a fractured right hamate bone, the same hand now experiencing soreness. Pasquantino left Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins with the injury, which bothers him when he swings. By that tone, this would seem to be a fairly minimal stay on the IL.

      The left-handed hitter is slashing just .232/.318/.345 with his power production down notably. He has just six homers and 33 RBIs in 79 games after having 32 homers and 113 RBIs in 160 games last year.

      Rave is up for the second time this season, having gone 4-for-18 with a homer among four extra-base hits and one RBI.

       

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have placed RHP Beck Way on the injured list and recalled RHP Easton McGee.

      Way, a rookie, has pitched in 19 games with the Royals this year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.95 FIP. He has 21 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched in those 19 games.

      McGee will make his Royals debut, previously having pitched in the majors for the Rays, Mariners, and Brewers. Over 13 career games at the major league level, he has thrown 26 1/3 innings and has recorded 17 strikeouts with a 3.08 ERA and 3.61 FIP.

      McGee was acquired two weeks ago from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations. Since being acquired, he has thrown six innings over three appearances at Triple-A Omaha with seven strikeouts and six runs given up, good for a 9.00 ERA. 

      Brock Beauchamp

      How To Install On iPhone or iPad
      How To Install On Android Device

      Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.

      What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Royals Keep.

      From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.

      Additionally, a newer, completely updated Royals Keep is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.

      With that said, here’s how you turn Royals Keep into an app on your mobile device.

      How To “Install” Royals Keep on iPhone or iPad Using Safari

      First, go to the home page of Royals Keep at https://royalskeep.com/.

      1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

      ios1.jpg

      3. Tap “View More”.
      4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
      5. Tap “Add”.

      ios2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Royals Keep app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://royalskeep.com/notifications/options/.

      ios3.jpg

      How To “Install” Royals Keep on an Android Device Using Chrome

      First, go to the home page of Royals Keep at https://royalskeep.com/.

      1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

      android1.jpg

      3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
      4. Tap “Install”.

      android2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Royals Keep app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://royalskeep.com/notifications/options/.

      android3.jpg

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have traded OF Kameron Misner to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.

      Misner was acquired in November in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 18 games at the major league level this year, Misner hit for a slash line of .220/.266/.244 and struck out 17 times in 41 at-bats. He added three stolen bases in four attempts in that time frame as well.  

      He was much better at the Triple-A level, hitting for a .941 OPS with 14 home runs, 16 doubles, and adding 14 stolen bases in 63 games played. Misner is able to play all three outfield positions and will give the Phillies more outfield depth.

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have activated Nate Pearson to the major league roster. He was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros on July 22. The Royals sent RHP Max Martin to Houston to acquire Pearson.

      Pearson has been decent for Houston, throwing 20 innings with a 3.60 ERA and 4.10 FIP.

      To make room for Pearson on the major league roster, the Royals have optioned RHP Eli Morgan to Triple-A Omaha. Morgan has bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the Royals roster this year. He's appeared in 16 games and thrown 19 1/3 innings, recording 16 strikeouts with nine walks. In that time, he has a 5.12 ERA and 6.52 FIP. 

      Cory Moen

      Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back tightness, which has kept him out of a few games recently. This move is retroactive to July 21, so the first day he will be eligible to come off the injured list is July 31.

      In a corresponding move, the Royals have selected the contract of shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez last appeared in a major league contest in 2023 with the Angels. He has major league experience every year from 2018-2023 and has played at Triple-A the past few years with the Braves, Yankees, and the Diamondbacks and Royals this year. 

      Across 58 Triple-A games this year, he has hit for a slash line of .270/.333/.370. He's played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions this year, so expect to see him at multiple positions when he is on the field.

      To make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster, RHP Stephen Kolek was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list. 

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Tuesday afternoon, the Royals announced that they had acquired right-handed pitcher Easton McGee from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. To make room for McGee, the Royals transferred reliever Nick Mears to the 60-Day IL. 

      McGee pitched in 9 outings and 14.2 IP last season with the Brewers, posting a 5.52 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. However, his FIP was much better at 3.24. This year, he's spent most of it in Triple-A Nashville, as he has only appeared in two games for the Brewers. In those two outings, he has a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He showcased an intriguing TJ Stuff+ profile, though he didn't generate many whiffs in his brief Brewers tenure this year. 

      tjstats_season_summary (10).png

      With the Sounds in Triple-A, McGee has a 5.62 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 4.18 WHIP, and 13.6% K-BB% in 41.2 IP. In Nashville, he has done a good job of flooding the strike zone, with strong percentiles in zone rate and CSW. That is something sorely needed with this Royals bullpen, which ranks 28th in reliever BB/9 this year. 

