Injuries & Moves: Renfroe (hamstring strain) lands on IL; Gentry promoted
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Aug. 25: OF Hunter Renfroe (right hamstring strain) placed on 10-day IL; OF Tyler Gentry recalled from Triple-A Omaha
The Royals placed Renfroe on the injured list after he felt something in his hamstring while running in the outfield Saturday night against the Phillies. The club doesn't believe Renfroe will be out long, but a move was necessary because of the stretch the Royals are in -- 14 games in 13 days. Renfroe is batting .263 with a .769 OPS and four homers in 28 games since the All-Star break.
In a corresponding move, the Royals called up Gentry, who is set to make his Major League debut. Gentry, the Royals' No. 15 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is slashing .256/.346/.429 with 13 home runs in 105 games for the Storm Chasers this season, but he’s really turned things around post-All-Star break. More >>
Aug. 24: RHP Hunter Harvey (mid-back tightness) begins throwing program
After suffering a setback in his recovery from mid-back tightness earlier in the week and necessitating a cortisone injection, Harvey was able to play catch on Saturday afternoon.
“It went great," manager Matt Quatraro said. "He said he felt terrific."
Harvey will progress with his throwing program over the next couple of days, ramping up to bullpen sessions before the Royals determine when he might be able to return. The 29-year-old reliever has been sidelined since Aug. 7 with back tightness, but Kansas City still sees him as a crucial part of its bullpen when he is able to come back.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
OF Hunter Renfroe (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Early September
The Royals placed Renfroe on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 25 after he felt something while running in the outfield on Aug. 24 against the Phillies. Manager Matt Quatraro said Renfroe had been dealing with general back and leg soreness before the IL stint, but it was not considered serious. The club does not believe Renfroe will be out long. It's possible he returns after the 10-day minimum, but a move was necessary because the Royals were slated to play 14 games in 13 days starting on Aug. 25. (Last updated: Aug. 25)
RHP Hunter Harvey (mid-back tightness)
Expected return: Early September
Harvey felt something pull in his back while participating in his normal pregame routine on Aug. 5, and the Royals tried to stay away from using one of their high-leverage arms the rest of the week. After he was unavailable on Aug. 9 against the Cardinals and the bullpen had to cover 4 2/3 innings, the club put Harvey on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Aug. 7, to refresh their 'pen.
Harvey 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. After a few days of no activity, Harvey was cleared by the team doctors to play catch on Aug. 24. He will continue to progress with his throwing program with the hope of returning to Kansas City's bullpen in the next couple of weeks. (Last updated: Aug. 24)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Dan Altavilla (right lat strain)
Expected return: Late 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.
After Altavilla was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain, Quatraro described the injury as a lat strain. Altavilla began a rehab assignment on Aug. 6 with Triple-A Omaha. (Last updated: Aug. 9)
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, Taylor is on a normal progression to ramp up back into pitching shape, first throwing from 75 feet and now up to 120 feet. It will still be a good amount of time before he is ready for a big league return after that long of a layoff, but the Royals hope to get Taylor on the mound by the end of the season. (Last updated: Aug. 5)
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)