Injuries & Moves: Taylor begins rehab assignment
LATEST NEWS
Sept. 7: LHP Josh Taylor (left arm/biceps nerve injury) begins rehab assignment at Double-A Northwest Arkansas
It's been over 15 months (May 27, 2023) since Taylor last appeared in a Major League game, with shoulder and back injuries wiping away the rest of his '23 season. In Spring Training this year, Taylor suffered a nerve injury in his left arm, which shut him down until July.
But now, the lefty reliever is back on a mound and began his rehab assignment with Northwest Arkansas on Saturday. Given how long it's been since he last threw in a game, the Royals will be cautious with Taylor's pitching plan and see how he feels after each outing. His rehab assignment will run through the end of the season (pitchers get a maximum of 30 days), and although it would be a lot to ask Taylor to jump into the Royals' bullpen during a playoff race after nearly two years away, manager Matt Quatraro did not rule it out.
"We have to see how things go," Quatraro said. "He's out there pitching, and he's got time until the end of the year. We'll see. He's another guy that's been in postseason games before and been in big situations, so hopefully he bounces back nicely."
Sept. 7: RHP Dan Altavilla clears waivers, sent to Triple-A Omaha
Two days after being designated for assignment, Altavilla is returning to Omaha, but not as a member of the Royals' 40-man roster after he cleared waivers. The 31-year-old had been with the Storm Chasers on a rehab assignment for the last month, working back from a right oblique/lat strain he suffered in June, but the Royals had to activate him when time on his rehab assignment ran out. Altavilla didn't have any options remaining, thus leading to the move to get him off the 40-man roster.
Sept. 6: OF Hunter Renfroe (right hamstring strain) reinstated from 10-day injured list; RHP Steven Cruz optioned to Triple-A Omaha
After one game with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on a rehab assignment, Renfroe was ready to return to Kansas City on Friday, as he hit fifth in the lineup and played right field for the Royals' series opener against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium.
Renfroe had been sidelined since Aug. 24, when he strained his hamstring while making a play in the outfield. He checked all the boxes -- hitting, running and defense -- during his rehab in Kansas City, but he needed a few at-bats in game action to be ready to return. He went 0-for-4 on Wednesday night for the Naturals, but he did record an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
"Probably not 100%, but you're never 100% after Spring Training anyway, so I feel good," Renfroe said. "Swinging feels fine, seeing the ball well, and was able to face some pretty good pitching in Double-A, so that was nice to do to get ready. I'm ready to be back."
The Royals will go with 13 pitchers on their staff without Cruz in the bullpen and 15 position players with Renfroe's return. Renfroe likely won't be playing every day in the field as he gets back into game action, so having an extra position player helps. That roster configuration could change based on how pitchers are used and if the team needs a fresh arm, as teams can carry up to 14 pitchers on rosters in September.
In three outings since joining the Royals on Aug. 28, Cruz did not allow a hit nor a run in 3 1/3 innings.
"We like the versatility we have on the bench," manager Matt Quatraro said. "We've got guys that can pinch-run, guys that can play multiple positions. We got a really good start on Wednesday [from Seth Lugo], and we're still working with what would be considered a full pitching staff in the prior months. But if something happens, we can call someone up and option a position player down if need be."
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Michael Lorenzen (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: September
Lorenzen strained his hamstring on Aug. 27 against the Guardians while covering first base and stretching out to try and complete a double play. He stayed in the game and struck out Lane Thomas, but left during the next at-bat. An MRI on Aug. 28 confirmed a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and the Royals placed Lorenzen on the 15-day IL with a two- to three-week timeline for his return.
Lorenzen is making good progress, and threw a 44-pitch bullpen session on Sept. 7 at Kauffman Stadium. How he feels and recovers from that will give him and the Royals a better idea of when he will be able to return. (Last updated: Sept. 7)
RHP Hunter Harvey (mid-back tightness)
Expected return: September
Harvey has been on the 15-day IL since Aug. 10, retroactive to Aug. 7, after he felt something pull in his back during his normal pregame routine earlier that week. He suffered a setback in his rehab program on Aug. 20 when he had to receive a cortisone injection because his back wasn't loosening up as much as he or the Royals would have liked to see at that point.
Harvey threw a bullpen on Sept. 1 and "did not bounce back well" from it the next day, manager Matt Quatraro said, with symptoms returning following the bullpen. As of Sept. 7, Harvey hasn't thrown for the last five days. It's become a day-to-day situation as he and the Royals see how he feels and determine what the next steps will be. (Last updated: Sept. 7)
LHP Will Smith (low back spasms)
Expected return: September
Smith had been dealing with back issues for a few weeks prior to the Royals placing him on the IL on Aug. 26. He had been trying to pitch through it, but it was directly impacting him on the mound. The spasms got worse after throwing back-to-back days against the Phillies on Aug. 24 and 25, when he allowed seven combined runs across two innings. The Royals want Smith fresh for the last few weeks of the season, so a reset on the IL could help.
Smith threw his first bullpen session on Sept. 4, and he's scheduled for another during the weekend of Sept. 6. (Last updated: Sept. 6)
1B Vinnie Pasquantino (right thumb fracture)
Expected return: October
Pasquantino broke his right thumb while reaching for a wild throw at first base on Aug. 29 in Houston, with Yainer Diaz running into his gloved hand and immediately fracturing the bone. The Royals' first baseman will be sidelined for six to eight weeks as the bone heals, according to the team, meaning he's likely unavailable for the remainder of the regular season. Pasquantino said he's going to do "everything I can" to be ready for the postseason. He had surgery on Sept. 3, thus beginning the rehab process. (Last updated: Sept. 3) More >>
60-DAY INJURED LIST
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 transferred to the 60-day IL in April. Taylor was shut down for a while and did not begin throwing until July.
He began a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sept. 7. The Royals will take his game progression slowly given how much time he has had off, but the club is optimistic about seeing him on the mound. (Last updated: Sept 7)
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 and remains on track to have a normal, non-rehabbing offseason later this year. (Last updated: Aug. 5)