Injuries & Moves: Mayers selected from Omaha
LATEST NEWS
May 17: RHP Mike Mayers selected from Triple-A Omaha; LHP Amir Garrett placed on family medical emergency list; LHP Ryan Yarbrough moved to 60-day IL
Selected from Triple-A, Mayers will provide length for the Royals in his first stint with the big league club. He's expected to be the bulk pitcher in Wednesday's series finale against the Padres after his start in Omaha on Tuesday was pushed back in anticipation of the Royals needing a fresh arm in the bullpen. Mayers last started in Omaha a week ago, tossing four innings and allowing three runs on three hits. A non-roster invitee in Spring Training, the 31-year-old has a 6.88 ERA across eight starts with Omaha this year.
“He’s been at this level before,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s been a reliever, a starter. We feel comfortable getting him through the lineup a couple times and providing us depth.”
Garrett was placed on the family medical emergency list after his wife had an emergency appendectomy on Tuesday night. Garrett ran from the bullpen to the dugout midgame after getting word he was needed. To make room on the roster for Mayers, Kansas City placed Yarbrough on the 60-day IL as the lefty recovers from head fractures suffered on May 7 when he was struck by a line drive. Quatraro said he talked to Yarbrough on Wednesday and the pitcher is starting to feel better. He has a doctor appointment scheduled on Thursday that hopefully will clear him to begin light activity.
May 16: RHP Max Castillo optioned to Triple-A Omaha; RHP Jackson Kowar recalled
After providing the Royals with 4 1/3 innings on Friday night and 2 1/3 innings on Monday night, Castillo was not going to be available for multiple days -- and the Royals needed to get a fresh arm in an overworked bullpen. Enter Kowar, who had a 7.84 ERA across 20 2/3 innings out of the Omaha bullpen this season. This is the first season Kowar has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in Triple-A, something the team decided he would do in Spring Training to get him more reps with his slider. The right-hander is built up to go multiple innings out of the 'pen, but the Royals could use him for a variety of roles.
“Max did a great job," manager Matt Quatraro said. "Really saved us twice on days where we got short starts. So we really just had to freshen up. We needed somebody that could provide length out of the bullpen, give us some coverage. ... We think he’s somebody we’re going to count on going forward. So it’s good to get him back here."
The Royals were always planning on getting Kowar, a first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, to the big leagues throughout this season. Figuring out what value he brings before he is out of Minor League options next year is a major evaluation point for the club in 2023.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
LHP Daniel Lynch (left rotator cuff strain)
Expected return: Late May
Lynch, who has been on the 15-day injured list since Opening Day, began his rehab assignment in Double-A Northwest Arkansas on May 2 has made two starts since then with Triple-A Omaha, most recently throwing five innings on May 12. Reports were positive following that start, especially on his breaking ball and the increase in velocity. The lefty is scheduled for his fourth rehab start on May 17 with Omaha with the goal of increasing his pitch count and being more effective across his innings. The Royals are being cautious with bringing Lynch back to ensure his health, even if that means piecing together the rotation plan until he returns. (Last updated: May 15)
OF Drew Waters (left oblique strain)
Expected return: End of May
Waters strained his left oblique early in camp, but he progressed well throughout the spring and stayed in Arizona to rehab during extended spring workouts. Waters experienced a slight setback when he tweaked his back during a game, but after a few days rest, he was playing again in Arizona. Waters began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on May 9 and is progressing well. The Royals will likely take advantage of the full 20 days Waters has for a rehab assignment before determining whether he joins the club. (Last updated: May 15)
INF Nicky Lopez (appendicitis)
Expected return: Late May
Lopez was heading to bed on April 29 in the Royals' team hotel in Minneapolis when he felt stomach pains that he first thought had something to do with what he ate. By the early hours of April 30, he and head athletic trainer Kyle Turner were on their way to the emergency room. Lopez had an emergency appendectomy and drove back to Kansas City with his parents and fiancée a day later. He ramped up baseball activity throughout the week of May 8 and is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment on May 16 with Triple-A Omaha. (Last updated: May 15)
OF Kyle Isbel (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: Mid-June
Isbel suffered a hamstring strain while running out a bunt base hit on May 4 against the Orioles. He exited the game immediately and had an MRI done, which showed a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He was placed on the 10-day IL on May 5. Isbel will be sidelined for four to six weeks. He began his rehab process on May 9 and will ramp up slowly while getting treatment. (Last updated: May 9)
60-day IL
LHP Ryan Yarbrough (head fractures)
Expected return: TBD
Yarbrough was hit in the face by a 106.2 mph line drive off the bat of A's first baseman Ryan Noda on May 7, immediately exiting the game and going to the hospital. The Royals' lefty has multiple nondisplaced fractures around his left eye but did not need surgery. Yarbrough was released from the hospital on May 8 and entered the concussion protocol on May 9, and once he clears that, he'll begin light activity. He has follow-up appointments for the next month and will take his recovery day by day. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 17. (Last updated: May 17)
LHP Angel Zerpa (left shoulder tendinopathy)
Expected return: June/July
Zerpa was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15 after the shoulder injury he entered camp with hadn’t improved. He was shut down from throwing completely to let the shoulder rest but has been throwing throughout the early part of the season. By mid-May, he was throwing longer bullpen sessions and close to seeing game action. (Last updated: May 15)
LHP Kris Bubic (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Bubic opted for full ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on April 21, after initially being placed on the 15-day injured list due to left forearm tightness he experienced during his start against Atlanta on April 15. Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery on April 25, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 3 to make room for Austin Cox on the 40-man roster. (Last updated: May 3)
CF Diego Hernandez (right shoulder dislocation)
Expected return: July
The Royals' No. 17 prospect suffered an unfortunate injury in his first Cactus League game on Feb. 25, when he made an awkward dive on a ball in center field and dislocated his right shoulder. Hernandez, 22, had surgery shortly after and he has been progressing on schedule. The good news was that the injury came on his non-throwing shoulder, so he's been able to keep that in shape. Hernandez is rehabbing in Arizona. (Last updated: April 10)
LHP Jake Brentz (left elbow surgery recovery)
Expected return: September
Fresh off a two-year deal with the Royals, Brentz was placed on the 60-day IL on March 30 to make room on the 40-man roster. He will continue his rehab in Kansas City after he underwent Tommy John surgery last July. Brentz, 28, is throwing now and hopes to be on a mound by late May. If all goes as planned, he'll be making rehab appearances by late July or early August, beginning his progression from there. (Last updated: March 30)