| News |
|---|
|
Michael Massey Michael Massey Sitting versus righty
Fri, Jun 6, 2025, 3:30 PM
Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Analysis: Most of Massey's absences this season have come against left-handed pitching, but he finds himself on the bench Friday against Chicago righty Davis Martin, who has reverse splits. Jac Caglianone will serve as the designated hitter while Drew Waters, Kyle Isbel and John Rave start from left to right in the outfield. |
|
Justin Dunn Justin Dunn Gets look from Royals
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:43 PM
Dunn signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Thursday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Dunn spent the start of the 2025 season with the White Sox, but he was released by the team on May 28. He'll likely report to Triple-A Omaha, though it's unclear if he'll work as a starter or reliever. |
|
Andrew Hoffmann Andrew Hoffmann Returned to Triple-A
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:39 PM
Hoffmann was returned to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Analysis: Hoffmann was optioned earlier Thursday but stuck on the roster thanks to the Royals' doubleheader against St. Louis. He didn't appear in either contest and has entered only one game in the majors in 2025. |
|
Freddy Fermin Freddy Fermin Swats second homer
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:11 PM
Fermin went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a 7-5 win over the Cardinals in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Fermin's playing time has declined to begin June. He's hit safely in the last six games where he's received a plate appearance, but his effort in Thursday's nightcap was his first with multiple hits since May 6. The catcher is at a .255/.301/.340 slash line with two homers, eight RBI, 11 runs scored and three doubles over 114 plate appearances. If he can't turn things around with the bat, he'll likely continue to be confined to a backup role as Salvador Perez continues to be capable of working behind the plate as a starter. |
|
Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Big performance in nightcap
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:08 PM
Garcia went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two walks, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored in a 7-5 win over the Cardinals in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Garcia rattled off a 14-game hitting streak from May 14-30, but a thumb issue has hampered him slightly to begin June. The utility player went 0-for-5 in the day game, but he was a big performer in the nightcap while snagging a rare start in center field rather than at his usual third base. For the season, he's hitting .311 with an .852 OPS, five home runs, 13 steals on 20 attempts, 29 RBI, 28 runs scored, 15 doubles and two triples over 61 contests. Power isn't a huge part of his game, but he can still make an impact with speed and by getting on base at a high rate. |
|
Vinnie Pasquantino Vinnie Pasquantino Five hits, three RBI in twin bill
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:02 PM
Pasquantino went 5-for-10 with three RBI as the Royals split Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: Pasquantino had a four-hit effort, including a pair of RBI singles, in a 6-5 extra-inning loss in the first game before adding an RBI with a groundout in the nightcap. The first baseman warmed up in the second half of May, batting .365 (19-for-52) over his last 14 games of the month, and he's hit safely in four straight contests to begin June. Overall, he's at a .267/.319/.403 slash line with eight home runs, 36 RBI, 23 runs scored, seven doubles and a triple across 62 games this season. |
|
Jonathan India Jonathan India Lifts second homer Thursday
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 9:59 PM
India went 3-for-9 with a home run, two RBI and two total runs scored as the Royals split Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: India's second homer of the year was a leadoff blast off Miles Mikolas to begin the matinee game. India had gone 11 games without an extra-base hit prior to Thursday, batting .263 (10-for-38) with three walks, one RBI and five runs scored in that span. The light-hitting infielder is now at a .248/.332/.322 slash line with 15 RBI, 24 runs scored, 10 doubles and no stolen bases on three attempts over 56 games this season. Despite his lackluster production, he remains in the leadoff spot for the Royals. |
|
Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Bounces back in nightcap
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 9:56 PM
Estevez pitched a perfect inning and struck out one to earn the save in a 7-5 win over the Cardinals in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Estevez pitched in the day game as well, blowing a save and taking a loss in the 10th inning, but he threw just 10 pitches in that contest. That left him fresh enough to protect a two-run lead in the nightcap, and he was able to get the job done this time to earn his 18th save in 21 chances this season. He's added a 1.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB across 27.2 innings while going relatively unchallenged as the Royals' closer. |
|
Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Struggles in return
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 9:54 PM
Ragans (groin) allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over three innings in a no-decision in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Royals.