      Easton_McGee_percentiles.png

      In a corresponding move, the Royals moved Mears from the 15-Day IL to the 60-Day IL. Mears had been on the IL since May 29th due to right shoulder impingement. The former Brewers pitcher, acquired this offseason along with Isaac Collins in the Angel Zerpa trade, had a 5.12 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 21 appearances and 19.1 IP before going on the IL. 

       

      Kevin O'Brien

      To lead off Day 2 of the MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected left-handed pitcher Ethan McElvain with the 151st pick. McElvain was the closer for the Arkansas Razorbacks and posted a 1.88 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 4.23 K/BB ratio in 38.1 IP and 20 appearances. He also collected six saves.

      McElvain was a transfer from Vanderbilt, where he had an uneven career. In his first year, he posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 25 IP. However, in his sophomore year, he posted an 8.89 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in 27.1 IP. Command was a problem for McElvain with the Commodores, as he posted K/BB ratios of 1.93 in 2024 and 1.61 in 2025. His improvement in his K/BB ratio in 2026 shows his maturity and development as a pitcher. 

      The 21-year-old lefty is a power arm with a fastball in the upper 90s and a power cutter. He will likely move quickly through the Royals' farm system and could push for a spot in the Royals' bullpen in 2027 or 2028. 

       

       

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Saturday, Major League Baseball named the All-Star rosters for the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. The Kansas City Royals were fortunate to have two players make the American League roster.

      Bobby Witt Jr. not only made his third consecutive All-Star team, but he was named the AL starting shortstop, the first time he's been named a starter in the Midsummer Classic. 

      Witt leads all American League players in fWAR with a 4.6 mark. Only the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong is ahead of Witt in the Majors with a 5.2 mark. The Kansas City shortstop is also hitting .289 with an .830 OPS. That includes 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 44 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. He also has a .358 wOBA, .395 xwOBACON, and 130 TJ Bat+, which rank in the upper percentiles of the league, according to his TJ Stats Statcast summary. 

      Bobby_Witt_Jr__percentiles (6).png

      The other Royals player to make the All-Star team was pitcher Michael Wacha. Wacha has been the Royals' best starting pitcher this year, much-needed considering the injuries to Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic. 

      As of Saturday, Wacha has a 3.46 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.88 FIP, and 12.3% K-BB% in 112 IP. Even though he's not a strikeout machine (19.1% K%) and his stuff isn't eye-popping (96 overall TJ Stuff+), he's been efficient on the mound for the Royals. He's produced 12 quality starts, which leads all AL starting pitchers and is second in baseball to Philadelphia's Cristopher Sanchez, a favorite for the NL Cy Young award.

      Though Wacha has been prone to giving up home runs (he gave up two on Saturday to the Phillies), he has been solid this season when it comes to limiting hard contact and generating strikes. 

      Michael_Wacha_percentiles (1).png

      Wacha ranks in the 75th percentile in Zone%, 90th percentile in Barrel%, and 87th percentile in Hard-Hit% and Average EV allowed. The 35-year-old is producing these metrics despite having only two pitches in his arsenal with TJ Stuff+ marks of 100 or higher. 

      This is the second All-Star appearance for Wacha, who last made the All-Star team in 2015 when he was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. That season, he posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 3.87 FIP in 181.1 IP with the Cardinals. 

       

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have announced they have selected the contract of catcher Luke Maile. To make room on the 26-man roster, OF John Rave has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha.

      Since Maile was not on the 40-man roster, RHP Eric Cerantola has been designated for assignment or release.

      Maile has played 28 games with the Storm Chasers this year, hitting for a slash line of .202/.324/.303 and serving as depth behind the dish.

      Rave has played in nine games for the Royals, with 18 total at-bats. He's looked solid in the small sample size, with one home run, one triple, and one double since being recalled. Prior to being called up, he had hit for an .870 OPS with Triple-A Omaha with 10 home runs and 10 doubles over 60 games played. He also stole 16 bases in that time frame, earning his call-up, which proved to be pretty short. If he continues to hit, he will likely be back in Kansas City soon.

      Cerantola was called up for his major league debut earlier this year, pitching in four games and completing 5 1/3 innings. His results were not great, as he issued 10 walks and gave up two home runs, along with striking out 7 hitters.

      Maile will likely serve as the backup catcher behind Carter Jensen, with Salvador Perez dealing with a sore left elbow. 

×
×
  • Create New...