Injuries & Moves: Melendez (ankle) begins rehab assignment
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June 26: OF MJ Melendez (left ankle sprain) begins rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas
Melendez headed to Double-A on Thursday for his rehab assignment and went 0-for-3 with an RBI while playing all nine innings in left field (while getting no defensive opportunities throughout the game). It's expected to be a short rehab assignment for Melendez, who could be reinstated sometime this weekend against the Cubs. Manager Matt Quatraro said pregame Friday that Melendez is scheduled to be in Northwest Arkansas for three days, but that could be shortened or extended based on how the outfielder feels.
Melendez sprained his ankle while running out an RBI forceout on July 14 in Boston, a day before the All-Star break.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
OF MJ Melendez (left ankle sprain)
Expected return: End of July
Melendez suffered an ankle injury while running out an RBI forceout on July 14 in Boston and was placed on the IL a day later during the All-Star break. He progressed well in Kansas City and began his rehab assignment on July 25 in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Melendez is scheduled to play three games there for now, manager Matt Quatraro said on July 26, so it's likely Melendez could return during the Royals' weekend series against the Cubs. That plan could be shortened or extended based on how Melendez feels and recovers. (Last updated: July 26)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Dan Altavilla (right lat strain)
Expected return: August
Altavilla threw an elevated fastball to A's leadoff hitter Max Schuemann on June 19 and immediately grimaced in pain while grabbing his side. Altavilla exited a few moments later with a trainer, was placed on the 15-day IL on June 20 and was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 5 to make room on the 40-man roster for Walter Pennington.
After Altavilla was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain, manager Matt Quatraro described the injury as a lat strain. Altavilla has been recovering in Arizona and is throwing bullpens and live BPs there with the expectation that he'll be ready for a return in late August. (Last updated: July 26)
LHP Josh Taylor (left arm/biceps nerve injury)
Expected return: September
Taylor felt soreness when he was warming up for his Cactus League outing on March 17, and was shut down afterward with left biceps soreness. The lefty reliever was diagnosed with a musculocutaneous nerve injury and placed on the 60-day IL in April. Taylor was shut down for a while and did not begin throwing until July. But now he's throwing up to 75 feet in Arizona and on a normal progression to ramp up back into pitching shape. It will still be a good amount of time before Taylor is ready for a big league return after that long of a layoff, but the Royals hope to get him on the mound by the end of the season. (Last updated: July 26)
RHP Kyle Wright (right shoulder surgery)
Expected return: 2025
The Royals traded for Wright in November in exchange for Jackson Kowar knowing Wright was coming off shoulder surgery after the 2023 season. They made the move thinking ahead a year, foreseeing how Wright, who will be 29 in '25, could help after he led the Majors with 21 wins and posted a 3.19 ERA in '22.
Pitchers who have this procedure typically take a year to return, and Wright is rehabbing in Kansas City with the goal of having a normal, non-rehabbing offseason later this year. He is throwing bullpens now and remains on track to have that healthy offseason. (Last updated: July 26)