Analysis: Ragans squandered a four-run lead in the third inning, and that was enough to end his first start back after missing nearly three weeks with the groin injury. He wasn't very sharp, throwing just 47 of 78 pitches for strikes in his return. The southpaw has gone no more than five innings in any of his last six outings, and he's given up at least four runs in five of them. He's at a 5.18 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 76:16 K:BB through 48.2 innings over 10 starts this season. Ragans is tentatively projected to make his next start at home in a tough matchup against the Yankees. |
|
Carlos Estevez Carlos Estevez Blows save, takes loss
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 5:39 PM
Estevez (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk over one-third of an inning, taking the extra-inning loss and a blown save in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: The Royals pulled ahead 5-4 in the top of the 10th inning, but Estevez was unable to make that lead stick. He allowed the tying run on a groundout and then gave up a walk-off single to Willson Contreras. Estevez had rattled off nine straight scoreless outings, posting a 10:2 K:BB with six saves and a win in that stretch. He's now 17-for-20 in save chances this season while maintaining a 2.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB over 26.2 innings. |
|
Noah Cameron Noah Cameron Continues to impress
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 5:36 PM
Cameron allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three over six scoreless innings in a no-decision in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: Cameron has now rattled off five straight quality starts to begin his major-league career, and this was his second scoreless outing. He has yet to give up more than one run in any start, pitching to a 0.85 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB. That last ratio offers a reason for caution, as his walk rate in particular could cause problems later when his luck evens out. With Cole Ragans (groin) returning to action in the nightcap, it's unclear if Cameron will remain in the Royals' rotation heading into next week. Cameron's performance could give the team reason to roll a six-man rotation or bump the struggling Michael Lorenzen to the bullpen. |
|
Cole Ragans Cole Ragans Officially back on mound
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 4:51 PM
The Royals reinstated Ragans (groin) from the injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Ragans is set to take the mound Thursday in St. Louis for the second part of a doubleheader. This will be the southpaw's first start since May 16 when he injured his groin. In a corresponding move, the Royals designated Thomas Hatch for assignment. |
|
Thomas Hatch Thomas Hatch DFA'd after game one
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 4:42 PM
The Royals designated Hatch for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: Hatch was selected from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday prior to the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals. While the right-hander did not appear in the game, his designation for assignment comes prior to Thursday's second part. In a corresponding move, Cole Ragans (groin) was reinstated from the injured list. |
|
Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Extra rest before next start
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 3:57 PM
Bubic is not listed among the Royals' probable pitchers for the weekend series against the White Sox, as the team plans to give him extra rest before his next start Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bubic appears lined up to start Tuesday at home versus the Yankees, which would mean more than a week in between outings after he last took the ball this past Sunday against the Tigers. It will result in a much more difficult matchup for the lefty, but it makes sense for the Royals to manage Bubic's workload after he totaled less than 90 innings over the previous two seasons. |
|
John Rave John Rave Losing playing time to Caglianone
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:36 AM
Rave is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: After getting called up from Triple-A Omaha on May 26, Rave started in right field in five of the Royals' ensuing seven games but went just 3-for-15 with a double and a walk. With the Royals summoning another left-handed-hitting corner outfielder in top prospect Jac Caglianone from Omaha earlier this week, Rave's window for regular playing time against right-handed pitching appears to have closed. |
|
Nick Loftin Nick Loftin Sitting after three straight starts
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:33 AM
Loftin is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: Loftin had picked up starts in each of the last three games -- two in left field and one at third base -- while going 3-for-11 with a solo home run and a double, but he'll be back on the bench for the first contest of the twin bill. With the Royals calling up top prospect Jac Caglianone from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, Loftin's opportunities to make starts out of the corner outfield could become more limited moving forward. |
|
Mark Canha Mark Canha Struggling to find playing time
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:30 AM
Canha is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: Canha has been starting regularly against left-handed pitching and even began to see a few more opportunities versus righties a couple weeks ago after the Royals phased out Hunter Renfroe before releasing him, but Canha's playing time has since tailed off. He's made just one start since May 26 and is unlikely to see his outlook improve anytime soon after the Royals called up top prospect Jac Caglianone from Triple-A Omaha earlier this week. |
|
Freddy Fermin Freddy Fermin Losing out on playing time
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 10:24 AM
Fermin is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: Fermin made four straight starts from May 21 through May 25, but he's been included in the lineup just once in the Royals' eight games since then. With the Royals no longer carrying a third catcher on the roster after moving on from Luke Maile in late May, Fermin will likely see limited opportunities while Salvador Perez sees most of his playing time behind the dish rather than at designated hitter or first base. That being said, Perez is unlikely to catch both ends of Thursday's twin bill, so expect Fermin to get a start in the nightcap. |
|
Hunter Harvey Hunter Harvey Shifts to 60-day IL
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 9:44 AM
The Royals transferred Harvey (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.
Analysis: Harvey was initially deactivated April 11 due a right teres major strain and hasn't yet been cleared to resume a minor-league rehab assignment, so the move to the 60-day IL won't affect his timeline for a return to the Kansas City bullpen. According to MLB.com, Harvey is still dealing with symptoms of the injury, but he's continued to play catch every other day and is expected to begin a normal throwing progression in the near future. |
|
Thomas Hatch Thomas Hatch Contract selected
Thu, Jun 5, 2025, 9:41 AM
The Royals selected Hatch's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Analysis: Hatch made 10 starts with Omaha, collecting a 4.59 ERA and 46:19 K:BB over 51 innings. The right-hander will give the Kansas City bullpen some length in what will be his first stint in the big leagues since 2023. |
Connect With Us:
