Hahn undergoing tests after rehab outing

KANSAS CITY – The Royals returned reliever Jesse Hahn from his rehab assignment in Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, but the right-hander’s timeline to return to the Kansas City bullpen is still uncertain. Hahn is undergoing more tests and evaluations with the Royals medical team after exiting Wednesday’s game against the Iowa Cubs after facing just one batter.

Hahn has been on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement since April 12 and made three rehab starts with Omaha over the past week. Because a pitcher can only be on a rehab assignment for a maximum of 30 days, the Royals returned Hahn from Triple-A Omaha while they assess the next move for him and his recovery.

Hahn allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings early in the season, striking out three and notching one save. He was working through the pain in his shoulder and saw his velocity decrease in his last outing on April 11 against the White Sox, which caused the Royals to have imaging done and place him on the IL.

The 31-year-old is considered one of Kansas City’s high-leverage relievers, so getting him healthy and back to his 2020 form, when he allowed just one run in 17 1/3 innings with three saves and five holds, would be a big boost to the bullpen. For now, though, Hahn’s status is uncertain.

The Royals’ bullpen is a strength of the club and has been lights out recently: Kansas City relievers own a collective 1.08 ERA (three earned runs in 25 innings) over the last eight games, a stretch in which they’ve held opponents to a .172 batting average (15-for-87).

An original announcement from the club about Hahn’s roster status indicated that he would be reinstated from the injured list on Friday and a corresponding roster move would be made. Because the Royals are only returning Hahn from his rehab assignment, they won’t need to make another roster move, and Hahn will stay on the 10-day injured list.